Breeders in different countries are working on the cultivation of tomato varieties, which will have more advantages than disadvantages, have an amazing taste, large fruit size. In 2014, Russian breeders bred a new variety of tomatoes - the "Siberian giant." In the article, we propose to consider what advantages it has, what its fruits look like, how to care for it in order to achieve maximum yield!
Tomato "Siberian giant": variety description
As you can guess from the name given to this tomato by breeders, it has two features at once: the first is the ability to grow even in cold regions of the country, and the second is its large fruits. In the eastern and western territories of Russia, in the Urals, in Siberia and the Far East, this tomato should be grown in greenhouses, and in the central and southern regions of Russia, the tomato "Siberian giant" feels good in open ground.
The plant bushes can reach two meters in height, there are specimens that, with proper care, grow to 220 centimeters. The stem of the bushes is dense, the size and shape of the leaves are no different from tomatoes of other varieties.
Fruit Description
We can’t but tell about how the fruits of the tomato "Siberian giant" look. They are quite large, have a flat round shape. The color is either bright red or saturated pink. By the way, it is important to note that the tomato "Siberian giant" is found in both pink and yellow.
The average weight of one tomato varies from 400 to 750 grams, however, there are champions. Some gardeners grew tomatoes of this variety weighing up to 1.2 kg! In this case, the maximum length of one fetus can reach 10 centimeters. On one brush, 2-3 large tomatoes are usually formed. The fruits are quite fleshy, sugar, incredibly juicy and sweet. Summer residents and a mouth-watering aroma are noted.
The tomato "Siberian giant" is characterized by the presence inside 5-7 chambers. There is little water in the fruits, and the amount of dry matter is about 3-5 percent. Due to the dense skin, tomatoes of this variety are characterized by long-term keeping quality and excellent transportability.
Productivity and ripening dates
Producers of the variety say: it refers to tomatoes of medium ripeness. Fragrant fruits on the bushes appear 3 months after sowing seeds. The productivity of the "Siberian giant" corresponds to its name - it is really very high: from one square meter per season you can collect about 15 kg of tomatoes! That is, one bush accounts for 5-6 kilograms of tomatoes.
Appointment in cooking
The fruits of the Siberian Giant tomato contain a huge amount of vitamins and minerals. That is why they are great for fresh consumption. With them you can cook salads, sandwiches. The "Siberian giant" is also good for canning, however, it will have to be pickled in pieces in its own juice: the thing is that the whole fruits simply won’t enter the jar! But for the manufacture of tomato juice, experts say, this variety is not suitable. By the way, the use of dried tomatoes has been quite popular lately. This method allows you to save the maximum amount of nutrients in vegetables, save them for a long time. All you need is an ordinary oven or a special device for drying vegetables and fruits.
Optimal conditions for growing
How to get the maximum yield of juicy tomatoes? Experienced gardeners say: this can be achieved by growing bushes in a greenhouse or in a greenhouse. A prerequisite is growing with seedlings. Another condition is good lighting. So, in cloudy weather or in the dark, the “Siberian giant” will require an additional light source. Daytime temperature should not fall below +19 ° C, and nighttime temperature should not fall below 16. If you decide to grow bushes of this variety in a greenhouse, do not forget to regularly ventilate it.
Landing. Important Rules
The first thing a beginner summer resident should know is when to plant tomatoes of the Siberian Giant variety. In the southern regions, this time falls at the end of February and the beginning of March, in the central regions - throughout March, and in the northern parts of the country it is necessary to sow seedlings in early to mid-April. Many gardeners are advised to plant based on favorable days on the lunar calendar.
Soil for seedlings can be taken from your garden, but it is best to use a special one purchased in a store. Before sowing tomato seeds, the earth must be moistened and held in a warm place for 12 hours. The disinfected seeds must be buried by 1 cm, the distance between the grooves should be at least 3 cm. From above, the seeds will need to be covered with glass or film, and then placed on the windowsill, preferably on the south side. If lighting is not enough for tomatoes, additional light may be required. After the first shoots appear, the shelter should be removed, the temperature at this stage must be maintained at 25 degrees.
A week after sowing, the seedlings will need to be dived, and a few days later, when the height of the seedlings reaches 20 cm, it will be necessary to arrange air baths for it. Learning to sun and air is recommended to start with five minutes a day.
Many gardeners are concerned about the question: when to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse or open ground, what weather to choose. Experts advise doing this after the weather is warm, there will be no night frosts. Tomatoes of the Siberian Giant variety should be planted on a cool cloudy day, the distance between the bushes should not be less than 40-60 cm. Immediately after planting, the plants should be properly watered with warm water and mulched.
Care Tips
The tomato variety "Siberian giant" is quite unpretentious, it needs only watering, garter, loosening, weed removal and pinching. In no case, do not allow waterlogging of the plant, otherwise fungal diseases may appear. During flowering, one square meter will require about 12 liters of water, of course, warm. Watering plants is recommended only after sunset, while moisture should not fall on either the stems or leaves. Immediately after watering, it is recommended to cultivate the bushes and loosen the ground, it should be done as carefully as possible so as not to damage the root system.
Of course, it should be borne in mind that the bushes of the "Siberian giant" grow up to 2 meters, and therefore, as soon as they reach a height of 50 cm, they are recommended to be tied to supports. By the way, the crown of the bushes can be quite thick, so it needs to be thinned out in a timely manner. Another important step in plant care is regular weeding and weed removal. Mineral organic fertilizers are recommended to be applied at least three times per season in the period of planting, flowering, fruit formation. As for diseases and parasites, the Siberian giant is quite resistant to them.
The opinion of gardeners
In their reviews of the tomato "Siberian giant", summer residents say that they most often choose a variety because of its large fruits, excellent taste and resistance to sudden changes in temperature. Gardeners recommend planting seedlings in holes that have previously been fertilized with wood ash, compost, mineral fertilizer complexes, which include phosphorus and potassium. The smallest tomatoes, according to summer residents, weigh about 360 grams, which is why they are best preserved with slices or eat in salads. By the way, one tomato is enough for a whole family!
Among the characteristics of the tomato "Siberian giant", summer residents distinguish its unpretentiousness: in order to get a good harvest, you just need to loosen the soil in a timely manner, hush the bushes, water and feed the plants.