From the very beginning, tomato breeding at Lubera® has focussed on obtaining varieties that are as robust and resistant as possible for easy cultivation in the home garden. This goal was achieved early on with the strong-growing OpenSky® outdoor tomatoes. Now the range has been expanded to include two bush-like vine tomatoes, 'Schlingel® Max' and 'Schlingel® Moritz', from our breeding programme.
Origin of the Schlingel® bush tomatoes
In the first year of the breeding programme for outdoor tomatoes – from which the OpenSky® outdoor tomato varieties have developed over time – a large number of crosses were made. Among them were also those with compact bush tomatoes. However, this characteristic was lost for several generations – only to suddenly and unexpectedly reappear in the fourth generation. From this point onwards, the characteristic was so pronounced that the following generations also retained this more compact, bush-like growth. These selections ultimately gave rise to the Schlingel® bush tomatoes.
"Determinate" & "indeterminate" – which is which?
There are two different types of tomato growth. On the one hand, there are the so-called "determinate" varieties, mainly the very compact balcony tomatoes. Determinate tomato varieties are characterised by the fact that a flower always forms at the end of the shoot, thus interrupting longitudinal growth. A new shoot then forms from one of the leaf axil buds below, at the end of which another flower forms. This cycle continues throughout the summer. The advantage of such varieties is that they do not need to be pinched back and are therefore easier to care for.
On the other hand, there are the so-called "indeterminate" tomato varieties. Generally speaking, these are all classic stake tomatoes. With indeterminate tomato varieties, longitudinal growth is not limited by terminal flowering. Theoretically, such varieties would continue to grow forever. Due to this growth behaviour, indeterminate tomato varieties require a supporting structure in the form of a stick or string to which the shoots are tied and should also be regularly pruned. In other words, these varieties are grown with only a few basic shoots (one to three shoots, depending on the vigour) and the side shoots that form are consistently removed – the much-described "pinching out".
Schlingel® bush-like vine tomatoes – the exception to the rule
Although Schlingel® bush tomatoes are much more compact in growth than the strong-growing OpenSky® stake tomatoes, they are also indeterminate tomato varieties. The more compact growth of Schlingel® bush tomatoes is due to short internodes and not terminal flowers. Due to the short internodes, pinching out is not necessary. This ensures dense, bush-like growth over the cultivation period, which becomes more and more spreading as the vegetation progresses. The many fruits pull the shoots towards the ground. This growth also affects ripening and harvesting. The innermost tomatoes are the first to ripen and the ripening process then moves up the shoot towards the tip – just like a classic vine tomato. This may not be aesthetically pleasing for some, but the bush-like growth with its countless flowers produces an enormous yield of more than 100 fruits per plant by the end of the growing season.
'Schlingel® Max' and 'Schlingel® Moritz' – the OpenSky® bush tomatoes
OpenSky® Schlingel Max® – the compact bush tomato with the best flavour
Advantages:
- Bushy growth
- Extremely productive – high tolerance to Phytophthora and Alternaria
- Red cocktail tomato
Short description:
Growth: Compact, bushy tomato, only 80 cm high but 100 cm wide, high tolerance to Phytophthora and Alternaria
Maturity/harvest: Extremely fruitful, fruits ripen gradually – from bottom to top, the first fruits can be harvested from July onwards
Fruit: Over 100 fruits per plant, small cocktail tomato with round, tomato-red fruits
Taste: An absolute favourite at the individual tastings, not too sweet, but a good vegetable tomato flavour and a good spiciness
OpenSky® Schlingel Moritz® – the simple bush tomato
Advantages:
- · Bushy growth
- · High yield
- · High tolerance to Phytophthora and Alternaria
- · Red cocktail tomato
Short description:
Growth: Compact bush tomato, with a final height of around 75 cm even more compact than Schlingel Max®, but just as wide (100 cm)
Maturity/harvest: Very productive, fruits ripen evenly and consistently, harvest starts in July
Fruit: Beautiful, round, red and slightly larger fruits than Schlingel Max®, but not as many, however still the size of a cocktail tomato
Taste: Mild, tomato-fruity flavour and a pleasant balance between sweetness and acidity; all in all, a little sweeter than Schlingel Max®
