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The climate of most Russian regions is not very suitable for gardening. Therefore, domestic breeders are actively working on developing zoned varieties and hybrids that are more hardy and cold-resistant. This category also includes the Northern Baby tomato. Gardeners value it for its early ripening, consistently high yields, good immunity, and very good taste of the fruit.
History of selection
The creator of the Northern Baby tomatoes is the private breeder V.I. Kozak. He is also listed in the Russian State Register of Selection Achievements as the originator. The new variety received “official recognition” in 2007, a year after the application for its registration was submitted.
The Northern Malyutka tomato has successfully passed variety trials in most Russian regions. Experts recognized it as suitable for southern subtropical, temperate (central Russia), and more severe climates.But, as the name suggests, the variety was created primarily for regions that are not very suitable for agriculture - the north and north-west of the European part of Russia, the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East.
Northern Malyutka seeds are produced by several agricultural companies, including Gavrish and Aelita
Description of the tomato variety Northern Malyutka
In terms of ripening time, the Northern Baby tomato belongs to the category of early ripening. It takes 80-95 days for the fruits to ripen from the moment the seeds germinate. This “scatter” of timing is easily explained by the variety of climatic conditions in Russian regions. In the south, the Northern Baby tomato can even be classified as ultra-early.
Determinate bush. This means that upon reaching the height “set” by the breeder, it stops growing. It varies between 40-55 cm depending on whether the bushes are planted in open or closed ground.
The plants are relatively spreading, “squat”, with a powerful stem. The leaves are medium sized and have a typical tomato shape. The inflorescences are simple.
Bushes of the Northern Malyutka variety cannot be called densely leafy.
The fruits are round in shape, typical for tomatoes. The skin is a classic “tomato” red hue, glossy and shiny. Northern baby tomatoes are medium-sized, one-dimensional (45-60 g). The maximum weight of individual fruits is 80-100 g. The pulp is of medium density, “grainy” when cut. The taste is not bad, but not outstanding - sweetish, with noticeable sourness.
Each fruit has 3-5 chambers, there are very few seeds inside, they are small, often underdeveloped
Characteristics of tomato Northern baby
According to official data, the Northern Baby tomato is intended for cultivation in open ground. But gardeners successfully cultivate it in greenhouses and greenhouses.
Northern baby tomato yield
Northern baby tomatoes are characterized by massive fruiting. The first “wave” is approximately half of the entire harvest. Tomatoes are harvested in the first or second decade of July. You can count on about 2-3 kg per 1 m².
Temperature changes and cool summers have virtually no effect on yields
Resistance to diseases and pests
Northern baby tomatoes get sick extremely rarely. The variety has “innate” immunity to blossom end and root rot. Infection with other pathogenic microflora is not observed, even if the fungi attack bushes of other varieties located nearby in the garden bed.
Plants simply do not have time to become infected with late blight - the disease appears towards the end of summer. By this time, the entire harvest has already been harvested from the bushes of this variety and removed from the garden bed.
Methods of use
According to their intended purpose, Northern Baby tomatoes are officially recognized as salad tomatoes and suitable for whole-fruit canning. Due to their small size, they are convenient to place in jars. After heat treatment, the skin cracks in places, but the tomatoes retain their pulp density and bright color.
In general, gardeners believe that these tomatoes can be called universal. Tomatoes are suitable for any first and second courses, making homemade ketchup, tomato paste, and juices. The dense flesh allows them to be dried and frozen.
Advantages and disadvantages
The steady popularity of the Northern Baby tomato among gardeners is explained by a set of its advantages:
- suitability for cultivation in almost any Russian region;
- possibility of planting in open and closed ground;
- low maintenance requirements;
- growing bushes without pinching and shaping;
- general endurance, “stress resistance”, the ability of bushes to develop and bear fruit in conditions that are far from optimal;
- the possibility of “compacted” planting (saving space in the garden bed);
- early harvest dates, “friendly” fruiting;
- good immunity, resistance to all types of rot;
- external presentability, one-dimensionality of fruits;
- good taste of tomatoes, versatility of their purpose;
- suitability of tomatoes for transportation.
The Northern baby tomato has been successfully withstanding the “competition” for almost 15 years
During the entire period of cultivation of the variety by amateur gardeners, no objective serious deficiencies could be identified. Some point out the need for “increased” feeding as a relative minus. Due to the rapid pace of development and good yield, the bushes need increased doses of fertilizers.
Sometimes the need to purchase seeds annually is noted as a disadvantage. Theoretically, you can collect them yourself, but in practice there are very few of them in Northern Baby tomatoes, most of them are underdeveloped.
Features of cultivation
Since gardeners grow Northern Baby tomatoes mainly in the conditions of the short Ural or Siberian summer, they practice preliminary cultivation of seedlings. It is transferred to open ground when the risk of return spring frosts is minimized - in the last ten days of May or early June.Northern baby tomato seedlings can be planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse earlier - in early May.
About a week to a week and a half before planting, the seedlings begin to harden off. This will help her quickly adapt to new living conditions. Northern baby tomatoes are taken out into the open air every day, increasing the time they spend on the street.
“Adult” seedlings suitable for transplanting to a garden bed have 5-6 true leaves and grow to 12-15 cm in height
It is advisable to choose a place for the garden bed that is well lit and warmed by the sun, although Northern Baby tomato bushes tolerate light partial shade well. Direct rays do not harm them in any way and do not affect the volume and quality of the harvest. High nutritional value of the soil is not a necessary condition; it can be “corrected” with fertilizers. But it must be loose, so that water does not stagnate in the soil, and air flows freely to the roots, and with a neutral acid-base balance.
Excessive “crowding” in the garden bed negatively affects the development of tomato bushes
About a week before planting, the bed is dug up, at the same time approximately 3-5 liters of humus and 20-30 g of complex nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer are added per 1 m². Fertilizers need to be incorporated into the soil.
The most important agrotechnical measure for Northern Baby tomatoes is watering. In the first week after transplantation, the soil is not moistened. It is enough that the holes and seedlings in the containers in front of it are generously spilled with water.
Tomatoes are watered in any way that prevents drops from getting on the leaves and fruits.
This variety tolerates short-term “drought” better than regular waterlogging of the soil. On average, bushes need weekly watering (5-7 liters per plant). But the intervals are constantly changing - this is influenced by the air temperature outside, the frequency and intensity of precipitation.
It is best to water Northern Baby tomatoes in the evenings. The water should be relatively warm (22-25 °C) and soft. The tap water will have to be pre-settled.
Northern Malyutka tomatoes are fed three times:
- 2.5-3 weeks after transplanting the seedlings to the garden bed;
- when the second fruit cluster blooms;
- when forming the third.
Plants respond well to natural organic matter. But it is still advisable to use complex store-bought fertilizers designed specifically for tomatoes or Solanaceae.
Folk remedies cannot always provide Northern Malyutka tomatoes with the required macro- and microelements in the required volumes
Northern Baby tomato bushes do not require special formation and removal of stepsons. Their stem is quite powerful, but it is still recommended to tie up the fruit clusters as they ripen so that they do not break off.
Pest and disease control
The immunity of Northern Baby tomatoes is very good. The experience of gardeners shows that there is no fungal disease that is the “scourge” of the variety. To prevent infection by pathogenic microflora, in most cases, the absence of gross errors in agricultural technology and compliance with the planting scheme is sufficient.
Some gardeners, to be on the safe side, practice treating seeds before planting seedlings in a solution of any fungicide. It is recommended to spray Northern Baby tomato bushes with the same preparations and the soil in the garden bed if the weather outside for a long time is favorable for the development of many pathogens (damp and not hot). Treatments are repeated every 1.5-2 weeks.
Copper-containing preparations are harmful to pathogenic fungi
Conclusion
The Northern Baby tomato is specially created for regions that can be classified as “risky farming zones.” It is distinguished by its general endurance and “stress resistance”, and consistently produces good yields in difficult conditions. At the same time, the plants are not picky in their care and rarely get sick. Tomatoes ripen one-dimensionally, look very presentable, are distinguished by their versatility and good taste.
Reviews from gardeners about the Northern Baby tomato
