Specifics of growing tomatoes in the Leningrad region
The region is characterized by short summers. Summer residents who have the opportunity grow tomatoes in greenhouses. But those vegetable growers who cannot purchase a greenhouse grow tomatoes under film cover. In both cases, tomatoes are cultivated in seedlings, just as in other areas. But with one obligatory condition - the seedlings must be hardened.
Particular attention is paid to the selection of varieties; it is better to sow tomatoes at an early stage of ripening, they have time to ripen in the beds. In addition, it is undesirable to sow large-fruited tomatoes; they do not ripen.
The Leningrad region is a region belonging to the risky farming zone. In winter it is difficult to grow any tomatoes, the reason is limited daylight hours. You can't do without installing the backlight.
Properties of tomatoes that are taken into account when choosing types for the Leningrad region:
- Ripening period is early.
- High immunity.
- Tolerance of adverse environmental conditions.
- Tolerance to lack of light.
Correctly selected varieties will delight the summer resident with high yields.
Tomato varieties for greenhouses
For those vegetable growers who have greenhouses made of polycarbonate and other materials, the following types of tomatoes are available to choose from. After reviewing the characteristics, you should choose a variety that suits your family’s needs.
Leningradsky early ripening
Early ripening tomato. The hybrid has the following properties: resistant to diseases and unfavorable growing conditions.
Description:
- Height 80 cm.
- Ripens in 95 days.
- The tomatoes are red, round, medium-sized.
- Average weight 60-80 g.
Low maintenance requirements make the variety in demand among summer residents.
Ural multiple
Adapted to harsh growing conditions. Suitable for planting in greenhouses heated in winter. It tolerates a lack of sunlight well and can bear fruit without additional lighting. The Ural multifruit variety is immune to disease.
The plants are low, the fruits are scarlet, 60 g each, round in shape. The taste characteristics are standard, the application is universal.
Leningrad autumn
The species is attractive because it resists cold and is able to bear fruit in low light conditions. Belongs to the indeterminate type, it is necessary to shape and tie. The variety is grown on the site all year round.
The color of the fruit is red-orange, flattened in shape. The tomatoes are small and sweetish in taste. Housewives use tomatoes for preparing salads, dressings, main courses and any method of pickling and canning.
The best tomato varieties for the North-West
They differ in the type of bush development, ability to resume growth and flowering.
Determinant
Tomatoes stop their growth after the formation of 4–5 clusters; they grow well in open ground or in unheated greenhouses. Under the conditions of the Leningrad region, pinching is necessary to achieve uniform fruit ripening.
Northern Lights - early, grows in open ground and in greenhouses. The stem grows up to 90 cm and needs pinching and staking. Fruits up to 90 g.
Bull's heart is a mid-late, high-yielding salad. The fruits gain weight up to 500 g. It is used in open ground and in greenhouses.
Talalikhin 186 - short (up to 60 cm), early ripening. Grows in open ground, under film and in pots. Low resistance to late blight.
The Bronze Horseman is an early variety with a long fruiting period for both open and closed ground. Resistant to late blight. The fruits can be stored for up to two months.
Comet - early ripening, loves warmth, intended for greenhouse maintenance.
Ground Gribovsky is a squat bush, resistant to cold and disease. Does not tolerate high humidity well. Belongs to early ripening.
Zoren is early ripening and productive. Tolerates cold weather well in open ground.
Siberian early ripening - low-growing bush, high yield. Grows well without shelter. Resistant to diseases.
Guarantor is an early ripening variety, suitable for greenhouse maintenance.
Tsarskoye Selo - early ripening, tall (up to 95 cm). It grows both in open ground and under film.
Lyana is very early, the yield of the harvest is friendly. Resistant to diseases.
Red arrow - the stem grows up to 1.5 meters, early ripening. Grown in greenhouses. Tolerates frost and lack of lighting very well.
Harlequin - excellent taste, high yield. Resistant to temperature changes and diseases.
Blagovest is a variety intended for greenhouses, early ripening, high-yielding, and little susceptible to temperature fluctuations.
Standard
They are characterized by a powerful, squat stem. There is no need to remove the stepsons and tie them up.
Olya is early ripening, tolerates frost well, and is little susceptible to disease. The fruits grow weighing up to 90 g.
Pink leader - bears pink fruits weighing up to 150 g. Adapted to the climatic conditions of the Leningrad region, early ripening.
Valentina - produces medium-sized, early-ripening orange fruits. Grows well in open ground
Northern baby - very early, with small tomatoes (30–35). Cultivated in open ground. Disease resistant.
Nevsky is early ripening, grows in open ground, is not afraid of cold weather and late blight.
Baltic - low-growing, ultra-early, high-yielding. It grows in open ground and is not afraid of dense planting.
North - due to its precocity, it is not afraid of late blight. Highly productive.
Anniversary VIR is an early ripening variety that is cultivated in open ground and in film greenhouses. The yield is high.
The berry is cold-resistant, early ripening, high-yielding. Tolerates lack of sunlight well.
Ranetochka - in open ground one bush can produce up to a hundred fruits weighing 30–40 g.
Hummingbird is an early ripening species, grown in garden plots and in pots. Fruits weighing up to 20g. suitable for whole canning.
Antoshka - a low-growing bush produces the first yellow fruits 90 days from the beginning of germination.
The Far North is early ripening, productive, and immune to cold and lack of light.
Indeterminate
Tomatoes are characterized by continuous stem growth. In the conditions of the Leningrad region, they are recommended for greenhouses, where they can grow and bear fruit for more than a year. They require particularly careful shaping and tying of the lash.
Sweet cherry - super early ripening, sweet, not afraid of cold and disease. The stem grows up to five meters.
Alena is cold-resistant, grows well in low light conditions, and is recommended for growing in greenhouses.
Swift - in greenhouses, tall stems need ventilation. Insufficient lighting tolerates well.
Rianto is high-yielding, early-ripening, disease-resistant.
Semi-determinant
These are hybrid varieties. They can suddenly stop growing. They are not distinguished by high early maturity.
The best varieties of low-growing tomatoes
Tomatoes of short stature are in great demand; they are easy to cover and care for. In the region, crops are planted only if film shelters are constructed.
Nevsky
Low bushes grow up to 35-50 cm. They belong to the determinant type and do not need staking or shaping. The species was released in 1978. Neva tomatoes can be grown in any conditions, as the bushes are universal. The variety is controversial among urban residents. Plants are undemanding in care and are immune to diseases.
The fruits are ready for consumption on the 95-100th day. The fruits are pink, round, weighing up to 60 g. They are widely used, often used in preparations.
Dwarf 1185
Plants ripen within 3.5-4 months after planting. The plants are low and do not require shaping or staking. Tomatoes are red, round or oval. The average weight of one tomato is 40-55 g. The harvest volume is 3.5 kg per 1 m2.
The variety is susceptible to late blight; this should be taken into account when treating diseases.
Baltic
A special feature of this type of tomato is its ability to bear fruit in short summer conditions. That is why the variety is recommended for cultivation in the Leningrad region. The fruits are red, weight reaches 150 g. Formation into 2 stems is recommended. Leave 6-7 brushes on each, no more needed.
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Resistant to diseases characteristic of the crop - late blight, scab, rot.
Yablonka
Low bushes, similar in appearance to potato bushes. The fruits ripen on the 120th day after emergence. The height of the plants does not exceed 1 m. They are undemanding in care, no formation is necessary. Field health is high. Summer residents plant plants in open and protected ground. The skin of tomatoes is thick and dense. The color of the ripe fruit is red. They weigh 90-100 g. With proper care, up to 5 kg of fruits are collected from one plant.
Ground Gribovsky 1180
An adult plant does not exceed 60 cm in height. Tomatoes ripen early. A determinate bush does without shaping and gartering. The fruits are typically red in color, weighing 120-150 g. Due to their thin skin, tomatoes are difficult to transport and are rarely canned. The main method of use is fresh consumption.
Low-maintenance plants are in demand among summer residents. Tomatoes are used to make juices and dressings for dishes.
Flash
The ripening period of tomatoes is early, the first fruit is picked on the 95th day. It reaches a height of 50 cm. The average weight of tomatoes is 80 g, round in shape, with a dense red skin. The density is high. The bushes are not tall; after the appearance of the 5th cluster, it is recommended to remove the growth point. Otherwise, care is no different from other varieties of tomatoes.
Snow fairy tale
Summer residents compare the bushes on which the fruits ripen to a decorated Christmas tree. The plants have a decorative appearance, small bushes are strewn with fruits. Tomatoes are small, red in color, and have the taste and aroma inherent to the culture. Used for consumption in fresh salads and canning for the winter.
The bushes are of a determinate type, do not grow, and do not require the installation of supports. To obtain large fruits, some flowers are removed from the cluster.
The most suitable varieties
Before choosing to buy tomato seeds for the Leningrad region, you need to study the best varieties of tomatoes that are recommended to be grown in this region. The characteristics and descriptions of tomatoes will help you get acquainted with all their key features and differences.
Northern beauty
This variety is not early ripening, since it ripens only two months after the seedlings are planted. The northern beauty is universal - it is perfect for polycarbonate greenhouses and for open areas. Grown bushes easily adapt to almost any weather conditions. The plant is distinguished by tall bushes, which, with proper care, grow up to 75 cm.
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The fruits cannot boast of great weight, since their mass is 100 grams. The northern beauty has excellent taste, which is why it is often used in cooking.
One of the main advantages of this variety is its immunity to tobacco mosaic and fusarium.
Mithridates F1
The variety is not suitable for people who are going to grow early ripening varieties, since Mithridates ripens only 115 days after planting the seedlings. This tomato variety can be grown in open ground and in greenhouses.
About 5-6 fruits weighing 150 grams appear on the clusters. Young fruits have a light greenish tint, which becomes bright red over time. The tomatoes are very juicy, dense and slightly ribbed. They can be transported over long distances, as they do not lose their commercial qualities within a month.
Pharaoh F1
A mid-season hybrid variety that begins to ripen 120 days after seedlings are planted in the ground. Pharaoh is known for its rapid development and tall bushes that grow up to one meter. The bushes are covered with a small number of short greenish leaves.
During growth, about 7-9 fruits appear on the bush. They are strong, round and large. The weight of one tomato is 160-180 grams. Ripe fruits are covered with thick red skin. They are able to maintain their commercial quality for several months. The main advantage of Pharaoh is its productivity, which allows you to collect more than 40 kg of fruit from one square meter.
Dobrun
An indeterminate hybrid plant that can be grown in greenhouses. Dobrunya bushes are not very tall and grow only up to 60-80 cm. However, it is still recommended to tie them to a strong support so that the bush does not break due to the large number of early ripening fruits. During growth, the bushes are covered with leaves, which can have a dark or light green tint.
The fruits have an almost perfect round shape and intense red color. Some fruits have a greenish spot near the stalk, which may disappear after ripening. Tomatoes are very large, since the weight of one ripe fruit is 200 grams. Dobrun boasts good preservation of fruits. In room conditions they can be stored for one and a half months.
Early tomatoes for growing in the Leningrad region
Summer residents recommend growing more early varieties to get a high yield. Zoned species are in particular demand.
Acclimatized varieties are adapted for growing in the climatic conditions of the region.
Ground Gribovsky 1180
It is valued by summer residents for its positive characteristics, especially because it can bear fruit in conditions of lack of sunlight. And in greenhouses without additional lighting. The plants are unpretentious in care and do not require shaping.
White filling 241
Saw the light in 1966. The plant type is determinant, but formation and pinching is required. 0.5 m in height, has 6 racemes with an ovary on 1 bush. Tomatoes are standard red in color, round in shape. The weight of one tomato is 100 g. Tomatoes are formed into 2-3 stems, otherwise care is the same as for other plants.
Severenok
Due to early ripening, it is not affected by late blight. Small tomatoes have a high density. Thanks to their durable skin, tomatoes do not lose their presentation and taste during transportation.
90-110 days after the sprouts appear, the first fruits are born. Mature plants grow up to 0.65 m. They are immune to common crop diseases. The fruits are flat-round, red in color, suitable for any method of consumption.
Popular tomatoes from St. Petersburg beds
Based on reviews from summer residents growing tomatoes in the Leningrad region, novice vegetable growers choose species that are in demand. These varieties meet all the requirements for the crop.
Baltic
An acclimatized species, which is famous for its high yield volume, regardless of climatic conditions. Treatment against diseases is not necessary, since the plants are highly resistant to diseases. There are no special care requirements. Standard agrotechnical requirements are met.
Northern beauty
Tomatoes grow up to 1.5 m tall. It is recommended to form 2-3 stems, limiting growth after the formation of the 7th cluster. The fruits ripen 4 months after the first shoots appear. Tomatoes are pink in color and oblong in shape. They are especially popular among housewives who can can and prepare vegetables for the winter. The taste of the cooked fruits is excellent.
In addition to the listed features, the Northern Beauty has high immunity. Independently resists dangerous diseases that can destroy the harvest and the plant itself. The plants do not need any treatment.
Chanterelle
The bushes reach a height of 0.9 m. The skin and pulp of tomatoes are different, pink, orange and red fruits are found. The average weight of 1 tomato is 90-100 g, there are specimens weighing 150 g. It all depends on care and timely implementation of agricultural techniques.
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The variety is adapted for cultivation in any way in open or closed ground. There are no special features in care.
Care
Before planting sprouts, it is worth adding organic fertilizer to the soil. After the young individuals have settled into their new place of residence, they will need to be fertilized. It is best to use fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. At the beginning of the growth of individuals, nitrogenous fertilizers should be avoided.
Excess fertilizing with nitrogen will lead to active growth of green mass on plants. At the same time, the crop will use all its forces to form leaves and stems, which will negatively affect the fruits. The ovaries will appear slowly, and they will be small. Ash added in liquid form will be of particular benefit to the development of the plant during this period.
During the period when color appears, it is worth fertilizing nightshades with ready-made chemicals, which can be easily purchased at specialized points of sale. For example, you can use “Sudarushka-tomato” - a universal fertilizer that does not contain chlorine. The drug is used to prevent fungal diseases. “Sudarushka-tomato” also has a positive effect on the harvest. The replenishment should be applied in the form of a solution: a teaspoon of the substance is dissolved in a bucket of water. You need to add half a liter of the substance to the bush. In open soil conditions, tomatoes may exhibit a “greenhouse” problem - the crop blooms, but does not set fruit. However, the reasons for this phenomenon are different than for greenhouse cultivation of plants.
And, of course, do not forget about regular and systematic watering, which is a mandatory element of the procedure for growing any vegetable.
So, a personally grown tomato harvest in the Leningrad region will delight you with volume, taste and quality only if you follow all the rules and recommendations. The correct choice of vegetable variety, made taking into account the characteristics of the region in which cultivation is planned, will also be important.
The most productive varieties of tomatoes
For Len. regions select not only acclimatized varieties. Summer residents are also interested in other indicators:
- harvest volume;
- immunity;
- bush formation and more.
Proper care allows you to get the maximum benefit from any plant. If a summer resident puts in all his effort, he gets it in full. Tomatoes are responsive to proper care.
Productive varieties recommended for cultivation in the region:
- Olya;
- Verlioka;
- Ural;
- De Barao.
The fruits are small in size, but the plants can withstand low temperatures at night, light frosts and short daylight hours.
Which tomatoes are best to plant in the Leningrad region
Summer residents, when selecting seeds for planting, are guided by the description from the manufacturer. But to obtain extensive information, a complete description of the species is found. Based on the information received, they conclude whether the variety is suitable for planting in the region. The Leningrad region belongs to the region with risky agriculture.
Summer residents should remember this feature of the region and choose the right varieties.
Particular attention is paid to such characteristics as fruiting in conditions of limited daylight hours, the ability to form ovaries and fruits in unstable climatic situations.
The best varieties of tomatoes for the Leningrad region
Back in the fifth millennium BC, ancient farmers of North and South America were breeding tomatoes.
Seeds of exotic crops came to Europe during the development of navigation in the 16th–17th centuries. The first fruits that appeared in Europe were yellow-fruited. That’s why they were called poetically – “apples of love.” At first, tomatoes were bred as ornamental or medicinal plants, and later as a vegetable crop.
Due to the content of dietary fiber, pectin, a large amount of vitamins and minerals, tomatoes occupy a significant place in human nutrition. The antioxidants included in their composition serve as prophylaxis for the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular, and cardiac diseases.
Amateur gardeners grow various varieties on their plots, bred taking into account the climate of the Leningrad region.
Growing and caring for tomatoes
When the summer resident decides on the variety, the main part of the work begins, planting seedlings. The summer resident chooses the timing himself; it is advisable to plant it in a permanent place in early June. Until then, planting material is grown at home.
Prepare the soil, etch it and make grooves. The sowing depth is no more than 5 cm. Then the containers are removed to a warm, dark place until seedlings appear. Pre-tightened with polyethylene or covered with glass.
High-quality care is required for seedlings. Strong seedlings are the key to a future harvest. If there is a lack of light, additional lighting is organized. Then the tomato stems will be more powerful, the plants will bloom in time and form ovaries.
Feed the plants before and after diving. Use organic matter or complex mineral fertilizers.
Landing
In the southern territories, where the climate is milder, the crop can be grown from seeds in the soil. In this case, the temperature of the soil and air will help determine when to sow tomatoes in a special room (greenhouse or hotbed). However, you can speed up the warming up process yourself.
You can install a heating system in the room. For this purpose, manure or wiring is usually used, which is placed along the bottom of the greenhouse. When using manure, at the beginning of soil preparation, horse manure is placed at the bottom of the trench, which is sprinkled with sand and then with fertile soil. During the process of rotting, manure releases heat that can warm the plants and the room as a whole.
In this case, it is worth monitoring the temperature and humidity. This way you can prevent drying out of young individuals. If you plan to sow directly into the ground, then it is worth diving for seedlings.
Seating into separate containers occurs after the formation of 2 sheets. After the procedure, the plants will quickly establish themselves in the soil and improve growth. It is necessary to carry out systematic feeding.
When you decide to plant seedlings in protected soil, make sure that the young plants have reached the appropriate age. If the sprouts are still “young”, there will not be enough time for the bulk of the crop to ripen. And then all your efforts will not bring even a fraction of the desired results.
Caring for tomatoes after transfer to a permanent place
After planting in open ground, the plants are regularly watered, loosened, weeds removed and fed. Fertilizers are alternated so as not to cause a backlash. You cannot overfeed tomatoes; they will begin to develop incorrectly and stop forming ovaries.
Depending on the variety, the tomatoes are supported, bushes are formed and the growing point is removed. Some gardeners practice mulching; this helps retain moisture and prevents weeds from growing. Treatment against pests and diseases is mandatory, since an infected plant can destroy nearby bushes. The vegetable grower risks losing most of the harvest.
Features of growing seedlings
In the Leningrad region, tomatoes are grown in open ground exclusively using the seedling method. In general, the process of growing seedlings is normal; there are only some nuances.
Timing of sowing seeds
In this region, tomato seeds for seedlings are sown in early April, so that by the beginning of June the plants, aged 50-60 days, are ready for transplanting. If other deadlines are recommended for a particular variety, then adhere to them. Some varieties of tomatoes (for example, Yamal, Podsnezhnik) in the Leningrad region can be sown in an unheated film greenhouse without indoor growing of seedlings. This is done on April 15-20, and in a greenhouse in a warm bed a little later - April 20-25.
Important. The procedure for hardening tomato seeds before sowing is mandatory for the Leningrad region. This is done by placing them in the refrigerator for a day, after wrapping them in a damp cloth.
Seedling care
In order to prevent blackleg disease, it is necessary to treat the soil before planting with disinfectant compounds, for example:
- 1% solution of potassium permanganate;
- 2% solution of pharmacoid, etc.
Treatments are carried out a month before planting, and 7-10 days later preparations containing soil bacteria (their list was given above) are added to restore the microflora.
Peculiarities of care include the need to provide additional lighting to the seedlings during their growth period, as well as the mandatory hardening of plants 2-3 weeks before planting in open ground. For this purpose, containers with plants are taken daily into a cool room or outside at a temperature of +13-16 °C (if the seedlings are supposed to be planted in a greenhouse, then they do not need hardening). At first, the “walk” time should be short (2-3 hours) and then gradually increased. In the last few days before transplanting, tomatoes are left outside around the clock.
In the Leningrad region, it is imperative to harden seedlings 2-3 weeks before planting in the ground
Transplanting seedlings into the ground
Seedlings are transplanted into greenhouses at the beginning, and into open ground in mid-June. The main condition for this is the onset of stable temperatures of at least +15 °C. Planting patterns depend on the tomato variety. As a rule, strip schemes are used, in which the bed is made 1 m wide, and tomatoes are placed on it in 2 or 3 rows (depending on their growth and the volume of the bushes). The interval between plants in a row is also determined by the variety - it can be from 20-30 cm for dwarf tomatoes to 40-50 for tall ones.