The oblong 'Blush' tiger tomato impresses with its pretty appearance and juicy fruits. Introducing the yellow bottle tomato.
Among the pretty tiger tomatoes there is also a yellow variety, the 'Blush' variety. We present a portrait of the tomato variety and give tips on how to grow it.
Tomato 'Blush': Profile
| Synonyms | 'Artisan Blush Tiger' |
| Fruit | salad tomato; yellow-orange with light red stripes |
| Flavour | juicy, fruity, sweet |
| Maturity | medium early |
| Growth | Stick tomato, up to 2 m |
| Location | Greenhouse, sheltered outdoors, pot |
Origin and history of the 'Blush' tomato variety
The tomato variety 'Blush', also called 'Artisan Blush Tiger', was bred by Fred Hempel from California in the USA and was launched in 2011. Supposedly his young son chose the parents of this strain back then. He also created other tabby and striped tomato varieties such as 'Maglia Rosa' or the 'Sunrise Bumble Bee'.
Flavour and properties of the blush tomato
'Blush' is a yellow tomato variety whose plants grow to a height of around 150 to 200 cm and have a rather weak growth. The fruits are oval to elongated, about 2 to 3 cm wide and 5 to 7 cm long and therefore have the typical shape of a bottle tomato. There is a small spike at the bottom of the fruit. The tomatoes, which ripen mid-early, hang on long trusses. They can be harvested from the end of July to the beginning of August and then have a pretty yellow-orange color with light red stripes. The taste of 'Blush' is fruity and sweet, the tomatoes are juicy and soft when fully ripe. This variety is seed resistant, which means that you can get tomato seeds from 'Blush' yourself, dry them and multiply them.
Special features of cultivation and care
The 'Blush' tomato variety is ideal for cultivation in an airy greenhouse, insheltered outdoors or in pots on balconies and patios under a rain canopy. A sunny location on well-drained, humus-rich soil promotes a rich yield and the fruity-sweet taste of the blush tomato.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is particularly suitable as a plant neighbor, as it can keep pests away from tomatoes. The plants of the ˈBlushˈ tomato variety are generally robust, but the fruits tend to burst open when it rains. It is more susceptible than other varieties to blossom end rot caused by calcium deficiency. Therefore, the plants should at best be able to thrive in low humidity, as this reduces the risk of the disease.
From the beginning of May, the 'Blush' can be placed in the greenhouse and from mid-May, after the ice saints, outdoors. For pot culture, we recommend using a pre-fertilized potting soil such as our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil. The high proportion of compost has a particularly positive effect on soil life, soil structure and root development of the tomato plants. The nutrients it contains also ideally supply the young plant in the first growth phase. After planting, support and water the plant well.
The bottle tomato 'Blush' can easily be grown with two or three shoots. Here you leave two of the lowest side shoots and remove all the others. Pinching tomato plants needs to be repeated regularly to track down any offshoots.
As soon as the fruits begin to form in June, the nutrient requirements of the tomatoes also increase significantly. Now the first fertilization takes place: The easiest way to do this is with an organic liquid fertilizer such as our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable fertilizer. The plant-based fertilizer is applied together with the irrigation water about once a week and therefore quickly reaches the plant roots.
The physiological fruit disease blossom end rot also occurs a little more often than usual with this variety. This disorder is caused by a calcium deficiency. This can be prevented by a sufficient supply, for example with a lime admixture during planting and a further dose in July. Watering and mulching tomatoes correctly is not only important in the greenhouse and outdoors, but also in pots and on the balcony.
Tip: Only watering in the morning also reduces the incidence of blossom end rot. Due to the evaporation during the day, calcium reaches the top of the fruit with the water flow - this does not happen when watering in the evening.
Harvesting and use of theTomato variety 'Blush'
The bottle tomato is harvested from the end of July to the beginning of August and lasts until the first frost at the end of October or November. The blush tomato can be nibbled straight off the vine, but its fruity-sweet taste also comes into its own with snacks and salads. If the harvest is large, processing it into a tasty soup, homemade ketchup or pasta sauce is worthwhile.
Another pretty tabby variety is the Tigerella tomato. We introduce you to the high-yielding stick tomato and give tips on growing the striped beauty.