Several hundred years ago the first tomato seeds came to Russia. At that time they were called “love apples” because they looked like hearts. At that time, tomatoes could not grow well in all regions of the country. They are very thermophilic and love light, so not everywhere there were suitable conditions for growing them. Over time, breeders developed special varieties that made it possible to grow tomatoes in the Leningrad region.
Conditions for growing tomatoes
Before you choose which varieties of tomatoes are the best for the Leningrad region, you need to familiarize yourself with the conditions affecting their growth and development.
Soil composition
It is recommended to plant tomatoes in light, permeable soils, which are distinguished by their fertility and low acidity level. In the Leningrad region, podzolic soil with a high level of acidity and a small amount of humus is most often found. Therefore, to grow some varieties you will have to fertilize the land.
Lighting
Some varieties of tomatoes can bear fruit and grow without problems even with little light. However, you still need to take care of good lighting when growing seeds for seedlings. The growth rate of young bushes will depend on this. If the plant does not have enough light, it will begin to bloom several weeks later.
Temperature
Tomato varieties for the Leningrad region will grow much faster if a suitable temperature regime is maintained during cultivation. Numerous reviews from experienced gardeners indicate that tomatoes germinate better if the soil is warmed to 15 degrees. For normal flowering, the air temperature should not be lower than 20-25 degrees. If serious night frosts are observed, then it is better to grow tomatoes not in open ground, but in a greenhouse.
Humidity
To obtain the best harvest, it is recommended to monitor the humidity of the soil and air. During fruiting, its level should be within 80%. However, then moisture should not come in such large quantities. It should be fed evenly so that the roots continuously receive nutrition.
Air
In order for the plant to grow well, it is necessary to ensure that dry and lukewarm air constantly circulates among the plants. Constant high humidity can negatively affect the health of the bushes. It interferes with timely pollination and contributes to the development of various dangerous diseases.
To improve air exchange, it is recommended to get rid of leaves located near the roots.
Fertilizer
Zoned varieties require regular soil fertilization. However, you should not fertilize the soil too often, as this can harm the tomatoes. It is better to use fertilizers with nitrogen while growing seedlings and after planting them in the garden or greenhouses. Phosphorus and potassium will be needed when the bushes begin to bloom.
The most suitable varieties
Before choosing to buy tomato seeds for the Leningrad region, you need to study the best varieties of tomatoes that are recommended to be grown in this region. The characteristics and descriptions of tomatoes will help you get acquainted with all their key features and differences.
Northern beauty
This variety is not early ripening, since it ripens only two months after the seedlings are planted. The northern beauty is universal - it is perfect for polycarbonate greenhouses and for open areas. Grown bushes easily adapt to almost any weather conditions. The plant is distinguished by tall bushes, which, with proper care, grow up to 75 cm.
The fruits cannot boast of great weight, since their mass is 100 grams. The northern beauty has excellent taste, which is why it is often used in cooking.
One of the main advantages of this variety is its immunity to tobacco mosaic and fusarium.
Mithridates F1
The variety is not suitable for people who are going to grow early ripening varieties, since Mithridates ripens only 115 days after planting the seedlings. This tomato variety can be grown in open ground and in greenhouses.
About 5-6 fruits weighing 150 grams appear on the clusters. Young fruits have a light greenish tint, which becomes bright red over time. The tomatoes are very juicy, dense and slightly ribbed. They can be transported over long distances, as they do not lose their commercial qualities within a month.
Pharaoh F1
A mid-season hybrid variety that begins to ripen 120 days after seedlings are planted in the ground. Pharaoh is known for its rapid development and tall bushes that grow up to one meter. The bushes are covered with a small number of short greenish leaves.
During growth, about 7-9 fruits appear on the bush. They are strong, round and large. The weight of one tomato is 160-180 grams. Ripe fruits are covered with thick red skin. They are able to maintain their commercial quality for several months. The main advantage of Pharaoh is its productivity, which allows you to collect more than 40 kg of fruit from one square meter.
Dobrun
An indeterminate hybrid plant that can be grown in greenhouses. Dobrunya bushes are not very tall and grow only up to 60-80 cm. However, it is still recommended to tie them to a strong support so that the bush does not break due to the large number of early ripening fruits. During growth, the bushes are covered with leaves, which can have a dark or light green tint.
The fruits have an almost perfect round shape and intense red color. Some fruits have a greenish spot near the stalk, which may disappear after ripening.Tomatoes are very large, since the weight of one ripe fruit is 200 grams. Dobrun boasts good preservation of fruits. In room conditions they can be stored for one and a half months.
Varieties for greenhouses
Quite often, residents of the Leningrad region grow greenhouse varieties of tomatoes. There are several types of tomatoes that need to be grown only in greenhouses.
Early ripening Leningradsky
The Leningrad early ripening tomato is a compact determinate plant that grows up to 40 cm. It is grown only by seedlings. To do this, it is recommended to use pre-prepared soil consisting of river sand, humus and turf soil. Seedlings dive into pots after two large leaves have formed on them. When growing seedlings, it is recommended to feed the soil with fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium.
The first fruits begin to appear 90 days after planting young bushes. They are painted red and are shaped like a small tennis ball. A distinctive feature of the early ripening variety is its sour taste.
Autumn Leningradsky
The variety belongs to the mid-late tomatoes, which begin to ripen two and a half months after planting. The plant is tall and grows up to 90 cm. The bushes are covered with large dark green leaves. Autumn Leningrad tomato does not need constant lighting. The first fruits may appear even if the greenhouse is poorly lit.
Tomatoes are bright red in color and have a yellowish tint. Their weight is not very large and is only 100 grams.This variety cannot boast of very high yields, since only 15-20 kilograms of tomato can be collected from the entire plot.
Chanterelle
An early-ripening variety that will fully ripen within a month after transplanting the seedlings. It is recommended to grow chanterelle only in a greenhouse, as it may not cope with temperature fluctuations. The bushes do not grow too high, so there is no need to constantly trim or tie them up.
The fruits of this greenhouse variety are bright orange. They have an oval shape, which is why tomatoes look very similar to a chicken egg. The weight of the fruit is slightly larger than that of the Northern Beauty - 150 grams. Chanterelle's harvest is also quite good and amounts to more than ten kilograms from several bushes. The tomatoes grown have a sweetish taste, which distinguishes them from some varieties of tomatoes.
short
Planting low-growing varieties is popular among gardeners who do not want to waste time on constant staking and pinching of bushes.
Nevsky
Refers to determinate varieties that ripen within 105 days. This tomato can be planted outside or under a film to protect the seedlings from the cold. Mature bushes are not very tall - only 45 cm in height. This allows you to grow such tomatoes even in urban environments.
Ripe tomatoes turn red and have a round shape. They are quite small and weigh only 50 grams. However, they stand out from other tomatoes due to their high taste. They are used to create barrel pickles and canning. Tomatoes are also used to create fresh juice as they have the perfect combination of acids and sugars.
Baltic
The Baltic tomato tolerates different weather conditions without problems, so it can be planted in the garden. The tomato bush is not too large, but still requires staking and pinching to form the plant. The fruits begin to ripen after 80 days, but with proper cultivation they can appear earlier.
The fruit has a round and flattened shape, which distinguishes it from many other tomato varieties. The average weight of one tomato is 150 grams. The Baltic tomato differs from other varieties in its unique taste. This is why it is often added to various salads and dishes.
Yablonka
The variety is distinguished by tall bushes more than one meter high. To prevent the plant from breaking, it will have to be tied to special supports and periodically remove unnecessary stepsons. The apple tree is suitable for vegetable growers who love productive early varieties. Even if you don’t take care of the planted tomatoes, you can collect more than five kilograms of fruit from one bush.
Tomatoes are quite dense and have a round shape. Their average weight is about 100 grams.
Conclusion
Anyone can grow different varieties of tomatoes for the Leningrad region. To do this, just familiarize yourself with the most suitable varieties of tomatoes and the rules for planting them.
