Content
Tomato is one of the most common vegetable crops in Russia. Almost all summer residents grow tomatoes; these fruits are loved for their excellent taste and a lot of useful vitamins.
The growing season of tomatoes is quite long (from 100 to 130 days), so the crop may not ripen in all climatic conditions. For good growth and timely ripening, tomatoes need warmth.
The short summer of a temperate climate zone is not very suitable for growing tomatoes; in Russia this crop is planted in seedlings, covered in greenhouses, or varieties with early ripening are selected.
Specifics of tomatoes for open ground
Open ground is not considered the best way to grow heat-loving plants tomatoes. Still, it is more effective to plant this crop in greenhouses or heated greenhouses. But there are many varieties and breeding hybrids bred specifically for garden beds and farm fields.
As a rule, early-ripening tomatoes or plants with medium ripening periods are planted in open ground.
In general, the requirements for varieties for open ground in central Russia and Siberia look like this:
- high ripening speed;
- short growing season;
- resistance to viruses and other diseases;
- ability to tolerate high humidity and low temperatures;
- resistance to late blight and rot;
- the height of the bush is not too high;
- good yield and decent taste.
Indeterminate (tall) tomatoes are best grown in closed greenhouses. However, these varieties produce very high yields without occupying a large area. Therefore, you can also plant tall tomato bushes in your summer cottage. But you should take care in advance about tying the stems, and also choose a “secluded” place, protected from strong winds.
However, among modern tomato varieties it is quite possible to find vegetables with excellent taste characteristics. In addition, tomatoes grow more fragrant in open ground than in a greenhouse.
How to grow tomatoes outdoors
The process of growing tomatoes in garden beds is not much different from the greenhouse method. To get a good harvest, tomatoes need to be looked after regularly - this crop loves the sun, timely watering, and loose soil.
A summer resident or gardener needs to complete the following steps:
- The soil for tomatoes should be prepared in the fall. The soil on the site is dug up and fertilizers are added to it.
- In the spring, the soil must be disinfected by treating it with manganese or another antibacterial solution.
- Tomato seeds are pre-sown for seedlings.This is done at the end of February or beginning of March.
- Strong seedlings (about 30 cm high) can be planted in a watered garden bed. As a rule, this is done in mid-May, when the air temperature at night will not drop below zero. The Siberian climate is more severe, so tomatoes are planted in the ground here at the end of May or even at the beginning of June.
- In the first week, it is better not to water the tomato seedlings; they need to acclimatize and get stronger.
- During the entire growing season, tomatoes are fertilized 2-3 times. The main thing is not to overdo it with the application of mineral fertilizers, otherwise the tomatoes will grow instead of devoting all their strength to the ovaries.
- Watering tomatoes should be timely and regular - the soil between the bushes should not be dry and cracked.
- The soil between the rows must be fluffy - the roots need air.
- It is better to pick tomatoes when they are fully ripe. But if weather conditions do not allow, or the crop is intended for transportation or storage, you can also harvest green or brown tomatoes - they ripen well in a cool, dark place.
There are varieties of tomatoes that do not require pinching, since they practically do not produce side shoots.
The best varieties of tomatoes for open ground
Among all the varieties, each gardener selects for himself the best for some specific quality. For some, this is the timing of ripening, for others, yield is most important, and some are engaged in growing exotic or very large fruits.
Reviews from summer residents and experienced gardeners helped compile a list of the best varieties of tomatoes for open ground, which are most often grown in Russian garden beds (including in Siberia and the Urals).
"Sanka"
This variety is loved for its stability and unpretentiousness. Tomatoes "Sanka" will bring an equally good harvest in any area, even with little care. These tomatoes practically do not get sick; they grow to a maximum of 60 cm in height, so they do not need tying or pinching.
To get about three kilograms from each plant you just need to water the tomatoes in a timely manner. Even a sudden cold snap or short-term frosts will not significantly harm tomatoes. Round red fruits will cover the entire small bush.
The taste of tomato is high, which allows it to be consumed fresh, canned or pickled. The small size of the fruit also contributes to this – the average weight of a tomato is about 100 grams.
Another advantage of the Sanka variety is its high ripening speed. Already on the 90th day after sowing the seeds, the first fruits will ripen on the bushes.
"Ranetochka"
The same early ripening and very productive variety. “Ranetochka” tomatoes do not require complex care and processing; they are protected from most diseases. Late blight is also not dangerous for these tomatoes, since they ripen in more than 90 days, so they do not have time to catch the August cold snap and morning dew.
The plant is a standard type, the bushes are very compact, their height does not exceed 0.5 meters. But on each small bush, about 100 small red tomatoes ripen at the same time.
"Super Messenger"
An unpretentious variety of tomato for open ground, which is perfect for Siberia. This tomato tolerates long rains and cool temperatures in summer.
The fruits ripen quickly, the whole process takes no more than 95 days. The bushes are small, not very branched, the height of each rarely exceeds 45 cm. They produce consistently high yields of small, round fruits.
"Gull"
A tomato variety with amazing, perfectly round fruits. The growing season of tomatoes ranges from 90 to 100 days (depending on the growing region). Tomato bushes are compact, standard, rarely reaching a height of more than 0.5 meters.
Ripe tomatoes are red in color and have an excellent taste and distinct aroma. The size of the tomato is medium - weight ranges from 70 to 90 grams. The fruits are not subject to cracking and over-ripening, so the variety is excellent for summer cottages, which the owner visits only on weekends.
Large-fruited tomatoes
Not everyone cares about the yield or durability of tomatoes. Although, As a rule, large-fruited or unusual tomatoes are grown in protected greenhouses; non-standard-sized tomatoes can also be grown in garden beds.
"Pudovik"
The variety is considered the largest-fruited of those intended for cultivation in Russia. The weight of one tomato can reach a maximum of 1000 grams. At the same time, about ten tomatoes are formed on the bush at the same time. The yield of the variety reaches 5-6 kg per plant.
It is clear that the Pudovik tomato bushes themselves cannot be small - the plant is indeterminate, reaching a height of 150 cm. The tomato needs good feeding, this not only stimulates the growth of the plant and the development of the ovaries, but also increases its immunity, which is important for the fight against viruses and bacteria.
The technical maturity of tomatoes occurs on the 115th day after planting in the soil (mid-early tomato), so they can be grown in any region, even in Siberia.
"Tolstoy"
The variety has been grown in Russia for more than a quarter of a century, and does not lose its popularity. The hybrid is considered high-yielding, since about 12 kg of tomatoes can be harvested from each square meter.
The average weight of the fruit is 250 grams, the tomatoes have good taste and rich aroma. The height of the bushes reaches 150 cm, the plants are spreading, but do not require pinching. The Tolstoy tomato is not afraid of most “tomato” diseases, such as powdery mildew or fusarium, for example.
"Bull's Heart"
An equally famous tomato, which every gardener planted on his plot at least once. The bushes reach a height of 130 cm, have powerful stems and side shoots.
A special feature of the variety is that the fruits from the first flowers are the largest, their weight can range from 350 to 900 grams. And the next tomatoes will be much smaller - about 150 grams.
The shape of the tomato is unusual, it looks like a heart. The fruit is pinkish in color. The taste is excellent - the tomato is fleshy, juicy and very sweet. Such fruits are mainly used for fresh consumption and for preparing salads.
Review of tomato “Bull's Heart”
High-yielding tomato varieties
The best varieties of tomatoes for open ground can also be high-yielding. This quality of vegetable crops is probably the main thing. After all Every gardener wants to get the maximum return - to collect as many beautiful, appetizing tomatoes as possible.
Basically, the fruits of productive varieties are not large in size - tomatoes have an average weight. But there are a lot of them, which allows you to collect up to 20 kg of tomatoes from each square meter of land.
"Diabolik"
A good variety acclimatized for Russia. This tomato beats the famous Dutch hybrids in several respects.
The height of the bushes is 120 cm, the side shoots are poorly developed, the plant does not need to be pinched or pinched. The fruits are medium in size, weighing about 120 grams. The shape is regular, round, the color is red. A distinctive feature of tomatoes is their light weight. The fruits tolerate transportation and long-term storage well.
The advantage of the variety is increased resistance to various diseases. With selective cultivation, it is possible to achieve yields of up to 700 centners per hectare of land. Under normal conditions, tomatoes need intensive fertilizing with mineral fertilizers.
"Bobcat F1"
A fairly productive hybrid tomato, which is often grown in farmers' fields and used for sale.
The bushes have a height of 120 cm, they definitely need to be pinched - this will increase the yield by more than 20%. The average weight of a tomato is 140 grams.The fruits can be stored and transported - they do not lose their attractiveness for a long time.
The advantage of the variety is increased durability. Plants are almost never infected with anthractic blight and fusarium.
"Solokha"
The height of this tomato bush does not exceed 90 cm, it is slightly spreading. The mass of tomatoes is quite large - from 150 to 250 grams. Large fruits appear especially often when no more than 20 tomatoes are planted on one bush.
With regular watering and good fertilizing, farmers get about 400 quintals of tomatoes from each hectare of land. They are great for commercial purposes and can be stored and transported. “Solokha” is also often grown in summer cottages and vegetable gardens.
Tomatoes resistant to cold and viruses
In temperate climates, where summers are often rainy and cool, spring is quite late, and autumn, on the contrary, is early, the durability of tomatoes is very important. Domestic gardeners prefer hardened varieties to pampered “exotics”. Such tomatoes can be grown not only in the south of the country, but also in the Urals or Siberia.
Usually, varietal tomatoes of domestic selection turn out to be “stronger” than foreign hybrids. In addition, such tomatoes contain much more nutrients and vitamins and have a more pronounced taste. Therefore, for many, these are the best varieties of tomatoes for open ground.
"Marmande"
The seedlings of this tomato can be transferred to the beds already in early May, which is two weeks earlier than usual. This allows you to get very early harvests, and also avoid tomato fruiting in too wet and cool August.
The weight of the fruit reaches 250 grams, which is rare for a representative of this group.
The Marmande tomato resists not only fungal and viral diseases, it does not attract pests and insects.
"Stellate sturgeon"
A tomato selected in Holland, but acclimatized to the weather conditions of Russia. The fruits are very large - sometimes more than 450 grams. The tomato peel is dense and the flesh is tender. The fruits are well stored and can withstand transportation.
Although the height of the bush reaches 140 cm, the powerful stem does not need to be tied up. Also, the plant does not need pinching.
"Roma"
This variety can be classified into two groups: it produces high yields and is considered the most resistant to fungal pathogens. The growing season is 120 days, and in the last two weeks of this period the plant can withstand significant temperature drops, even frost.
120-centimeter bushes require pinching. The fruits on them grow of medium size - approximately 140 grams in weight.
Review of tomato "Roma"
Results
Everyone chooses their own best variety of tomatoes.But specifically for open ground, we can recommend productive, early-ripening, unpretentious and resistant varieties, acclimatized to the temperature characteristics of the region.
