Tomatoes have been known to Europeans since the 16th century. They were used as a decorative culture, medicine, even tried to apply for the manufacture of poisons. Only from the XVIII century appreciated the taste of tomatoes, began to widely use them in food. The last decades, breeders have been working on obtaining varieties of tomatoes that will be resistant to adverse climatic conditions, but at the same time retain a great taste.One of these varieties of Russian selection is tomato Apples in the snow.
- Characteristic of the variety
- Application of the variety
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Features of cultivation
- Care after planting
- Diseases and pests
The name of the popular tomato variety indicates, firstly, regionalization in regions with in the short summer and, secondly, on the peculiarity of the shape and color of the plant. Few people remember that the name of the plant — tomato — is translated from Italian as “golden apple.”
Characteristic of the variety
Tomatoes of the variety Apples in the snow – a low plant, from 40 to 70 cm. The variety belongs to the determinants, this means that there is no great need for the formation of a bush by pinching. It is enough to remove the stepsons to 4-5 leaves and allow them to tassel.
The official description says that the bush of this tomato variety forms 5-7 brushes of dense rounded fruits. The berries are medium-sized, uniform in color, weighing 50-70 g. The skin is thin, but strong, not amenable to cracking.Vegetable growers note the excellent palatability of tomato Apples in the snow: sweet, slightly sour taste.
Tomatoes Apples in the snow are ripe, have a high yield.
If seeds are sown in a greenhouse or at home in March, then the first crop can be obtained at the end of June. In mid-July, the main crop is harvested: from each bush – 2-2.5 kg of tomatoes. The variety is distinguished by friendly ripening of fruits. In August, tops are already removed from the beds.
Experts note the decorativeness of the variety: small compact bushes with dark green leaves and bright red fruits will decorate not only the garden, summer cottage, but also the balcony, the veranda, even the windowsill. During the ripening period, the plant bush really resembles a branching apple tree strewn with bright fruits.
Application of the variety
Apples in the snow are Siberian selection tomatoes bred by amateur breeders for areas with short summer. Plants withstand spring frosts, daily temperature drops. They can be grown both in greenhouses and in the open field.
Due to their excellent taste, these tomatoes are eaten raw, for the preparation of salads.Also used in winter harvesting: for pickles, making tomato juice, mashed potatoes, canned salads, they even freeze.
Advantages and disadvantages
Tomatoes are favorite varieties for cultivation in Siberia, Altai, in Central Russia. Many gardeners prefer this particular variety. The list of advantages of this culture is very convincing:
- short growing season: up to 90 days (from February – March to June – July);
- tastes great;
- sufficiently high yield for early-grade tomatoes with a low stem: 10 kg per 1 sq. km. m;
- resistance to many diseases of vegetable plants, such as vertebral rot.
Gardeners call the only drawback of the culture susceptibility to late blight.
This is a dangerous fungal disease that can lead to the death of most of the crop. But since the fruits ripen early enough, it is possible to avoid outbreaks of the disease, especially common during summer rains, mists.
Features of growing
Tomato care Apples in the snow are not significant differences from agricultural machinery of any kind.Particular attention should be paid to such factors as:
- soil quality,
- watering,
- loosening and hilling,
- plant nutrition .
Seedlings (less often – seeds) are planted in a light, loose, containing humus soil. The precursors and neighbors of the site are important. Vegetable growers do not recommend growing a crop in the same place for 2 consecutive years, you need to take a break of 3-4 years. Predecessors and neighbors should not be other representatives of solanaceous (potatoes, eggplant). The best option is onions, carrots, legumes, representatives of the pumpkin plant family.
Care after planting
It is not recommended to water the tomatoes immediately after planting the seedlings. You need to give time for young bushes to take root. Watering starts 2 weeks after planting. Avoid irrigating the beds with sprinkling, so that drops of water do not fall on the leaves: this can lead to falling of flowers, the spread of diseases. During the ripening period, the soil must be moistened systematically, without drying out. The ripening time, taste and integrity of the berries depend on the watering regime.
After each irrigation, it is necessary to loosen the soil in order to saturate it with oxygen. Experienced gardeners recommend hilling bushes 2-3 times a season: this helps to strengthen the root system, better nutrition.Mulching will help to preserve moisture (covering the ground with straw, sawdust, mowed grass).
Tomatoes are responsive to fertilizing the soil. Immediately after planting, it is advisable to stimulate growth by applying nitrogen-containing fertilizers. With the beginning of flowering and fruit setting, the plant is fed with phosphorus and potassium.
Diseases and pests
Tomatoes Apples in the snow are resistant to viral diseases, but are easily affected by late blight. Disease prevention consists in loosening the soil, timely destruction of weeds, preventive treatment of bushes with Bordeaux liquid or other preparations that contain copper. Leaves and shoots with spots of late blight are necessarily cut and burn.
In addition to diseases, pests can also significantly affect productivity: aphids, spider mites, thrips. Preventive measure – treatment of shoots with a weakly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate. Insecticides are used to infect plants with insects.
Tomatoes Apples in the snow are deservedly popular among vegetable growers. At many forums, gardeners and summer residents are asked to give a description and recommendations for leaving tomatoes Tomatoes Apples in the Snow.