Tomato Snow Leopard: characteristics and description of the variety

The Snow Leopard tomato was bred by breeders of the well-known agricultural company Aelita, patented and registered in the State Register in 2008. The name of the variety is associated with the habitat of snow leopards – snow leopards, these are the Siberian uplands and plains, where harsh conditions do not allow growing many varieties of vegetables, including tomatoes. Aelita specialists assure that their new variety is very resistant, withstands the most adverse weather conditions. To find out if this is so, this article and the reviews of gardeners who have tested the Snow Leopard variety tomatoes on their plots and in greenhouses will help us.

Main varietal characteristics

Before choosing a variety of tomatoes that you are ready to plant on your site, you need to find out the reviews of gardeners, their recommendations, see photos, decide whether the yield of one or another variety of tomatoes will satisfy you.

Today we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the Snow Leopard tomato:

1. This tomato variety belongs to crops with an early ripening period, the growing season before the appearance of the first fruits lasts from 90 to 105 days.
2. The tomato variety Snow Leopard is adapted for growing in greenhouses and open beds in any climatic regions of the Federation.
3. The plant is classified as a determinant species, the growth of the bush is unlimited, therefore a garter and plant formation is required. According to experienced vegetable growers who have already planted this variety of tomatoes, it is better to form bushes in 1-2 stems, preventing them from growing above 60 cm in height.
4. The leaves of the tomato Snow leopard are dark green, large. The number of leaves on the bush is above average, it is recommended to remove or pinch the lower and intermediate leaves so that they do not take away excess moisture, nutrients, and do not shade the entire plant.
5. Tomato fruits have the shape of a flattened ball, there may be a slightly pronounced ribbing on top. The density of the fruit is medium, the skin is dense and strong, protects the tomatoes from cracking. At the beginning of ripening, tomatoes are light green in color, ripened tomatoes have a beautiful red-orange color. The average weight of a tomato is from 120 to 150 g, but there are also record sizes up to 300 grams.
6. The yield for fruits of this size is significant, averaging 23 kg per square meter. m. per season.
7. Tomatoes Snow Leopard, according to the description of the variety by the creators themselves, are resistant to diseases such as fusarium, a fungal infection that causes wilting.

It is interesting! In South America, wild tomatoes are still found today, the weight of their fruits is not more than 1 gram. Maybe that’s why the natives gave them the name tomatl – a large berry. In other countries, tomatoes were called apples: paradise apples in Germany, love apples in France.

Advantages and disadvantages

10 years have passed since the appearance of tomato seeds of this variety on sale. Many vegetable farms and amateur gardeners have been growing Snow Leopard tomatoes on their lands for years. According to their reviews, it is already possible to judge the advantages and possible disadvantages of the variety.

The positive qualities of culture include:

• the possibility of growing tomatoes both in greenhouses and in open ground, high adaptation to various climatic conditions;
• early ripening;
• resistance to fungal diseases;
• long-term preservation of the presentation, transportability of the highest level;
• versatility in consumption: fresh, in pickled or salted preparations, in juices, ketchups and salads;
• excellent taste;
• high productivity (when the agrotechnical conditions of cultivation are met);
• stepchildren are not required to be removed.

The downside to caring for tomatoes is that the bushes need to be shaped and tied to supports. Many gardeners do not notice this drawback, they accept it as the performance of a certain work, which is always enough in the garden and in the garden.

Seed sowing

In February – early March, gardeners begin to sow vegetable seeds for seedlings. Gardeners with extensive experience only grow their plants in this way. Buying ready-made seedlings means taking a 50% risk, that is, getting the wrong variety of tomatoes, or already infected seedlings. It is necessary to carry out such work in several stages:

1. Buy seeds from a responsible producer or distributor, thus protecting yourself from regrading, do not purchase seed from unscrupulous sellers.
2. Prepare seeds for planting: select high-quality ones, soak, wait for seedlings, sow seeds in a prepared substrate. Ready mixes can be bought in special stores.
3. When three true leaves appear, pick the plants into separate containers. If there is a need (the main root is very long), at this moment they pinch the roots, just a little, by 0,5 cm.
4. Then we are waiting for warm days, favorable for planting seedlings in the ground. Until this time, we carry out regular watering, 2 weeks before transplanting into the soil, you can carry out the hardening procedure. Take the seedlings outside or onto the balcony daily, preferably in sunlight, for 2-3 hours.

How to properly prepare the seeds

Beginning gardeners will be interested in this section of the article, so we will tell you in more detail how to prepare Snow Leopard tomato seeds for planting:

• you need to prepare a saline solution: for 200 ml of water – 1 teaspoon of salt with a slide;
• pour tomato seeds into the solution and mix vigorously, leave for a while (about 30 minutes), seeds that have floated to the surface, if any, remove, carefully drain the water;
• rinse the seeds remaining at the bottom from salt water, put on a napkin;
• for the prevention of fungal diseases, place tomato seeds in a weak solution of calcium permanganate for 20 minutes, you can simultaneously add 1 g of a growth enhancer, such powders or solutions are sold in stores;
• after the time has elapsed, drain the contents through a sieve, and put the prepared seeds on a soft, damp cloth, cover with the same cloth on top, place on a shallow dish, you can on a plate, if the cloth dries, moisten it with warm water;
• within 2-3 days, after a maximum of a week, sprouts will hatch from the seeds, the time has come for sowing into the soil;
• ready-made earthen substrates can be bought, but if you have the opportunity, then prepare it on your own, for this you will need to mix 2 parts of fertile soil, 1 part of sand, 1 part of peat or humus. All components must be disinfected by frying them in the oven on an old baking sheet. Processing time 1-2 hours.
• in a container with a substrate, make dimples 1-2 cm deep, you can use an ordinary pencil for this, the distance between the recesses is 4×4 cm, place 2 seeds in each well (tomato seeds are very small, try to do this with tweezers);
• cover with earth on top and only then pour carefully so that the seeds do not stray into one pile.

Cover the container with PVC film or a piece of glass, put it in a warm, shady place, perhaps on the floor near the radiator. When two cotyledon leaves appear, the shelter must be removed and the container placed closer to the light.

Planting seedlings in the ground and further care

The technology for growing tomatoes is the same for all types, the only difference is that a garter to trellises and supports is necessary, or there is no need for it. Tomato Snow Leopard refers to those types of culture that require formation and strengthening on supports.

Tomatoes of this variety can be planted in greenhouses in the last days of April, in unprotected soil – when the earth is completely warm. Do it like this:

1. Fertilizers are applied to the area where tomato bushes will be planted, the ground is carefully dug up, loosened, holes are prepared (in a checkerboard pattern), the size between the bushes should be 60×60 cm.
2. Seedlings are placed with a slope of 45 ° to the south side, sprinkled with earth, lightly compacted with hands.
3. Water the tomatoes with sun-warmed water, 1 liter per root, allow time for complete absorption of moisture, then mulch with leaf humus, peat or chopped tree bark.

All further care for the Snow Leopard tomato consists of:

• in watering, regular, but not excessive, the introduction of mineral and organic dressings;
• in removing weeds and loosening the soil;
• in disease prevention and pest control.

Tomatoes Snow Leopard are unpretentious in care, this variety will not create big problems for gardeners, but the harvest will be excellent, only with proper care.

Authoritative opinions

Amateur gardeners who already have experience in growing the Snow Leopard tomato differ in their opinions, some people like this variety, some do not. We bring to your attention some of their reviews.

The list of new tomato varieties is growing rapidly every year, but passionate gardeners are trying to keep up with the times by growing them on their plots. Tomato Snow Leopard has already gained popularity among many gardeners for its unpretentious care and productivity. We recommend you to try this variety, we wish you good luck.