What are standard varieties?
To the question of what a “standard” variety of tomatoes means, the correct answer is this: this is a relatively new and original branch of the group of determinate varieties and hybrids, characterized by short stature and compact bushes, automatic cessation of growth upon ripening, amazing unpretentiousness and high yield.
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The popularity of tomatoes of this type among gardeners all over the planet is incredible. Firstly, their cultivation is so simple that, according to someone’s apt expression, standard varieties of tomatoes received the funny nickname “tomatoes for lazy people.”
Secondly, they are resistant to adverse weather conditions - and where the fruits of traditional varieties freeze or crack, these will remain intact. Finally, planting them means getting a harvest of fresh and ripe tomatoes for the dinner table when other varieties don’t even think about getting juice.
Visually, their bushes look like low, spreading trees, since the stem is characterized by significant thickness and strength, and the crown is compact.
Their root system does not go deep into the ground, and therefore planting is quite possible even on thin-layer soil. At the same time, these tomatoes require almost no special care or even pinching.
However, varieties for open ground must be planted taking into account the climatic characteristics of the region (of course, for film tunnels this limitation is not so important).
Standard varieties of tomatoes - what are they?
First of all, standard tomatoes are low-growing tomatoes. But this is only one sign, the simplest one. What does stunted mean? Not all low-growing varieties are standard varieties. The criterion for short stature is quite simple: all standard varieties grow as bushes, the height of which is from 25 to 60 cm. All, with a few exceptions, standard varieties belong to the group of determinant, that is, their growth stops at a certain stage of development.
However, short stature is only one sign. As a rule, standard tomatoes have a very developed, but shallowly located root system and a powerful, although short, main stem with a small number of branches. This trunk is almost like the trunk of a fruit tree: fruit branches begin at a low height, and the “trunk” holds the bush well, until a certain time, or even without requiring tying up at all.
Externally, standard tomatoes can be recognized precisely because they look like small trees with a thick, strong stem and a dense crown. They require almost no shaping, not even pinching. Most of these varieties bear fruit with relatively medium-sized tomatoes (weighing no more than 150 g), most often round in shape. However, with the development of breeding, the last sign is increasingly becoming incorrect.
Standard tomatoes are low trees hung with fruits.
Thus, it is apparently impossible to give a clear definition of standard varieties, but the appearance of the bush can most often easily answer the question of whether the variety should be considered standard.
Tomato Amur Tiger: reviews from those who planted
Sveta, 44 years old, Brest region My whole family liked ripe tomatoes of this variety - huge, tasty, beautiful, with unusual colors. I planted a couple of plants in a hole and formed bushes into 2 shoots. The harvest was collected gradually, there was enough for food and for spinning - I covered a lot of ketchup and tomato paste.
Olga, 50 years old, Dzerzhinsk Planted the Amur Tiger tomato last year for the first time. First I grew seedlings, then transplanted them into the garden, watered and fed them, as was written in the description. Seed germination is almost 100%. The first tomatoes were very large - at least 350 g, sweetish, not liquid. And the next fruits were much smaller, but also quite large.
Tatyana, 40 years old, Yekaterinburg I planted this variety first through seedlings, but the seeds took a very long time to germinate, and as a result, they began to bear fruit later. But the fruits were still large and tasty. I collected seeds from these tomatoes. Next season I’ll plant this variety from my own seeds and see what happens.
The Amur Tiger tomato is a large-fruited, early-ripening variety with original striped fruits
. It can be grown not only in greenhouse conditions, but also in garden beds. Good yield, excellent taste of fruits, resistance to most diseases - these are the main reasons why this tomato has become popular among Russian vegetable growers from different regions.
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Features of cultivation and formation
Features of standard varieties of tomatoes, such as early ripening and bush shape, also leave an imprint on their agricultural technology: from sowing seeds to harvesting. So, most of these tomatoes in many regions of the country can be grown without seedlings, sowing the seeds directly into the garden bed. True, in this case, the advantages of precocity will be missed, so this approach is implemented only in the south.
To realize the possibility of obtaining early harvests, seedlings are still grown. The seeds are sown in boxes in such a way that the seedlings are about one and a half months old when they are planted in the ground. Since seedlings of standard tomatoes grow very short, when planting them in a garden bed it is easy to cover them with spunbond for the first time, so planting in open ground is possible 7–10 days earlier than in the case of tall varieties.
Since the seedlings grow very compact, and these tomatoes take root in the garden easily, there is no need to grow each bush in a separate pot or cup: seedlings at the stage of two true leaves can be planted into a larger common box according to the 5 x 5 cm pattern, saving space on the windowsill .
Seedlings of standard varieties will grow well in a common box
Despite the relative cold resistance of standard varieties, the seedlings begin to be hardened a week before planting in the garden bed, taking them out into the fresh air for a while. As a rule, when planted in the ground, seedlings are already blooming, and if they are a little late, they may have the first few tiny ovaries. Standard tomatoes are planted quite densely, but this is not entirely justified.
The fact is that the roots of these tomatoes are in the surface layer, and therefore spread mainly to the sides and require a feeding area of approximately 40 x 50 cm. Therefore, denser planting will not always bring a significant gain in overall yield. However, most gardeners plant seedlings of standard tomatoes every 30 cm, leaving 50 cm between rows. Such tomatoes are planted infrequently in greenhouses, and if they are planted, they try to compact them even more, using a checkerboard pattern.
They try to immediately fill the bed for standard tomatoes well with fertilizers: in this case, most often you can do without fertilizing. If you were unable to dig up the garden bed in the fall, you don’t even have to do a complete digging. You can dig an individual hole under each bush, putting 2-3 cups of humus and a handful of wood ash in it.
Standard tomatoes are planted quite densely
Plants continue to grow almost immediately: adaptation of standard tomatoes to a new location takes only 2–3 days. The irrigation regime for them is somewhat different from that for tall varieties. This is due to superficial roots. These tomatoes do not require much water, but the surface layer of soil must be kept moist all the time.
If the bed is well-filled, standard tomatoes do without feeding, otherwise they only have to be fed twice: 10 days after planting the seedlings and another two weeks later. The first time it is better to use mullein infusion, the second time - wood ash. If there are no natural fertilizers, then any complex mineral fertilizer and any potassium salt.
Not all varieties of standard tomatoes have to be tied up: many do not lie on the ground even under the weight of the harvest. Otherwise, tying is advisable; however, this is not difficult to do: it is enough to tie the plant to a low peg in just one place. It is especially important not to let the bushes fall to the ground if slugs are rampant in the garden.
Some varieties of standard tomatoes require pinching; this should be written on the seed package. But even they give few stepchildren and manage quite well without this operation. These tomatoes do not require bush formation as such. However, as the fruit grows, the lower leaves should be removed, especially if they turn yellow.
When the tomatoes begin to ripen, it is advisable to pluck out the leaves that protect them from the sun. Finally, if there is too much flowering, some of the flowers that formed later than others should be removed. However, all these are optional events, and busy summer residents can simply forget about them: maybe the harvest will be smaller, but it will be guaranteed.
Only some standard varieties require bush formation; it is carried out according to the schemes for determinants
Caring for standard tomatoes is easy, but they are not protected from diseases. Although, for example, late blight does not threaten most varieties: by the time the weather turns bad and brings this disease, the harvest will already be harvested. Prevention of other diseases mainly consists of the use of Fitosporin:
They try to drive away pests by sowing fragrant herbs and flowers (basil, coriander, marigolds, nasturtium, etc.) in neighboring beds. Periodic dusting of the beds with dry ash or ground pepper gives a good effect. The hardest thing to deal with is slugs; They try not to scatter metaldehyde-based chemicals over the garden bed; if there are a large number of these pests, special traps are used.
A number of other features are also characteristic of such varieties:
- the compactness of the plants allows you to plant twice, and sometimes three times as many bushes on the same area - and, accordingly, reap a rich harvest;
- most varieties are suitable for planting in open ground even in central Russia - while in a similar time period, other varieties of tomatoes can only develop in greenhouses;
- since the root system of these tomatoes is shallow, they are successfully grown even in containers;
- almost simultaneous ripening is very convenient for housewives who practice quick and mass canning for the winter;
- their low height means that there is no need to tie up the bushes (this can only be done to prevent the lower fruits from falling to the ground - which, however, does not in any way affect their integrity and taste)
- standard tomatoes are not only very productive, but also tolerate drought well;
- They are not particularly afraid of low temperatures;
- another reason for the high yield is the almost complete absence of the appearance of stepsons;
- seedlings take root in the soil very reliably if they are not allowed to overgrow. And the small size of the bushes contributes to successful cultivation even on the balcony or windowsill of a standard city apartment;
- finally, the last main difference between these tomatoes and traditional ones is long-term storage and safety during transportation.
It is not surprising that for these reasons, gardeners have only positive reviews of standard tomatoes (both large-fruited and small-fruited).
Thanks to the root system, which is located close to the surface, the bush of this type of tomato is formed quickly, and you will need the following actions:
- removal of the lower leaves and stepsons throughout the entire growing season (as a result, the bush will produce about 7-8 almost simultaneously ripened brushes);
- the leaves in the lower part of the bush begin to be removed when the plant reaches a height of about 20 cm - but you should not get carried away;
- It is recommended to monitor the crown as follows: select the central, thickest and most durable stem, and pinch off all the stepsons, flower ovaries and small fruits outside it;
- in addition, it is better to remove the lower leaves under those fruits whose ripening has entered the final stage;
- pinching (taking into account planting in late April - early May) is enough to be done weekly, and after 1.5 months, pinching the tops and waiting for the fruits to fully ripen;
- It is better to perform all the above procedures in the morning and only in dry weather, since a wet cut can become a source of infection.
Features of caring for the variety
To obtain a high yield, Amur Tiger tomatoes need high-quality fertile soil. The turf soil is fertilized in advance with rotten compost, mullein and mineral additives.
During the growth period, nitrogen compounds are added, and after flowering begins, superphosphate, potassium nitrate or complex fertilizers are added. The vegetable garden, greenhouse and garden tools should also be disinfected before planting, which will help avoid fungal infections.
Proper care also includes observing the norms and watering regime. The water temperature should not be lower than +25°C. The procedure is carried out carefully to avoid the formation of a crust on the surface of the earth. Therefore, watering should be combined with weeding and loosening the soil.
Moisture on the leaves should be avoided, as this negatively affects the health of the tomatoes. Waterlogging of the soil during fruit growing leads to the appearance of acid in the taste of tomatoes.
Amur Tiger bushes need to be formed throughout the entire growing season. After flowering, you need to pinch out the growing points and the top of the main stem.
Stepchildren in the lateral axils need to be cut off as they appear, so that the energy of the crop goes to fruiting, and not to thickening the plants.
Tall tomato bushes need to be tied to a support to relieve the load on the stem.
In some cases, the flowers of the variety are susceptible to doubleness, which leads to the formation of irregularly shaped tomatoes. Despite their large size, the fruits look unappetizing. Therefore, it is better to remove large flowers of a changed appearance immediately after detection.
Pros and cons of standard varieties
The number of available varieties of standard tomatoes is more than a dozen, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. At the same time, all these varieties have something in common, for example, similar approaches to planting and growing. If you try to name the general pros and cons of all standard varieties, you will get quite impressive lists. The advantages of standard tomato varieties are:
- almost complete absence of stepchildren;
- a powerful, thick and short stem, which in many cases allows you to do without tying up the bushes;
- well developed root system;
- compactness of plants, allowing compact planting;
- easy survival of seedlings;
- resistance to changes in air temperature and soil humidity;
- suitability for cultivation in open ground;
- early ripeness;
- uniform ripening of the main part of the crop;
- good transportability;
- possibility of growing in apartment conditions, including on the balcony.
The disadvantages of such tomatoes are:
- not always excellent taste;
- relatively low yield;
- insufficient resistance of many varieties to diseases and pests;
- the possibility of suppressing seedlings by weeds when sowing seeds in open ground due to slow growth.
Standard varieties are very popular due to their ease of care, early ripening and almost simultaneous ripening of the crop. At the same time, these varieties are not for gourmets: most of them are used primarily for pickling or canning, and also as the first tomatoes of the season. In the second half of summer, non-standard salad varieties are more suitable for fresh consumption.
Tomato growing technology
After purchasing seeds, they are treated with potassium permanganate. They can only be planted in the garden when the soil has been sufficiently warmed by the sun's rays. Until this moment, you need to prepare the bed itself. It is raised in height and expanded, arcs are installed along the soil. The bottom is covered with any grass, and humus is placed on top, which is mixed with ash flour.
The holes in the garden bed are made in a checkerboard pattern. Every 0.3 m you need to place 4-5 seeds. Then they are sprinkled with a layer of earth 12-15 mm thick. The soil is watered with a warm solution of potassium permanganate. All holes with seeds are covered with jars. A film covering is stretched over the previously laid arcs, which is sprinkled with soil on top to hold the polyethylene in the wind.
The bed is opened only after the seeds have germinated. When the tomato bushes grow to a height of 8-10 cm, no more than 2 sprouts are left in the hole. This method of planting reduces the time required to care for the tomato. The plant bears fruit until cold weather, and its stems and leaves resist late blight well.
This tomato is not afraid of verticillium disease and fungal infections. Watering the bushes is recommended only during extreme heat or drought.
To protect tomatoes from garden pests, such as aphids or caterpillars of various insects, spraying the bushes with toxic chemicals is used. Slugs are destroyed by treating the soil under the bushes with ash flour.
It is difficult to describe all the available varieties of standard tomatoes: apparently, their number can be estimated at about a hundred. This or that gardener prefers one or another variety: depending on the shape of the fruit, color, taste, purpose, etc. In addition, not all varieties are intended for all regions, although in most cases there are no restrictions in this regard. The list of the most popular is as follows.
Far North
A variety for universal use. The tomatoes are round, with small ribs, medium-dense, red. The weight of the fruit is about 80 g, the taste is assessed as good. Productivity up to 2 kg/m2. The variety is resistant to various rots.
Tomato Far North, according to the name, is quite cold-resistant
Buyan (aka Fighter)
Variety of universal use. The fruits are cylindrical, red, weigh up to 90 g. The taste is good, the yield is up to 2.3 kg/m2. Tomatoes “reach” well during storage. The variety is resistant to droughts, as well as to the most dangerous disease - the tobacco mosaic virus.
Buyan tomato is ideal for whole-fruit canning
Shuttle
The variety is not approved everywhere, only in the Central, Volga-Vyatka and West Siberian regions, but is known everywhere. The purpose of the harvest is universal; the fruits ripen together. They have an elongated oval shape and are red in color. The weight of the fruit is 45–55 g, the taste is assessed as good. A variety for industrial use, up to 792 centners are collected per hectare, suitable for mechanical harvesting.
Tomato Chelnok is one of the few standard varieties grown on an industrial scale
Salad super early variety. The fruits are round, red, weigh up to 80 g, and have good taste. The yield is quite good, ranging from 6–7 kg/m2. The not very high taste characteristics of Alpha fruits are more than offset by very early ripening and decent yield.
Tomato Alpha is a high-yielding variety that is one of the first to ripen
Amur standard
A very early standard variety, universal purpose. The fruits are flat-round, with slightly pronounced ribbing, red in color, weighing up to 70 g. The taste of the tomatoes is excellent, the yield is up to 4.8 kg/m2. The variety is characterized by increased resistance to verticillium.
The Amur standard tomato bears fruit with very tasty tomatoes.
Bullfinch
The Snegiryok tomato is often grown in the form of a potted crop on a windowsill or balcony. The purpose of tomatoes is mainly salad; the fruits are characterized by excellent taste. They are round, medium-dense, red, weighing no more than 30 g. The yield when grown in beds is about 3 kg/m2.
Tomato Snegiryok is often grown at home
Altaechka
Salad variety with ovoid, ribbed, medium-dense fruits. The tomatoes are quite large, weighing 110–130 g, raspberry in color, good taste, and the harvest is characterized by excellent transportability. Productivity is about 8 kg/m2.
Tomato Altaechka has very good yield
Flame Agro
A salad variety. The need for plant formation and obligatory gartering of bushes is stipulated. The tomatoes are round, medium-dense, red, of excellent taste. The weight of each fruit reaches 120 g, the yield is 4.5 kg/m2.
Tomato Flame Agro, unlike many standard varieties, is quite large-fruited
Boni-MM
Super-early salad tomato variety Boni-MM, ripens 83 days after the first shoots. The fruits are flat, with noticeable ribbing, weighing about 60 g. The taste is good, the marketable yield is quite decent: up to 6.5 kg/m2.
The Boni-MM variety does not have the most delicious tomatoes, but they ripen almost the very first
Yamal is a universal variety. The fruits are flat-round in shape, with clearly visible ribs. The tomatoes are red in color, weigh up to 90 g, and taste is rated as good. Productivity 5.6 kg/m2. Characterized by increased resistance to various rots.
The Yamal variety does not stand out in anything special, but overall it is not bad at all
Belogorsk cream
Salad variety with cylindrical red fruits, weighing up to 90 g. The taste is good, the yield is 6.5 kg/m2. The variety has high, compared to many standard varieties, resistance to most diseases, including viral ones.
Tomato Belogorskaya cream is one of the most disease-resistant
Characteristics of the variety
You can grow tomatoes of the variety under discussion in almost any part of Russia. But this will have to be done under different conditions, depending on the climate. So, in the southern part of the country you can plant tomatoes directly in open soil. But in Siberia and the middle zone you will need to choose greenhouses to grow the vegetables under discussion.
The Amur tiger grows large, lush bushes. Their height can reach 1.5 m. It is recommended to always combine the bush into a maximum of 2 stems. Before the first fork, all emerging stepsons are removed. The bushes must be tied up.
Other important characteristics of the Amur Tiger variety are summarized in the table:
Characteristics | Options |
Number of fruits per 1 cluster | up to 10-12 pcs. |
Weight of one fruit | from 40 to 90 g (on average) |
Fruit weight per bunch | up to 2.5 kg |
Ripe tomatoes are quite dense. They are spherical in shape. Separately, it is worth noting the color of the fruit. It is not just red, but brindle - with small yellow stripes. This is where the name of the variety came from. At the same time, tomatoes have a bright taste - rich and slightly sweet. They are not suitable for preservation due to their thin skin.
Fruits of tomatoes of the Amur Tiger variety.
It is better to use such tomatoes exclusively for processing.
The Amur Tiger variety is not afraid of fungi and various other diseases. He is resistant to them. Especially with proper care. But these tomatoes do not tolerate low temperatures well. That is why in cool climates it is recommended to grow them exclusively in greenhouse conditions.