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Growing tomatoes in Siberia has its own characteristics that must be taken into account when planting this crop. The region is characterized by unpredictable weather and frequent temperature changes. To get a good harvest in open ground, tomato varieties are carefully selected, the soil is prepared and fertilizers are applied regularly.
Variety choice
For planting in Siberia, varieties are selected that can withstand the conditions of this region. This includes tomatoes that are resistant to spring and autumn cold snaps. In open ground, plants should tolerate severe temperature changes well. Most of these varieties are bred as a result of selection.
The following varieties of tomatoes are selected for planting in Siberia:
- Ultra-ripe – A compact shrub that produces medium-sized fruits. Tomatoes ripen 70 days after germination. The plant does not require special care and adapts well to external conditions.
- Demidov – a mid-season variety that forms standard bushes. The fruits have good taste properties and ripen after being removed from the bush.
- Siberian heavyweight – a variety of early ripening up to 80 cm high. Fruits are formed weighing 0,4 – 0,6 kg, therefore, during fruiting, the plant is tied up. The low yield of these tomatoes is compensated by the large weight of the fruit.
- Abakansky pink – a variety of medium late ripening, which is characterized by long fruiting. The plant needs a garter and the formation of 2 stems. The height of the tomato is 80 cm. The variety is valued for its high yield and taste.
- Kemerovets – an early ripening variety that takes 100 days to ripen the first fruits. The height of the bushes is up to 0,5 m. The plant does not require the formation of a bush and pinching, it tolerates difficult weather conditions well.
- Barnaul Cannery – an early ripe stunted variety that gives dense fruits of a rounded shape. Fruiting lasts 2 months. The variety is intended for canning.
- Grandee – mid-early tomato, bringing the first crop 100 days after germination. The height of the bush does not exceed 0,7 m. The average fruit weight is 0,2 kg, some specimens reach 0,6 kg.
Soil preparation
The cultivation of soil for planting tomatoes begins in the fall. During this period, you need to remove the remains of the previous crop and carefully dig the soil. It is allowed to plant plants in places where zucchini, cucumbers, beets, corn, carrots, and legumes previously grew.
Tomatoes prefer neutral soil, which is characterized by good moisture and breathability. Compost, ash, humus must be introduced into the soil.
Landings should not be exposed to excessive moisture. Otherwise, the development of plants will slow down, and fungal diseases will appear.
In spring, mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil to a depth of 20 cm. It is recommended to use up to 10 g of urea, 50 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium chloride per square meter of beds.
For planting tomatoes, the beds are located from north to south. Leave at least 1 m between the beds, and up to 0,7 m between the rows. Be sure to make bumpers up to 5 cm high. The beds can be divided into sections up to 0,5 m, each of which is planted with two plant bushes.
Getting the seedlings
To grow tomatoes in open ground in Siberia, tomato seedlings are first formed, which are then transferred to a permanent place.
At the end of March, the seeds should be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. If plant seeds float, they are not used for planting.
Then the remaining material is wrapped in a damp cloth, after which it is left for several days. Seeds that are most active can be planted in small containers with soil.
For seedlings, it is better to use purchased soil. If the earth is taken from the garden, then it must first be calcined in the oven or microwave for 10 minutes. Additionally, before planting plants, the earth is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Top containers can be covered with a film to provide young plants with high humidity and temperature. For germination, tomatoes require a temperature regime above 25 degrees. If the soil is dry, then it should be watered abundantly.
The first shoots appear after 4-6 days. If necessary, additional lighting is provided. The length of daylight hours for tomatoes is 16 hours. On a sunny day, when the air warms up, the seedlings are taken out to the balcony.
A distance of 40 cm is left between the bushes. Landing is done on a cool day, when there is no wind and direct sunlight.
When transferring tomatoes to open ground, the stem is deepened by 2 cm, which contributes to the formation of new roots in the plant. If there is a possibility of spring frosts, then the plantings are covered with a film or special material.
Care instructions
Proper care of tomatoes allows you to get a good harvest in the Siberian climate. Plants require regular watering, mulching or loosening the soil. The supply of nutrients is provided by top dressing of tomatoes. Particular attention is paid to protective measures aimed at combating diseases and pests.
Organization watering
When growing tomatoes, you need to ensure a moderate supply of moisture. Its excess negatively affects the development of plants and provokes the spread of diseases.
Tomatoes are able to endure a short drought. In such a situation, moisture is introduced constantly, but in small parts. With intensive watering, fruit cracking will occur.
It is not recommended to water plantings with cold water from a hose. It is better to draw water in containers in advance and leave them to warm up in the sun. If necessary, warm water is added to them. Watering plants is carried out in the morning or in the evening.
In open ground, tomatoes are watered after moisture is completely absorbed. The soil must not be allowed to dry out. The frequency of watering is adjusted taking into account the precipitation. On average, tomatoes are watered once a week.
Low-growing plants need 2-3 liters of water, while tall tomatoes may need up to 10 liters. The first 2 weeks after planting, it is not recommended to water the plants.
On a large plot, drip irrigation can be equipped. For this, a piping system is used to ensure a uniform supply of moisture to the plants. The drip system allows you to track the consumption of water for tomatoes.
Loosening or mulching
After each watering, the soil is loosened. The procedure contributes to the warming of the soil, improves the penetration of moisture and nutrients. At the same time, weeds that interfere with the normal development of tomatoes are removed.
The first loosening is done immediately after planting tomatoes. Then the procedure is repeated every 2 weeks. The depth of loosening the soil is up to 3 cm.
Together with loosening, you can spud tomatoes. Hilling promotes the growth of the root system of plants and strengthens the planting.
Mulching is to create a protective layer above the soil surface. This procedure increases productivity, accelerates the ripening of fruits, protects the root system of tomatoes from moisture loss. Mulched soil does not require loosening and weeding.
The organic layer retains heat and moisture for plants, providing additional nutrition for tomatoes. For these purposes, mowed grass, which is thoroughly dried, is suitable. Periodically, the mulch layer will rot, so it needs to be updated.
Application of fertilizers
Regular feeding provides tomatoes with useful substances responsible for the growth of green mass, the formation of ovaries and fruits.
Tomatoes require fertilization at the following stages of development:
- after planting;
- before flowering;
- when an ovary appears;
- during fruit ripening.
The first top dressing is carried out two weeks after the transfer of plants to open ground. A solution is prepared for her, consisting of superphosphate (40 g) and potassium sulfate (10 g). The components are dissolved in 10 liters of water, after which the tomatoes are watered under the root.
The treatment is repeated until the appearance of inflorescences in plants. When an ovary appears in tomatoes, you can prepare a yeast top dressing. This will require 10 g of dry yeast and 1 tbsp. l. sugar, which is mixed and left for several hours. Then water is added to the resulting mixture in a ratio of 1:10 and the plants are watered.
During the fruiting period, solutions containing phosphorus are prepared. For 5 liters of water you will need 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and liquid sodium humate.
You can feed the tomatoes with an ash-based solution. A bucket of water will require 0,2 kg of wood ash. The solution is infused for 5 hours, after which it is filtered and diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3. The resulting plant is watered under the root.
Foliar processing
Foliar top dressing will help speed up the intake of nutrients. For its preparation, mineral and organic substances are used.
During the flowering period, tomatoes are sprayed with a solution containing boric acid. 1 g of boric acid is taken per liter of water.
Another way to spray is to use superphosphate. For 1 liter of water, 2 tbsp. l. this substance. The agent is infused for 10 hours, after which it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.
Between treatments make a break of up to 10 days. Leaf processing should be alternated with root fertilization.
Protection against diseases and pests
Violation of the rules for planting and caring for tomatoes contributes to the development of diseases and the appearance of pests. The following rules will help protect plants in Siberia in a greenhouse and open ground:
- avoid crowded landings;
- observance of crop rotation;
- timely watering and fertilization;
- prophylactic treatment.
Tomatoes are prone to late blight, powdery mildew, brown and white spotting. Most diseases are spread by fungus in high humidity environments.
When the first symptoms appear, the plants are treated with fungicides: Fitosporin, Quadris, Ridomil, Bravo. In rainy summers, it is recommended to process plantings every two weeks for preventive purposes.
For the prevention of diseases of tomatoes, you can use folk methods. One of them is spraying the plants with a solution containing 1 liter of milk, 15 drops of iodine and a bucket of water. The agent prevents the penetration of harmful microbes into plant tissues.
The greatest damage to plantings is caused by aphids, whiteflies, bears, and spider mites. To protect against insects, insecticides are used – Zolon, Sherpa, Confidor.
To combat insects, folk remedies are actively used. Between the rows of tomatoes, you can pour a little wood ash, which additionally supplies the plants with useful minerals. Between the rows of tomatoes, you can plant onions and garlic, which repel pests.
Conclusion
For cultivation in Siberia, varieties are selected that are resistant to cold snaps and temperature extremes. Most of these varieties are bred specifically for this region, so the plants are adapted to harsh conditions. For landing choose a well-lit place. High yields of tomatoes can be achieved through proper soil preparation, fertilization and irrigation.
Growing tomatoes in Siberia is described in the video:
