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Every gardener tries to find varieties of tomatoes that stand out for their excellent taste, excellent presentation and ease of care. One of them is the Andreevsky surprise tomato, reviews and photos of which indicate its wide popularity.
Tall indeterminate bushes attract large, fleshy fruits of bright, deep pink color. The variety is intended for cultivation in greenhouses, but in warm climates the tomato also develops well in open beds.
Characteristics of the variety
The Andreevsky Surprise variety is a late-ripening tomato; it produces the first harvest four months after planting the seeds. The bushes grow up to 2 m, so when planting they have to be tied to supports. For tomatoes, it is more favorable to form 1 or 2 stems. With proper care and regular feeding, the average yield is 5-8 kg per bush. The variety is resistant to late blight. An attractive property of Andreevsky Surprise tomatoes, according to reviews and photos, is its undemandingness to intense lighting. Seedlings develop well even with a lack of light.
The fruits of the Andreevsky Surprise variety are characterized by:
- large in size - the weight of 1 tomato can reach from 600 to 800 g;
- at the stage of full maturity, rich pink, turning into crimson, color;
- characteristic flat-round shape with slightly noticeable ribbing;
- high content of sugars, giving tomatoes excellent taste;
- versatility in use - the variety is equally good for use in summer salads, preparing vegetable dishes and winter preparations.
The main disadvantages of the Andreevsky Surprise tomato, according to reviews and photos, include its low yield, although it is compensated by its excellent taste. It should also be noted that the fruits are prone to cracking.
Growing seedlings
For higher productivity, Andreevsky Surprise tomatoes need to be provided with optimal temperature conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the timing of sowing seeds, focusing on the end of night frosts in a given region. The most favorable period for sowing seeds for seedlings is usually considered to be the beginning or middle of March, depending on the climatic conditions of the region. By the beginning of summer, tomato seedlings will be ready to be transplanted into a greenhouse or garden beds.
Soil preparation
The soil for sowing seeds is prepared within two weeks. You can prepare it yourself by mixing garden soil with sand and humus. The presence of a small amount of clay also has a beneficial effect on the condition of the roots. Do not increase the soil nutrition too much. The finished soil needs to be disinfected and small boxes filled with it. For disinfection, you can use a strong solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water. After sterilization, beneficial microflora multiply in the soil.
Sowing seeds
It is better to purchase tomato seeds St. Andrew's surprise in specialized stores. They do not need additional processing. However, seeds purchased from other places or collected independently must be disinfected with potassium permanganate. Some gardeners suggest soaking the seeds in diluted aloe juice for about a day.
Tomato seeds are sown in well-moistened soil. They can be placed on the surface or in grooves at a distance of 2 cm from each other and sprinkled with earth on top. Containers with tomato crops are covered with film on top and placed in a warm place to speed up their germination. Every day you need to lift the film a little to provide air access to them. When the soil with seeds dries out, water it with a spray bottle. However, it should not be allowed to become waterlogged. If mold appears on the surface of the soil due to excess moisture, you must carefully remove the top layer and treat the soil with potassium permanganate.
Seedling care
After 3-4 days at a temperature of +25 degrees, the first tomato sprouts will appear. Reviews and photos of those who planted the Andreevsky Surprise tomato testify to such an important feature as the absence of the need for additional lighting. Therefore, for intensive growth of tomato seedlings, it is enough to place boxes with green shoots on the windowsill.
After two true leaves appear on the tomato sprouts, it is necessary to pick the seedlings.
Transplanting sprouts into separate pots
Reviews of the Andreevsky Surprise tomato recommend watering the seedlings generously the day before picking so that they can then be easily separated along with a lump of earth. The procedure requires special care. A few tips will help you avoid damaging the delicate stems of tomatoes and not delaying their further development:
- if you deepen tomato sprouts when replanting almost to the cotyledon leaves, they will have more roots, but the stem will still stretch;
- do not delay picking - the earlier the sprouts are transplanted, the sooner they will adapt and strengthen the root system;
- to avoid infection with fungus, the roots of seedlings are well disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
- The first feeding of tomatoes can be done about a week after the dive, when the plants adapt to the new location.
In the future, fertilizing should be done once a week. Description of tomatoes Andreevsky Surprise advises using diluted manure or herbal infusions for fertilizer. At the same time, it is necessary to harden the tomato seedlings by taking them outside on sunny days and gradually increasing the exposure time.
Transplanting seedlings into beds
Healthy tomato seedlings are distinguished by thick stems, large leaves and a powerful root system. If the seedlings begin to throw out flower brushes, no later than two weeks later they need to be transplanted into a greenhouse or open ground. Violation of these deadlines will lead to a cessation of plant growth and a further reduction in their productivity.
If it is not possible within this period replant tomatoes, you can pinch off the flower brush that appears. Then the timing of transplanting to the beds can be postponed for another week.Tomatoes transplanted on time will produce their first harvest within two months after transplantation.
Planting seedlings in a greenhouse
Description of the variety, photos and reviews characterize the Andreevsky Surprise tomato as a very tall variety, so the height of the greenhouse must be sufficient for its stems. The beds need to be warmed well before planting tomatoes. Manure is laid out on them, and garden soil at least 18 cm thick is covered on top; there should be a layer of wood ash between the manure and the soil. Rules for planting tomato bushes in a greenhouse include:
- optimal planting pattern - 60 cm between bushes and 40 cm between rows;
- favorable weather conditions - it is better to replant tomatoes in cloudy weather, in the late afternoon;
- optimal depth of the stem - if the seedlings are too long, they are placed along the furrow and sprinkled with soil;
- tying tomatoes to supports - they can be prepared in advance so that the tall stems are more stable and do not break.
Tomato care
Growing the Andreevsky Surprise tomato, as the characteristics and description of the variety show, requires timely implementation of agrotechnical measures:
- regular watering;
- applying mineral and organic fertilizers;
- removal of a huge number of stepchildren;
- systematic tying to supports as they grow;
- formation of tomatoes into 1-2 stems;
- periodic ventilation of the greenhouse;
- maintaining the temperature within +30 degrees;
- timely harvesting of tomatoes to avoid cracking.
Reviews from gardeners
Conclusion
Despite the fact that the Andreevsky Surprise tomato variety is not characterized by high yield, it has gained wide popularity for its excellent taste.
