Content
The Sergeant Pepper tomato is a new tomato variety, originated by American breeder James Hanson. The culture was obtained by hybridizing the varieties Red Strawberry and Blue. The popularity of Sgt Pepper in Russia is only gaining momentum. Photos of the Sergeant Pepper tomato and reviews from vegetable growers will help you get a general idea of the crop and make a choice in favor of a new product.
Description of the tomato variety Sergeant Pepper
The Sergeant Pepper tomato variety belongs to the indeterminate species, the final growth point is about 2 m. The height of the plant is adjusted to fit the trellis, the top is broken at approximately 1.8 m. The generative type tomato forms a semi-standard bush. The growing season is aimed at the formation of fruits due to the minimum number of stepsons and leaves. A distinctive feature of the variety is short internodes and exotic coloring of the fruits.
The culture is intended for cultivation in open ground and in closed structures. In regions with a warm climate, the plant is grown in an unprotected area, in more severe weather conditions - in a greenhouse. External characteristics of the Sergeant Pepper tomato:
- The bush is formed by 3–4 equivalent shoots of the first order, the stems are of medium thickness, weak, the structure is flexible, rigid. The shoots are light green with a brown tint.
- The leaves are opposite, dark green, attached to thin long petioles. The leaf plate is rough with fine pile, corrugated, the edges with large sparse teeth.
- The root system is fibrous, superficial, slightly overgrown. Without additional feeding and constant watering, the plant cannot provide enough microelements.
- The fruit clusters are complex, of medium length, and are filled with 4 to 6 ovaries. The first ones are formed after 4 leaves, the subsequent ones after 2.
- The flowers are dark yellow, the variety is self-pollinating, it forms ovaries in 98%.
In terms of ripening time, it belongs to the mid-early type; the first fruits are collected 120 days after placing the seedlings in the ground. Fruiting lasts for a long time: from August to September. The last tomatoes are picked at the stage of technical ripeness; they ripen safely in a cool, shaded room.
Description of fruits
The variety is presented in two varieties: Sergeant Pepper pink and blue tomato. The varietal characteristics are the same; representatives of the species differ only in the color of the tomato. Description of the fruits of the Sergeant tomato variety Blue Heart:
- near the stalk the shape is round, narrows to an acute angle upward, and in cross section looks like a heart;
- the weight of the fruits of the first and last circle is different, ranging from 160-300 g;
- has an exotic color (bicolor), the lower part has a pronounced anthocyanin, dark purple pigmentation can reach the middle of the fruit, the top at the moment of ripeness is a rich burgundy color;
- the peel is thin, without proper watering it is prone to cracking;
- surface smooth, glossy;
- the pulp in cross-section is dark brown, turning into burgundy, juicy, dense, without hard fragments;
- There are few seeds, they are located in four testes.
The tomato variety Sergeant Pepper Pink Heart has the same characteristics, the fruits differ only in color: anthocyanin is weakly expressed, distributed along the shoulders, the main color of the tomato is pink.
The taste of the tomato is sweet with a caramel flavor; there is no acid at all.
Table variety tomatoes have good taste and aroma; they are consumed fresh and prepared in vegetable salads. The mid-early variety is suitable for processing into juice, ketchup; tomatoes are used in home preparations for the winter.
Main characteristics
The tomato variety Sergeant Pepper is a plant of average frost resistance. In unprotected soil, if there is a threat of return frosts, shelter is required. The plant does not tolerate shade, is light-loving, the taste of the tomato is fully revealed in good light and high temperature. Tomato tolerance to drought is low; the bushes must be watered from the moment of planting until the last fruits are harvested.
Tomatoes, subject to comfortable growing conditions, give a high yield. An incorrectly located bed, a lack of moisture and ultraviolet radiation can reduce the indicator. Under optimal conditions, the yield from 1 unit. is 3.5–4 kg. The plant is quite compact, 1 m2 At least 4 tomatoes are planted and up to 13 kg are harvested. The variety is mid-early, the first wave of the harvest reaches biological ripeness in the second half of August, fruiting lasts until the first frost.In the greenhouse, ripening occurs 2 weeks earlier. The yield level does not depend on the growing method.
The selective tomato variety Sergeant Pepper has good immunity to most diseases. Tobacco mosaic or cladosporiosis may occur in greenhouses. In greenhouse structures, pests do not attack the plant. In open ground, the plant rarely gets sick, but it can be parasitized by the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Sergeant Pepper tomato is characterized by a number of advantages:
- Good yield indicator.
- Long fruiting period.
- Blue and pink varieties produce fruits with exotic colors.
- The fruits are valued for their chemical composition, which is unusual for conventional varieties.
- Tomatoes for universal use, with a high glucose level.
- The fruits do not lose their varietal characteristics during artificial ripening.
- Suitable for cultivation in greenhouses and open ground.
- The variety resists infections and pests well.
The downside is the requirement for heat, light, and watering. Not everyone likes the complete absence of acid in the taste.
Rules for planting and care
The Sergeant Pepper tomato variety is propagated using the seedling method. It is theoretically possible to plant seeds directly into the garden bed, but this method is used extremely rarely. The variety is mid-early, fruit ripening will be much later. In a temperate climate, this factor matters; tomatoes will not have time to ripen in a short summer.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
Seeds are planted for seedlings at the end of March, the timing is selected based on regional climate characteristics. Seedlings are placed on the plot after 45 days of growth. In the southern regions, sowing is earlier; in areas with a cold climate, seedlings are grown later.
Prepare containers for tomatoes in advance; containers made of wood or plastic are suitable. It is necessary to take care of the soil. It can be purchased or mixed independently from peat, compost, sand, soil from the site in equal proportions, nitrogen is added to the mixture at the rate of 100 g per 10 kg of soil.
Planting seedlings:
- Soil is poured into the boxes and longitudinal depressions of 2 cm are made.
- Place seeds at intervals of 1 cm.
- The furrows are filled and moistened.
- Cover with glass or film and place in a lighted place.
After germination, the film is removed and watered every day. After the appearance of the third leaf, the seedlings are planted in separate containers and complex fertilizers are applied. 1 week after planting, they are taken out to a permanent bed.
Transplanting Seedlings
Sergeant Pepper tomato seedlings are planted in the greenhouse in the first half of May:
- Pre-dig up the area.
- Remove fragments of last year's plants.
- They add organic matter.
- I make longitudinal furrows 15 cm deep.
- The plant is placed at a right angle, the root is placed reclining, this way the plant will take root better.
- Fill up to the lower leaves and mulch.
The sequence of planting in a greenhouse or in an open area is the same. The plant is planted in unprotected soil after the soil has warmed up to at least +180 C. At 1 m2 place 4 plants.
Tomato care
The Sergeant Pepper variety is demanding on lighting; after placement in the greenhouse, additional lighting is installed and the structure is periodically ventilated. In an open area, the bed is placed on the south side without shading. Subsequent tomato care includes:
- preventive treatment with copper sulfate, which is carried out before flowering;
- loosening the soil and removing weeds;
- hilling and mulching with straw;
- Tomatoes need constant watering; the soil should not be allowed to dry out;
- form a bush with 3-4 shoots, remove the stepsons, cut off the lower leaves and fruit-bearing brushes;
- For the entire growing season, the stems are fixed to the trellis.
The Sergeant Pepper variety is fertilized every 2 weeks, alternating organic matter, superphosphate, potassium and phosphorus agents.
Conclusion
Tomato Sergeant Pepper is a selected mid-early variety suitable for open cultivation and greenhouse cultivation. The culture produces good yields of exotically colored fruits. The tomato has a sweet taste and pronounced aroma, and is versatile in use. A variety with good immunity, practically does not get sick, and does not require complex agricultural technology.
