Every experienced vegetable grower has his favorites, which are found among representatives of each crop, and tomatoes are no exception. I also loved the Snowfall tomatoes. However, most summer residents secretly take part in a certain number of experiments every year aimed at finding new varieties of tomatoes.
Description of the variety
Tomato Snowfall F1 is a representative of late tomato varieties belonging to the first generation of hybrids. The bush of the plant is indeterminate, can be up to 2 meters high. Moderate spreading goes well with the abundance of green foliage, which requires close attention and mandatory formation.
The leaves of the Snowfall tomato are simple and medium in size. The clusters in which the fruits ripen contain from 6 to 10 fruits. The excellent yield of tomatoes allows you to get up to 5 kilograms of selected fruits from each bush growing in a greenhouse. From planting the seeds to the appearance of the first ripe fruit, an average of 120 days pass. Harvesting can be done before snow appears.
Snowfall tomato fruits grow up to 80 - 120 grams. The tomatoes are flat-round in shape, with slight ribbing at the stalk.
When ripe, the fruits have a rich red color. The thin skin covering them protects them from cracking. The dense pulp contains a small number of seeds.
The taste of the Snowfall tomato is quite sweet, very rich and, as numerous reviews report, very pleasant. Sugars, which are contained in large quantities in tomatoes, make it easy to use Snowfall in baby food and in the preparation of a wide variety of dishes.
Fruit characteristics
Snowfall fruits are flat-round, red and small. At the stage of full maturity they reach a weight of 60–80 grams. The taste is quite pleasant for a hybrid, moderately sweet.
Tomatoes of the Snowfall variety are perfect for pickling and pickling. Thanks to their small size, they can easily fit into any jar. When ripened on the bush, tomatoes can be eaten fresh, since their taste is suitable even for use in the diet of children.
Each fruit has 3 or 2 seed chambers, in which seeds are located in an average amount. In addition to salting, pickling and eating fresh, Snowfall fruits can be dried.
By adding Mediterranean spices to Snowfall tomatoes and drying them in the required manner, you can get excellent sun-dried tomatoes, the characteristics of which will not be inferior to expensive Italian tomatoes. Subsequently, such fruits can be used in cooking and as a spice.
Pros and cons of the variety
The description on the packaging contains quite detailed information about Snowfall tomatoes, however, only vegetable growers who have been growing the variety for several years can name its obvious advantages. These benefits include:
- high productivity;
- excellent taste;
- unpretentiousness to growing conditions;
- spectacular appearance of ripe fruits;
- excellent keeping quality;
- the ability of tomatoes to tolerate transportation well;
- versatility of use;
- the possibility of growing both in a private farmstead and on an industrial scale;
- resistance to various viruses and diseases.
Of course, the list of advantages is very wide. However, the variety also has disadvantages:
- sensitivity to temperature fluctuations;
- frost intolerance;
- vulnerability to drought and sweltering heat;
- the need to form a bush;
- demands for tying;
- the need for constant removal of stepchildren;
- possibility of chopping tomatoes if there is excess foliage.
Summer residents also note another drawback: the inability to collect seeds for planting next year. Even ripened seeds are deprived of the advantages of the mother plant. This is sometimes offensive, but quite understandable: this factor is characteristic of all hybrid varieties. Despite this, the description and reviews of the Snowfall F1 tomato are the most positive.
Features of cultivation
Snowfall tomatoes are grown using the seedling method.Depending on the region of cultivation, you should choose the optimal time for planting seeds. In areas where the climate is cold, seeds should be planted in mid-to-late February. In the southern regions, this moment can be postponed until mid-March.
Before planting seeds in the ground, they can be treated with a solution of hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate. This is necessary to disinfect the material. Snowfall seeds from Sedek have already undergone pre-sale preparation and do not require disinfection. Information about this can be found on each package of seeds.
The soil in which future plants will be planted should be light but nutritious. To obtain the above qualities, you can mix garden soil with humus and river sand. It is ideal if the vegetable grower has the opportunity to add superphosphate and wood ash to the soil.
After planting the seeds in common containers, you can later plant them in peat pots. This is very convenient, since there is no need to damage the root system of the plant during replanting into the ground later. Plants planted directly in peat pots do not need picking.
It is important that tomatoes are responsive to heat, fertilization and moderate moisture. Fertilizers applied to the soil must be systematized: first the plant needs nitrogen, then phosphorus and potassium. Organic fertilizer can also have a positive effect on crop growth.
Disease Control
Tomatoes Snowfall F1, like other hybrids, are resistant to major nightshade diseases. It is not afraid of mosaic, fusarium, or verticillium. The only thing a summer resident who decides to grow a Snowfall tomato on his plot should be wary of is late blight.You can protect the crop by spraying with preparations containing copper. Already affected parts of plants should be removed immediately.
Insect pests can be controlled. To do this, you can use industrial insecticides or use folk remedies. Decoctions of celandine and onion peels, tobacco dust and wood ash are excellent in controlling pests.
