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In Russia, in most regions, farming and horticulture is a rather risky process. In conditions of changeable weather, every gardener wants tomatoes to ripen on his site. Sometimes this can be done only by growing early ripening varieties, especially when it comes to growing in the open field. This topic is very sensitive, so let's touch on it in more detail.
Growing tomatoes in the open field
At the moment, it is quite simple to choose a tomato variety, the main thing is to know what kind of result the summer resident wants to get. The description presented on the package with seed material tells in great detail about the variety and the peculiarities of its cultivation.
It just so happened that in Russia it is cucumber and tomato that are the most popular vegetables in the beds. A huge number of tomatoes are grown every year, including outdoors. This plant is capricious, it requires:
- better soil;
- prolonged heat;
- solar lighting;
- lack of drafts.
In order for the crop to be rich when grown outdoors, you must:
- choose the right variety that would satisfy the taste requirements;
- provide growing conditions;
- carry out timely watering.
All tomato gardeners are divided into two types:
- Self-growing seedlings from seeds.
- Purchasing ready-made seedlings.
Whichever type you are, it is important to understand that the yield depends on the quality of the seedlings. Let's talk about growing undersized tomatoes in the open field.
Planting process
It is necessary to plant this culture in open ground in late May - early June. Only when the threat of frost subsides, you can start sowing, otherwise the tomatoes will die.
When growing undersized varieties, the planting scheme is as follows: 30x40 and 35x50. This means that between the plants you need to leave 30-35 centimeters, and between the rows 40-50. Some gardeners use ribbon planting, while others prefer square planting. It all depends on convenience and personal preference.
As a rule, at the end of May, ready-made seedlings are planted in open ground. It is grown from seeds on a windowsill. With a lack of sunlight, the seedlings are illuminated. The seedling holes should be 10-15 centimeters deep. When planting, good seedlings are carefully removed from the hole, pre-moistened. The lower leaves are removed, leaving 3-4 upper ones. After all the plants are transplanted, they are watered with water with mineral fertilizers at the rate of one liter per plant.
Tomatoes will take root in a new place for up to ten days.
Two weeks later, the seedlings are spud. Plants do not like excessive watering, this can lead to infection with a fungus.
Low-growing varieties of tomatoes
When purchasing seeds in a store, some gardeners do not always pay attention to the inscriptions indicated on the packaging. With regard to undersized varieties, it is important to distinguish two terms from each other:
- indeterminate varieties;
- determinant.
The first term refers to those tomatoes, the stem of which is constantly growing. Nothing affects the termination of tomato development.As for the determinant varieties, they, on the contrary, stop growing after 4-5 brushes have been tied. They are also divided into:
- superdeterminant;
- determinant.
The first type is very early tomatoes that cannot be pinned. Not only residents of central Russia, where summer is short, but also southerners pay attention to them.
After the formation of five to seven leaves on the determinant plants, the first flower cluster grows. You still have to tie up undersized tomatoes, because the bushes often fall under the weight of the fruits. For the busiest gardeners, you should pay attention to standard tomato varieties. Here they are do not require any pinching, no garter. Of course, it will not work to plant and forget about them before the harvest appears, but there will be much less hassle with them.
The use of all these types of low-growing varieties for greenhouses is justified only in the northern regions, where greenhouses heated. In most regions, including the Urals, you can use early varieties of tomatoes for open ground. Low-growing plants are conveniently placed on the site. Now let's look at specific varieties and hybrids of tomatoes.
Description of varieties
Each breeder tries to develop a tomato variety that would satisfy the needs of citizens as much as possible. Growing should be fun at the same time. As a rule, we are interested in:
- the yield of the variety;
- taste of fruits;
- ripening rate;
- features of care;
- disease resistance.
Let's describe the popular early maturing varieties of undersized tomatoes as detailed as possible so that there are no questions about their cultivation in the open field.
Boni-M
The company "Gavrish" was one of the first to start producing seeds of this undersized tomato variety intended for open ground.
Its ripening period is only 80-85 days, the fruits are bright red, about 2 kilograms are harvested from the plant. As for the type of bush, it does not exceed 50 centimeters in height, it is considered a standard one. Tomato is resistant to late blight, tolerates short-term cold snap well.
Raspberry Viscount
Most often, this compact undersized tomato is grown in the south of Russia. He is famous for large raspberry fruits, which weigh 200-300 grams. The height of the plant is only 45-50 centimeters. Productivity is high, tomatoes ripen in 95-105 days. The value also lies in the fact that the fruits are quite sweet, they are ideal for fresh consumption.
Liang
Ultra-ripe undersized varieties of tomatoes are especially valuable. "Lyana" is one of the five most popular for cultivation in our country. This is no coincidence.
The variety has a number of advantages: it ripens in just 84-93 days, has excellent taste, and perfectly tolerates long-distance transportation. The height of the bush rarely reaches 40 centimeters, therefore, we can say that this variety is dwarf. Resistance to TMV additionally provides durability.
Apple tree of Russia
This sort of Siberian selection is referred to as plants "for lazy" summer residents. The thing is that it does not need to be pinned, it does not require careful maintenance, and the yield is quite high. The average height of the bush is 50-60 centimeters, each of which gives 3-5 kilograms of excellent fruits weighing up to 100 grams.
The ripening period from the moment the first shoots appear is 85-100 days, no more. Since tomatoes are medium in size, they are most often used for canning. Despite the weather changes, the ovary forms amicably, resistant to major diseases.
Sanka
Perhaps the most popular tomato variety is Sanka. Sweet, juicy tomatoes on a determinant plant ripen in an extremely short period (78-85 days). Its use is universal due to its excellent taste and medium-sized tomato.
An additional quality of the Sanka variety is the repeated yield of the crop and fruiting until the very frost. Initially, gardeners collect the first early harvest, and then the plant grows back well and bears fruit again. Ideal for growing in the vastness of Siberia. A good video about the Sanka variety is presented below:
Solerosso F1
Already from the name it is clear that this is a hybrid. It differs in small fruits weighing up to 60 grams. At the same time, up to 10 kilograms of a crop of excellent quality can be harvested from one square meter. It ripens in just 80-85 days, which makes it an early maturing variety. The bush is undersized, its maximum height does not exceed 60 centimeters.
Andromeda F1
A hybrid with this name is ideal for hot climates. Sometimes this is very important, because excessive sun can harm tomatoes. It tolerates heat well, and the yield does not decrease in any weather. Sweet, meaty and large, they are great for salads. Ripens in 85-117 days. The bush is not very leafy, reaches a height of 70 centimeters, requires pinching and garter, since the fruits are quite heavy. On each brush, 5-7 fruits are formed.
Marmande
Early maturing tomatoes of Dutch selection for open ground "Marmande" are extraordinarily beautiful. You can see their photos below. The plant bush is determinant, its average height reaches 50 centimeters. From the moment the first shoots appear to actual ripeness, 85-100 days pass. The fruits are large, fleshy, almost not affected by diseases. The color is dark red.
Oak
In pursuit of early maturing varieties, do not forget about yield and disease resistance. For example, late blight is dangerous for tomatoes and can cause colossal harm. The Dubok variety, resistant to it, bears fruit well. You won't have to wait for the harvest for a long time, only 85-105 days.
"Dubok" is a variety of Siberian selection, it was bred in Altai, so it is not surprising that the plant tolerates cold well. The tomatoes taste sweet and sour. The height of the bush does not exceed 60 centimeters.
Siberian early maturing
This variety is not a real early ripening, but for the northern region it is able to give fruits very quickly, provided there is a lack of heat and sunlight. This period ranges from 110 to 120 days. You can get up to 7 kilograms of excellent quality fruit per square meter. The bush is determinate, does not exceed a height of one meter. The variety is resistant not only to cold weather, but also to TMV, as well as to brown spot.
This Siberian tomato has been known for a long time, but it can easily compete with modern resistant tomato varieties.
"Subarctic"
Such varieties of tomatoes as "Cherry" are loved by many for their shape and taste. Tomato "Subarctic" is a wonderful small tomato, bred by our breeders for growing in unstable weather conditions.
Round red and very tasty fruits weighing 40 grams look very attractive on a branch. Plant bush standard 40-45 centimeters high. The ripening period of the variety from the moment the first shoots appear is 82-86 days. The excellent quality of the variety is the ability to give a high-quality crop in adverse weather conditions. For Siberia, the Urals and other regions, it will be a real find. Despite the fact that tomatoes are small, up to 8 kilograms of fruit can be harvested from one square meter. The plant steadily leaves late blight due to early maturity.
Katyusha F1
The tomato seeds of the Katyusha hybrid are now becoming more common as this hybrid has become known in the market as cold-resistant. Despite the early maturity (ripening 80-85 days), the tomatoes are strong, fleshy and tasty. They are well transported and kept fairly well. The yield is high - from 9 to 10 kilograms per square meter. Additionally, I would like to note the plant's resistance to TMV, cladospiriosis and fusarium.
Red Riding Hood
Low-growing "Little Red Riding Hood" tomatoes ripen in 90-110 days, are of medium size and are perfect for canning, making salads and pickles. The weight of one fruit does not exceed 100 grams. The plant is resistant to a complex of diseases, the fruits do not crack. 4-5 tomatoes are formed on each brush. Often grown commercially as it is well transported and stored. This variety was bred by German breeders.
Torbay F1
This hybrid is used in the preparation of salads and for fresh consumption, as the vegetables are very tasty. The benefits include:
- ripening rate (75 days in total);
- excellent taste (score 5);
- good setting, evenness of tomatoes;
- resistance to cracking.
Tomatoes are large, up to 200 grams, fleshy. The color of the tomatoes is pink. For many gardeners, it is pink fruits that are associated with great taste. Below is a video of how this Dutch breeding hybrid grows:
Bagheera F1
Tomatoes for open ground "Bagheera" ripen in 85-100 days and are famous for their high marketability and taste, as well as resistance to such diseases:
- brown spotting;
- fusarium;
- verticillary wilting;
- nematode.
The bush is undersized, determinant, the average yield is 6 kilograms per square meter. Since the fruits are large, you will have to tie up the plants. The use of the Bagheera hybrid is universal, the seeding scheme and care are standard.
Conclusion
Early undersized tomatoes valuable due to rapid ripening. Especially often the seeds of such plants are bought in middle lane Russia. You do not have to equip greenhouses for tomatoes, but do with your own beds in an open area. This is why there are so many early tomato varieties on store shelves today. It is very difficult to choose the very tomato among the variety, especially with a lack of experience. Always read the description carefully. When going for seeds or seedlings, carefully study the terms and varieties.
