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Just a couple of decades ago, gardeners from the northern regions of Russia could only dream of fresh tomatoes grown in their own beds. But today there are a lot of varietal and hybrid tomatoes designed specifically for regions with difficult climates. One of the universal and most popular varieties is a tomato with a very characteristic name - Snowdrop. This tomato has a number of advantages, among which the main ones are productivity, endurance and the ability to grow both in open ground and in a greenhouse or heated greenhouse.
Detailed characteristics and descriptions of the Snowdrop tomato variety will be given in this article. Here you can find a list of the strengths and weaknesses of the Siberian tomato, and learn how to grow it correctly.
Features of the variety
The Snowdrop variety was bred by domestic breeders from the Siberian region back in 2000. Exactly one year after this, the tomato was included in the State Register and recommended for cultivation in the Leningrad region, in the Central and Northern regions of Russia, in Karelia and the Urals.
The Snowdrop tomato variety was bred as an early-ripening and frost-resistant variety intended for the northernmost regions of the country. Even in the Far North, attempts to grow this tomato were crowned with success (although the tomato was planted in a heated greenhouse and artificially supplemented with additional light).
In addition to resistance to climate, Snowdrop has one more quality - unpretentiousness to the composition of the soil and the level of nutrition: even on the most depleted and meager soils, this tomato pleases with stable yields.
Character traits
The Snowdrop tomato variety impresses with its good yield, because from a square meter of plot or greenhouse you can harvest more than ten kilograms of excellent tomatoes.
The characteristics of this tomato variety are as follows:
- the crop is early ripening, the fruits ripen within 80-90 days after the appearance of the first shoots;
- the plant is considered semi-determinate, grows into semi-standard bushes;
- the height of the bush is quite large - 100-130 cm;
- the tomato needs shaping, but you won’t have to remove the Snowdrop’s stepsons (which makes the summer resident’s work much easier);
- Tomato leaves are small, light green, tomato-type;
- the stems are massive, strong, capable of supporting the heavy weight of numerous fruits;
- fruit clusters are laid over 7-8 leaves, then formed after 1-2 leaves;
- The tomato blooms very amicably, as well as sets fruit;
- It is recommended to grow a Snowdrop bush with three stems, then on each shoot three clusters will form, each of which will form five fruits;
- with proper formation of the bush, you can harvest 45 tomatoes from one plant;
- Snowdrop fruits are round in shape and medium in size;
- the average weight of a tomato is 90 grams, the maximum is 120-150 grams;
- tomatoes on the lower branches are much larger than those growing above;
- the fruit is colored evenly, in a rich red hue;
- Snowdrop's pulp is very sweet, juicy, fleshy;
- There are three chambers inside the tomato;
- the amount of dry matter is 5%, which indicates the shelf life of the tomato and its suitability for transportation;
- The Snowdrop harvest is perfect for canning, eating fresh, preparing salads, sauces and purees;
- The Snowdrop tomato has good frost resistance, so its seedlings can be planted early without fear of return frosts.
Advantages and disadvantages
The vast majority of reviews about the Snowdrop tomato are positive. Summer residents and gardeners of the country like this tomato because of such qualities as:
- ability to tolerate low temperatures and light frosts without loss of yield;
- good drought resistance, allowing gardeners to spend less time in beds with tomatoes;
- very abundant fruiting - 45 tomatoes per bush;
- earlier fruit ripening (which is especially important for regions with short summers);
- good immunity to diseases and pests;
- the possibility of long-term storage of fruits and their transportation;
- balanced taste, tender pulp;
- highly marketable type of fruit;
- suitability of the variety for cultivation under film and under conditions of artificial supplementary lighting;
- no need for stepsoning;
- unpretentiousness not only to the climate, but also to the composition of the soil.
Despite the huge number of advantages, gardeners found a couple of disadvantages in Snowdrop. Among the disadvantages, summer residents note the need to form bushes and the increased sensitivity of tomatoes to the quantity and quality of fertilizing.
Do not forget that Snowdrop is a tomato of Siberian selection. Yes, in most regions of the country it produces stable harvests, but in the south it is better not to plant tomatoes, replacing them with a more heat-loving variety.
Growing tomatoes
Reviews about the yield of the Snowdrop tomato and photos of its smooth, beautiful fruits have been pushing gardeners to buy seeds of this variety for more than fifteen years. Those who have already planted this tomato on their plots also rarely forget about it, planting it again and again every year.
Planting tomatoes
In the northernmost regions, it is recommended to grow Snowdrop in a heated greenhouse; in the Urals, for example, this tomato thrives under film. In central Russia, it is quite possible to plant seedlings directly into the ground, because the variety is frost-resistant.
In cold climates, tomato seeds are sown for seedlings no earlier than April. Before planting, it is recommended to disinfect the seeds themselves, soil and containers, since due to lack of sun the risk of contracting fungal infections increases significantly.
Any method is suitable for disinfection: a solution of potassium permanganate, copper sulfate, freezing or calcining the soil, placing seeds in hot water (about 50 degrees), etc.
Tomato seedlings are grown as usual, only providing additional lighting when there are too many cloudy days and not enough sun. When 7-8 true leaves appear, you can transplant the tomatoes to a permanent place.
Planting of frost-resistant Snowdrop in the northern regions is carried out no earlier than the beginning of June. The soil in the garden bed or in the greenhouse is also first disinfected with boiling water or potassium permanganate. Shortly before planting, the soil is fed with humus or complex fertilizers.
On every square meter you can plant 3-4 snowdrop bushes. Although this tomato is considered tall, its bushes are not too spreading, semi-standard. Denser planting is not recommended, as tomatoes in cold climates may not get enough sun.
Caring for Siberian tomatoes
In order for plants and fruits to look as beautiful and healthy as in the photo, the Snowdrop variety must be properly cared for. Care rules are developed taking into account the cold climate and short northern summer.
So, Snowdrop bushes need the following:
- If there is not enough sun, it is better to spray the tomatoes after planting in the ground with a solution of superphosphate.As a result, the leaf blade will darken, which will accelerate photosynthesis and shorten the period of fruit ripening.
- Each plant must be grown in three stems - this is how the tomato yield will be the highest, and the bush can be properly ventilated.
- There is no need to plant Snowdrop; this tomato develops well and quickly and forms many ovaries.
- Tall bushes will have to be tied up, because there will be a lot of fruits on the branches, they can break off after rain or strong wind.
- Siberian tomatoes should be watered sparingly; from excess moisture they can develop late blight or other fungal infections.
- You cannot overfeed the soil with organic matter or minerals - Snowdrop really doesn’t like this. Fertilizers should be applied carefully, without exceeding the dosage. The right time for feeding is a week after planting and at the stage of ovary formation. At the development stage, tomatoes need phosphorus and potassium, and during fruit ripening, nitrogen.
- With proper care, a tomato rarely gets sick; only root rot threatens the Snowdrop. For prevention, it is better, however, to treat the bushes with fungicidal preparations even before the flowering stage. A one-time treatment of tomatoes with “Bison” should help against aphids and thrips.
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Conclusion
The Snowdrop tomato is rightfully considered one of the most frost-resistant and most productive varieties. In addition to these advantages, the tomato pleases with its early ripening and exceptional unpretentiousness. The variety is perfect for those who are constantly short of time, who grow tomatoes for sale, and for summer residents from the northernmost and coldest regions of the country.
