Tomato "Bejbinek"

"The Tomato Conveyor Belt".
How often do fresh tomatoes grace your table during the cold season? They rival oranges and lemons in vitamin C content and boast more B vitamins than oranges and grapes. And consider the wealth of minerals and trace elements tomatoes offer: potassium and calcium, iron and phosphorus, copper and sodium, magnesium and zinc, iodine and fluorine, and so much more.
Naturally, our bodies need these nutrients year-round, not just for two, three, or even five months...
And let's not lament our short northern summer! With a bit of cleverness, you and your loved ones can savor these coveted fruits year-round, even three times a day, all from a single plant right in your apartment. It's not overly labor-intensive and is entirely feasible for any budding gardener.

Step 1: Choosing the Variety.
You will need seeds of an indeterminate tomato variety. As you know, these plants are tall and, most importantly, have an unlimited growth potential. This very trait is the foundation of our tomato conveyor belt. While there are many indeterminate varieties and hybrids, we recommend opting for hybrids due to their superior resistance to various tomato diseases.
For your conveyor, consider the super-prolific 'Moscow Delicacy'. Its large, juicy fruits are not only high in sugar but also store well. Try planting 'Striped Pepper' to amaze your guests with extraordinary, pepper-shaped striped tomatoes.
If you prefer hefty tomatoes, then plant the variety called 'Pink Giant'. The clusters of this tomato bear fruits weighing from 300 to 800 grams each, with some individual specimens exceeding one kilogram!
If you don't suffer from gigantomania and prefer plants with smaller fruits, settle on the 'Magic Cascade' variety. Its long clusters, studded with tiny tomatoes, truly resemble bunches of sunny berries. The indoor tomato varieties Cherry and Currant (be sure to choose indeterminate types) are not only delicious but also very decorative. Their cherry-like fruits (12 to 30 per cluster), fiery orange or bright red, are particularly adored by children.

Step 2: Growing the Seedlings.
So, the variety is chosen. The seeds are found. At this stage, we proceed as if we were preparing for a regular planting, not launching a conveyor. You need very few seeds: just two or three (we are dealing with an intensive method, after all). They must all be prepared: treated, soaked in a micronutrient solution, germinated, and hardened. Then, plant the sprouted seeds in 8x8 or 10x10 cm peat pots.
Now we approach the most crucial part. Note one or two plants that sprouted first (they are usually the strongest), and two weeks later, prick them out. We remind you again that for our super-intensive method, you will need a maximum of one or two plants, the most robust and healthy ones. Ten days after pricking out, feed the plants (3 grams of ash per 1 liter of water). To prevent viral diseases, use a foliar feed with a 0.1% solution of boric acid.
Ensure your plants are well-lit. If they lack light and start to stretch, limit their growth by reducing watering and lowering the temperature. Tomatoes favor light and warmth far more than moisture. Therefore, water them in small portions, carefully, with settled water at room temperature or even slightly warmer.

Step 3: Planting.
When your tomato plant has developed five to six true leaves and one flower cluster, it's time to transplant it to its permanent home. Here you will need a 40 cm diameter container filled with a loose soil mix of 2 parts compost and 1 part light sod land (you can use ready-made nutrient-rich potting mixes). Experts claim that one tomato plant requires one bucket of soil. About a day before transplanting, water the plant generously so the entire pot and roots become moist.
So, Mr. Tomato has finally taken his rightful place. After a week, feed it with a solution of 40-50 grams of NPK fertilizer in 10 liters of water. You can also feed tomatoes with a solution of manure (1:5) or chicken droppings (1:10). And when the first fruits begin to form on the clusters, use a 1% solution of complex fertilizers (10 grams per 1 liter of water).
Indoor tomatoes are usually grown with a single stem, removing the side shoots (suckers). Prune suckers in the morning or after watering. After the third cluster has formed, pinch off the top of the plant. First, to get an earlier harvest, and second... have you forgotten the title of our article? Correct, "The Tomato Conveyor Belt." Well, to start it, we will need that cut-off top.

Step 4: Cutting the Top.
So, we cut the top about 1 centimeter above a leaf. Do this early in the morning after watering the plant. Now it is a cutting that needs to be rooted. To do this, place it in an aqueous solution of a root stimulator (e.g., Sodium Humate) for 12-24 hours, immersing only the stem (about 1 cm), ensuring the leaves do not touch the solution. Then, the former top—now a cutting—is planted at a slight angle into a second container with prepared soil mix and covered with a glass jar. The soil underneath should be constantly moist, and the temperature should not exceed 30°C. Rooting the top will take about two to three weeks. By the end of this period, gradually acclimate the seedling to room temperature by leaving it uncovered for longer and longer periods until the plant is fully strengthened.

Step 5: The Conveyor is Running.
Meanwhile, the beheaded tomato plant will gain strength and start delighting you with ripe tomatoes. And by the time you harvest all its fruit, the former top will not only have rooted but also grown into a fully independent plant. Don't forget to feed it, and it will form several clusters with fruits. After that, cut the top from this plant as well. Disinfect the container where the finished tomato grew, fill it with fresh soil mix, and start rooting the new top in it.
Thus, the tomato conveyor belt in your apartment will begin its work. From one plant, you will get two tomato bushes, fruiting in sequence while growing continuously. The problem of providing your family with vitamins A, C, and B will be successfully solved, and the long-awaited fruits will find their way to your table.