Tomato Pride of Siberia: reviews + photos

In general, tomatoes are a heat-loving crop that came to all continents from South America. The climate of Our Country is very far from the conditions in which tomatoes were born, but even here gardeners grow many varieties of this delicious vegetable. Most of all, the harsh conditions of Siberia are not suitable for heat-loving tomatoes: there is a very short summer, limited daylight hours and strong temperature fluctuations. Domestic breeders coped with this task as well – they bred several especially resistant varieties, among which the Pride of Siberia tomato occupies a leading position.

This article will talk in detail about tomatoes of the Pride of Siberia variety, provide photos, reviews and characteristics of this famous tomato. From here you can also learn how to grow this Siberian variety of tomatoes.

Tomatoes Pride of Siberia: characteristics

First of all, it is worth noting that the Pride of Siberia tomato is the largest-fruited of all varieties bred for the northern regions. The mass of one fruit can be about 900 grams, which is a record for Siberian tomatoes.

Of course, the Pride of Siberia was bred as a greenhouse tomato, because in a harsh climate, tomatoes are grown mainly in greenhouses and under film shelters. However, this variety is quite suitable for growing in other regions of Our Country: in a milder climate, tomatoes can be planted directly on the beds.

More detailed description of the variety:

• bushes of determinant type, standard;
• the height of tomatoes often reaches 150 cm;
• plants must be tied up, since the weight of the tomatoes is large enough – the branches can break off;
• early ripe tomato – the fruits ripen within 85-90 days after germination;
• Pride of Siberia is a very resistant variety: the tomato is not afraid of temperature fluctuations, lack of sun, the most common viruses and infections for tomatoes;
• the shape of the fruit is pumpkin-shaped – a ball slightly flattened from above;
• the color of the peel and pulp is raspberry red, saturated;
• the average weight of tomatoes is 500-600 grams;
• the taste of the Siberian tomato is very pleasant, the pulp is juicy and fragrant;
• fruits perfectly tolerate transportation, suitable for long-term storage;
• the yield of a large-fruited tomato is such that a gardener can collect up to 20 kg of fruits from one meter of a greenhouse;
• it is recommended to plant a tomato according to the scheme of 4-5 bushes per square meter – a large-fruited variety should have enough light and nutrition.

As can be seen from the description, the Pride of Siberia variety has a lot of advantages. Gardeners consider the main advantages of this tomato to be high yield, beautiful large fruits, good taste, resistance to external factors and suitability for transportation and storage.

How to grow

As noted earlier, this tomato is intended for greenhouses. In open ground, the tomato will develop normally only in several regions of the country (Krasnodar Territory, Crimea and the North Caucasus). This means that before buying seeds of the Pride of Siberia, it is imperative to build a greenhouse (or prepare an existing greenhouse on the site for planting tomatoes).

There are no special differences in the cultivation of Siberian tomato selection. Like other tomatoes, they are grown through seedlings. The sequence of actions of the gardener, in this case, should be as follows:

1. Seeds are prepared for planting by first disinfecting them in a solution of manganese or in hot water. After that, you can germinate the tomato seeds under a damp cloth in a warm place.
2. Greenhouse tomato seedlings in Siberia begin to be grown at the end of March. It is during this period that you need to sow tomato seeds in the ground.
3. The soil for seedlings should be well fertilized, loose and warm. It would be nice to disinfect the soil by spilling it with potassium permanganate or a solution of copper sulfate.

   

4. Seeds are laid out on the ground with an interval of a couple of centimeters and sprinkled with dry soil. Now you need to sprinkle the soil with warm water and cover the container with tomatoes with a film. Seedlings are still removed in a warm (24-26 degrees) and protected from the sun place.
5. When the greens hatch, the shelter is removed, the tomato seedlings are raised on the windowsill or on the table, they are provided with light, moisture and heat (20-24 degrees).
6. At the stage of a pair of true leaves, tomatoes are planted in separate cups or pots – they dive. So the roots of the tomatoes will prepare for the upcoming transplant into the greenhouse, the plants will harden and get stronger.
7. Growing tomatoes need to be fed. It is better to use a special complex fertilizer, consisting of trace elements necessary for tomato seedlings.
8. When the seedlings are 40-45 days old, they begin to harden them off. Pots and boxes are placed near the open window, then they are taken out to the balcony or to the street. The hardening time is gradually increased – the tomatoes must quickly adapt to the climate of the greenhouse.

   

9. When the tomatoes grow 6-7 true leaves, they can be transplanted to a permanent place. The greenhouse is also prepared for this in advance: the top layer of soil is replaced, the walls and all structures are washed with a disinfectant, and the greenhouse is ventilated.
10. On a square meter of soil, you should not place more than five bushes of the Pride of Siberia variety, since the bushes are quite powerful.
11. Immediately, at the stage of planting seedlings, a peg is inserted near each plant, to which the tomato will be tied as it grows.
12. For the first couple of weeks, tomatoes are not watered – their roots are now not able to absorb moisture, all the forces of the plant are spent on adaptation.

That’s the whole planting of tomatoes Pride of Siberia. A gardener can simplify his task even more if he purchases ready-made tomato seedlings and immediately plants them in a greenhouse.

How to care

Reviews of gardeners about this tomato are mostly positive. The variety is very unpretentious, in the sense that tomatoes rarely get sick, they are not attacked by pests. But of course, it is necessary to take care of a large-fruited tomato, otherwise the gardener will not see beautiful and large fruits.

In order for tomatoes to grow as in the photo, they need special care:

1. Although the bush is determinant, it is absolutely necessary form. It is recommended to grow the pride of Siberia in one or two stems, otherwise the fruits will be much smaller, and their number will noticeably suffer. Therefore, the gardener must pinch all other shoots until they grow more than three centimeters.
2. It is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the bushes and tie up fragile shoots, fruit brushes, stems.
3. Water Pride is needed often and plentifully – this tomato loves water very much. Water for irrigation must be warm. It is better to irrigate tomato beds in Siberia in the morning, before the rays of the sun become scorching.
4. Required top dressing. In the greenhouse, rotted manure or mullein dissolved in water, bird droppings are used. Mineral complexes help well. At the stage of fruit formation, it is recommended to feed the tomatoes with potassium and phosphorus, this will improve the quality and taste of the tomatoes.
5. To prevent rot and late blight, the greenhouse is regularly ventilated. Do not allow waterlogged air and accumulation of condensate on the walls of the greenhouse.

   

6. If the fruits begin to crack, you need to stop watering and feed the tomato bushes with saltpeter.
7. In greenhouses, the common whitefly becomes a common enemy of tomatoes, so prevention should be carried out using chemicals from this pest (for example, Confidor).
8. The ripening period of the Pride of Siberia variety is very early, so the fruits are picked ripe when they turn red and become soft. Store the crop in a dry and cool place, putting the tomatoes in wooden or clean plastic boxes.

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Conclusion

Pride of Siberia is an excellent variety for those gardeners who know how to grow tomatoes in greenhouses. This tomato has a lot of advantages, the main of which are productivity and beautiful large fruits, but there are some nuances in growing a large-fruited variety. The owner of the site must devote enough time to his own beds, otherwise he will not see a good harvest.