Grower Information Careza

Characteristics of the variety

• HR: ToMV|Cf:1-5|Va|Vd|Fol:0,1|For | IR: Ol | Wi
• Strong, generative plant habit
• Short jointed, easy to work in, upright leaf
• Good growth and strong setting, also with the presence of the Pepino Mosaic Virus
• High export percentage
• Uniform truss with even fruit size
• Average fruit weight 85-95 grams
• Uniform shape
• Even fruit coloring
• Firm tomato with an attractive crown
• Very good flavor
• Early into production
• High total yield
• Strong against Botrytis
  

Commercial experience

In the past season an area of 30 hectare (6 companies) is cultivated. This season the area will be 45 hectare. The variety emerges with a high total production combined with an excellent quality and a low work input requirement. Careza is a vigour variety that needs to be cultivated generatively. Characteristically is an even flowering and a quick setting in the truss, resulting in a truss with a very uniform fruit size. Further, it is noticeable that the fruit quality, setting ability and plant growth all are excellent, even after infection with the Pepino Mosaic Virus. At the moment, Careza is the variety which best maintains its quality when infected by the Pepino Mosaic Virus!
Careza offers the possibility, in the spring and the autumn, to harvest the last trusses as truss tomatoes.

Climate
In the case of grafted plants, a night temperature of 17 until 17.5 degrees is usually sufficient. Non-grafted plants require approximately 17.5 degrees. If the plant is warmed up at night, the temperature after sunrise can be lowered in order to strengthen the trusses in the head. Do not overdo this, because if the ambient temperature falls too much, you increase the chance of cold plant heads. Depending on the outside temperature, the aeration temperature can be lowered by 0.5 to 1 degree. Thereafter, increase the established temperature in proportion to the quantity of light. In the case of grafted plants, the humidity content should not be too high during the day. This is how to achieve strong trusses that do not bend too readily.
It will be good to apprehend the day temperature longer (at nice weather) if the crop is (too) vigour. This can be done till sunset or ½ hour-1 hour after sunset. This achieves the balance in the plant again.
During the months April until September a pipe temperature of 50 degrees during 3 hours instead of a pipe temperature of 40 degrees during 4 hours for heating at night/in the morning is preferred.

Pruning of the trusses
In the case of early sowing you would be advised to prune the first truss to 7 fruits. In addition, remove the remaining flowers from the second and third trusses. In case of mid November sowings, please, remove the remaining flowers from the first and second trusses.

Bracing/truss damage
Some trusses ought to be braced or nicked (in the case of sowing at the beginning of November: 5 trusses, sowing on 20 November: the second and third trusses).

Working in the crop
Side shoot removal and turning the plants into the support strings is easy work in the Careza. Due to the upright leaf position the picking of leaves takes little time, but cutting away the leaves is always preferred. Also, this means that in the spring and autumn, extra leaves in the head do not need to be removed at a balanced crop. At a high stem density and a leafy crop this is necessary. Extra side shoots can easily be caught on time. A stem density of 3.3 until 3.5 stems/m2 is sufficient during summer. More stems means more work in the crop.

Remove empty trusses
Till half of July you would be advised to remove empty trusses to prevent Botrytis during the cultivation. If trusses are removed too long (after ½ July) and too many trusses (more than three) per plant are cut away it can also cause Botrytis.
From 1 June it is preferred to cut the trusses to prevent deep wounds which can arise on the stem. To start cutting earlier instead of picking leaves is advised when wounds till deep into the tribe arise faster. It is best to remove empty trusses in the morning to let the wounds dry during the rest of the day.

Etherelling
After Etherelling the maturing of Careza takes 4 days longer than the most other varieties you are used to cultivate.

Quality
The fruits of Careza are on the whole two locular, (25% are three locular), have a very good shape and a nice even coloring. Careza is firm, has a good shelf life and is full of flavor!

Careza guarantees quality, production and an excellent taste!