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About two hundred years ago, when tomatoes came from Europe to Russia, they were called "love apples" for their beauty and similarity in shape to the heart. The real homeland of these beautiful fruits is South America, where there is high humidity and constantly high temperatures. Therefore, tomatoes are so fond of sunlight and a warm atmosphere. And the North-West of Russia does not indulge in hot summer.
But, thanks to the efforts of Russian breeders, a solution was found, and many tomato varieties appeared that grow and bear fruit safely even in regions with an unstable climate and with a rather short summer season. So, varieties of tomatoes appeared for the Leningrad region.
Features of growing tomatoes in the Leningrad region
Of course, heated greenhouses are best suited for growing tomatoes in the Northwest region, but not all gardeners have these. Perhaps quite successful growing tomatoes, if the best varieties of tomatoes for greenhouses are used, which are popularly called cold. You can even plant seedlings varieties of tomatoes for the Leningrad region immediately on an open bed, but then it should be well covered with a greenhouse film or covering material. This design is called "film shelter". In any of these cases, you need to choose tomato varieties for the Leningrad region, intended for greenhouses.
First of all, they must be early ripe, have a short growing season, so that in a short summer the tomatoes can ripen, so to speak, on the vine. Preference should be given to medium-sized tomatoes, since tomato varieties for the Leningrad Region with large fruits, even those intended specifically for greenhouses, risk not ripening before the onset of cold weather.
Seedlings of tomatoes for the Leningrad region are grown in the usual way. But there is a moment that must be fulfilled: hardening of seedlings. To do this, about half a month before planting plants in the ground, containers with seedlings should be taken out into the street or in a cold greenhouse for several hours every day. Thus, the resistance of tomatoes to bad weather is developed, which is important in a rather cold summer season. You also need to keep in mind that tomatoes grow poorly on heavy, clayey and acidic soils. It is better to take care of the looseness and airiness of the soil in advance, using the means available for this, such as sawdust, compost, etc.
It is very important to observe the timing of planting tomato seedlings in the ground, especially in such a harsh climate as the Leningrad region. Usually, early varieties for the Leningrad region are planted in a greenhouse on June 1 or 2, while the seedlings should not be less than fifty days old. If the variety is ultra early ripening, then planting is carried out before April 15-20, it is desirable that the greenhouse be heated.
Seven important zones, where Leningradskaya is the first
The choice of a variety for planting depends on the zoning zone intended for its cultivation. A good harvest is obtained only from tomatoes that are suitable for these conditions. There are seven such zones in total, otherwise they can be called light zones, and for each of them, breeders create varieties that have a certain set of characteristics.The main difference between the zoning zones is the light season, more precisely, its length, it depends on how successfully tomatoes can be grown without using additional lighting. The Leningrad Region is the No. 1 light zone for growing tomatoes, in which in the autumn-winter months it is simply impossible to grow tomatoes due to the short light period, if you do not resort to additional lighting.
The Leningrad Region can be attributed to the zone of risky farming, therefore, in order to get a guaranteed good harvest, it is better to use tomato varieties for the Leningrad Region with an early and ultra-early ripening period, which are suitable not only for a greenhouse, but also for open ground. It is important not to forget about timely fertilization and compliance with crop rotation - tomatoes should not grow in the same place for more than 3 seasons in order to prevent soil depletion.
The main characteristics of tomato varieties for the Leningrad region
- good low light tolerance;
- early maturation;
- must be resistant to harmful diseases;
- independence from low temperatures during the formation of ovaries;
- excellent taste thanks to the accumulation of sugars while maximizing the use of solar energy.
The breeders have managed to bring out not so many of the best varieties of tomatoes that have these characteristics. Only about thirty are registered in the State Register. Below are just a few of these varieties.
The best varieties
Northern beauty
Refers to mid-season salad varieties, can grow both in a greenhouse and in the open air, but using a covering material. The bush is high, a garter and timely pinching are required. A not very large pear-shaped fruit weighs from 60 to 120 grams with a pronounced tomato aroma and taste. This variety adapts well to different weather conditions. Fusarium and tobacco mosaic virus is not sick.
Chanterelle
An early ripe variety for growing in a greenhouse or under a film cover. In height, the bush can reach one meter, so a garter and pinching is required. Resilient, egg-shaped fruits, bright orange in color, weighing about 130 grams, with firm flesh and excellent sweet taste, mass ripening occurs in the second half of July. Normally refers to temperature extremes, disease resistant. One square meter ripens up to nine kilograms of beautiful tomatoes, perfect for preservation.
Mithridates F1
Tall mid-early hybrid (105-110 days). It is a modified analogue of the Eupator hybrid. This variety feels great both in the greenhouse and in the open air. On the brush, 4-6 red flat-round tomatoes with dense sweet taste weighing 130-150 grams are formed. Resistant to diseases, has a good yield - up to 10 kg / m2. It tolerates transportation very well.
Pharaoh F1
Indeterminate hybrid, medium ripening period (105-115 days). The bush is neat, medium-sized. On the brush, 4-6 red fruits of a flat-round shape with dense pulp and excellent taste are formed. The variety is extremely productive - up to 25 kg / m2. Resistant to disease.
Dobrun
Indeterminate early hybrid (100-105 days). On the brush, there are usually 5-7 red flat-round tomatoes with dense sweet pulp, quite fruitful - from 5 to 7.5 kg / m2. The variety is resistant to tomato diseases.
Tomato varieties for greenhouses
In greenhouses, indeterminate varieties are usually grown that tolerate frosts well and diseases typical of tomatoes, are consistently productive, capable of high-quality fruiting even with a lack of sunlight. Additional illumination is recommended to compensate for this lack.
Leningrad early ripening
An early hybrid (90-95 days) with excellent resistance to tomato diseases. The bush is medium-sized, up to 80 cm high. The fruit is red, resembling a tennis ball, smooth, medium-sized (up to 80 grams), the taste is closer to sour.Good for temperature changes.
Ural multiparous
Mid-season variety, tall plant, although it has small leaves. Red fruits are round, slightly flattened, weighing about 60 grams, taste sweet and sour. Resistant to major diseases, the yield is consistently high.
Leningrad autumn
Medium late variety (115-130 days) intended for greenhouses only. The plant is tall, powerful, the leaf is large, slightly corrugated. The fruit is red, almost round, with an orange tint, slightly ribbed, sweetish taste, weight 80-130 grams. Well tolerates bad weather, stably forms ovaries even with a lack of light. Harvest - 6-7 kg / m2. Disadvantages include exposure to tobacco mosaic
The best varieties of low-growing tomatoes
Nevsky
Very early undersized variety (80-85 days). The bush is quite compact, does not require pinching, with five flower clusters, on which 5-7 fruits are placed. Red round fruit, smooth, weighing about 80 grams, pleasant taste. Has resistance to tomato diseases. The harvest is consistently high.
Midget 1185
Medium early variety (110-115 days). The bush is low, about 50 cm, compact, very convenient to grow it in the open field. The fruit is small, red, oval-rounded, weighing about 60 grams. It begins to ripen by August, the yield is 3-3.5 kg / m2. Of the disadvantages - it is prone to late blight.
Baltic
Determinant early variety. The bush is small, compact with light green small leaves. The red fruit is almost round, slightly flattened, not very dense, average weight about 150 grams, with excellent taste, well suited for salads. Resistant to late blight... Harvest - 4-4.5 kg / m2.
Yablonka
Medium early determinant variety (115-130 days). The bush has medium branching and small leaves; it is not necessary to tie or pinch. Red fruit, round in shape, almost perfectly smooth, with a bright tomato aroma and taste, weighing about 100 grams. It is resistant to diseases, tolerates high humidity well.
Ground Gribovsky 1180
Early maturing determinant variety (95-105 days). The bush is low (from 40 to 55 cm), compact. Red, round, slightly flattened fruits, with slight ribbing, weighing up to 100 grams. Harvest - 4-4.5 kg / m2. Well tolerates bad weather, suitable for cultivation in the Non-Black Earth Region. Sowing seeds directly into the soil is possible. Of the shortcomings - it does not tolerate excessive moisture, bacterial rot and late blight occurs.
Flash
An early undersized variety (85-95 days). Almost round red fruits, medium-sized, even, weighing up to 80 grams, with excellent taste. They are very good in salads and in winter storage. The variety is not prone to cracking, resistant to late blight. It tolerates extreme weather conditions normally. Harvest - 4-4.5 kg / m2. Excellent transportability.
Snow tale
Standard mid-season variety (100-115 days). The bush is rather low, neat, does not require a garter and pinching. The fruit is red, slightly flattened, medium-sized, weighing up to 50 grams, taste with a slight sourness. It is very unpretentious in care, it tolerates bad weather, it is resistant to the main tomato diseases. The harvest is consistently high.
Conclusion
In addition to the fact that tomatoes themselves are very tasty and are widely used in cooking, they are also extremely useful.
- Restores the water-salt balance.
- Chromium, which tomatoes are rich in, helps regulate glucose in diabetics.
- The high content of chlorogenic and coumaric acids protects against carcinogens that are formed during smoking.
- Thanks to potassium and B vitamins, blood pressure decreases, “bad” cholesterol disappears, which has a beneficial effect on the body of hypertensive patients, etc.
You can learn how to properly grow tomatoes in a greenhouse from this video:
