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Tomato Cranberry in sugar occupies one of the places of honor among the varieties of cherry tomatoes. This is a versatile variety that is unpretentious in care and can be grown in any conditions, from open ground to the windowsill in your own home.
Description of the variety of tomato Cranberry in sugar
Tomato Cranberry in sugar was bred by domestic breeders from the Aelita agricultural company. Its creators: M. N. Gulkin, V. G. Kachaynik and N. V. Nastenko. The variety successfully passed all the studies and was officially included in the state register in 2012. There are no restrictions on the area and methods of cultivation.
Ways to grow a variety:
- open ground;
- greenhouse;
- large boxes on the windowsill or balcony;
- growing outdoors in pots.
The decorative appearance of the plant allows you to grow it not only for obtaining fruits, but also for ennobling the appearance of the premises.
General description of tomato Cranberry in sugar
Tomato Cranberry in sugar is a low-growing determinate plant, as a rule, which does not require shaping and garters. Its height reaches 60 cm. Having reached the limit point, the bush stops growing, and flower brushes appear on its top. When the tomato intensively bears fruit, clusters with small red fruits are formed on the brushes.
This is a standard tomato variety that grows in the form of a compact tree without side shoots. Over time, the bush becomes overgrown with small dark greenish leaves. Leaves are rare. Inflorescences of a plant of a complex type, peduncle with a characteristic articulation.
Additional information on the description of tomato Cranberry in sugar – in the video:
Brief description and taste of fruits
As you can see from the photo, the cranberry tomato in sugar gives small rounded dark red fruits a little more than a pea. They are very similar to cranberries, which is why the plant bears this name.
The mass of one tomato is on average 15 – 18 g. 2 – 3 pieces are located simultaneously in one nest.
The skin of the fruit is firm, thick, smooth and glossy. There is a slight ribbing around the stem. Thicker skins on tomatoes growing in a greenhouse. Less dense – in plants planted in open ground.
The pulp is juicy, medium hard, not watery, with a small amount of small seeds. The fruits have a pronounced tomato flavor, the taste is sweetish with a distinct sourness.
Manufacturers of the variety recommend using sugared Cranberry tomato for making fresh salads and preserving whole fruits. Due to its density, the peel does not crack during heat treatment.
Varietal characteristics
Cranberry in sugar is an early ripening plant that begins to bear fruit approximately 100 days after planting (80 days after seed germination).
If the care instructions are followed, the Cranberries planted in the open ground in sugar ripen in early June, and the fruiting period ends only in mid-September.
In a greenhouse with 1 sq. m. collect about 3 kg of tomatoes, in the open field the yield of the variety may be less. Such indicators are considered high among other varieties of cherry tomatoes, but at the same time they are significantly inferior to other, larger varieties. Increase yields through regular feeding and following watering recommendations.
The variety Cranberry in sugar is resistant to adverse weather conditions and can be grown in any climatic region. Gardeners also note high resistance to late blight and fungal diseases.
Pros and cons of the variety
Advantages | Disadvantages |
1. Bright and juicy taste. 2. Dense peel, due to which tomato fruits are used for pickling and salting. 3. A variety of growing methods. 4. High resistance of cranberries in sugar to late blight and fungus. 5. The unpretentiousness of the variety in relation to climatic conditions, resistance to weather changes. 6. The compact size of the bush, the growth of which is naturally limited in height. After that, the bush develops only in width. 7. The tomato variety does not require a garter. Doesn’t need pinching. 8. Low calorie fruit, making this variety ideal for dietary nutrition. 9. Undemanding care: even a novice gardener can handle growing Cranberries in sugar. 10. Attractive decorative appearance of the plant, due to which it can be used to decorate the premises. | 1. Low yields of Cranberries in sugar relative to larger varieties. 2. Notes of sourness on the palate. 3. Thick skin, due to which, when consumed fresh, the fruits may be too hard. 4. Under ideal greenhouse conditions, a tomato bush can grow up to 1,6 m in length, contrary to the claims of the growers. 5. Risk of mosaic virus disease. |
Another advantage of the variety is a rich supply of vitamins and minerals. The main useful properties of tomato Cranberry in sugar include:
- lower cholesterol;
- normalization of the cardiovascular system;
- improvement of the gastrointestinal tract.
Rules of landing and care
In open ground, Cranberry seeds in sugar are planted exclusively in areas with a warm climate. Planting a variety through seedlings is more common.
Seeding for seedlings
Planting seeds begins in mid-March. To increase their germination, they must be soaked for 12 hours in a solution with a biostimulant.
Floating seeds are thrown away: they are empty and therefore will not be able to sprout.
Tomato seedlings of this variety will require nutritious and loose soil. Substrate preparation:
- 2 parts of turf;
- 2 parts of humus;
- 1 part river sand
Seed planting order:
- Take containers 6-8 cm deep, disinfect thoroughly and fill with prepared soil. Sterilize the soil in a convenient way: by freezing or by steaming. Level and lightly water the soil.
- Make indentations 2 – 3 mm and plant seeds in them with an interval of 4 – 5 cm.
- Form a thin layer of peat or sand on top. Spray with distilled water from a spray bottle.
- Tighten the containers with cling film and store in a dark place. The temperature should be 24 – 27 degrees.
- To prevent condensation from accumulating, the film must be removed once a day for 10-15 minutes. The soil must always be moist.
- After the sprouts of Cranberries in sugar sprout, you need to put the containers in a bright, warm place: window sills on the south side are perfect.
- After the formation of two pairs of leaves, the tomatoes must be carefully planted in separate containers.
- After 4 days, feeding with any universal fertilizer is recommended. Watering 1 – 2 times a week.
Seedling transplant
Planting seedlings of the Cranberry variety in sugar in open ground begins in mid-May. In greenhouses – from mid-April. The main thing is that at least 60 days have passed since landing.
Delays in planting can adversely affect the plant, slow down its growth and reduce yields. The height of seedlings for this variety should not exceed 35 cm.
For 1 sq. m. with an interval of at least 30 cm, 5 plants are planted: one in the center and the rest in the corners. The best time for planting is the evening of a warm overcast day. It is recommended to moisten seedlings in 2 – 3 hours.
How to transplant cranberries in sugar:
- Dig holes in the soil with a depth of 6 – 10 cm. Sprinkle the bottom with a pinch of tree resin.
- The main thing when transplanting is to deepen the root collar of the tomato to the first leaves and compact the ground.
- Water Cranberries in sugar with 2 liters of water per 1 bush, cover with mulch.
- After transplanting, water the tomatoes every day for 4 to 5 days.
- After a week, loosen the space between the rows by 5 cm.
Care of tomatoes
Cranberry variety in sugar is unpretentious in care. Regular watering and fertilizing is important for the plant.
Water the tomatoes in the morning with warm water. Before the formation of buds, watering is carried out once a week at the rate of 1 liters of water per 5 sq. m. During the period of flowering and fruit set, the volume of water is recommended to be increased to 1 – 10 liters.
During the growing season of Cranberries in sugar, 2-3 top dressings will be useful. The first is carried out 2 weeks after transplantation. You can feed the bushes with ammonium nitrate (2 tablespoons of solution per medium bucket of water).
After 3 weeks from the last top dressing, Cranberries in sugar are fertilized with superphosphate (2 tablespoons per bucket of water). Each tomato bush should be watered with 0,5 liters of solution.
Conclusion
Tomato Cranberry in sugar is unpretentious in care, even a beginner can cope with its cultivation. This variety is also valued for its bright taste, the fruits can be eaten fresh or used for pickling and preservation. Characteristic sourness will spice up sauces and second courses.