What is a nepas (non-grafting) tomato, why is it good, how is it grown and which varieties are considered the best

Vegetable growing » Tomatoes

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Kira Stoletova

For planting in open ground, it is advantageous to choose unpretentious vegetable crops such as Nepas. A series consisting of non-sapling plants with fruits of different sizes and colors. Without additional processing and pruning, Nepas 4, 2 or 5 tomatoes do not grow much and take up less space in the garden or greenhouse.

Characteristics of Nepas variety tomatoes

What are non-sprouting tomatoes?

The name of the Nepas variety comes from the adjective “non-stepping”. The variety, or rather a series of varieties, combines non-sunfolding tomatoes with fruits of different sizes and shades, on which stepsons practically do not form.

Their advantages and disadvantages

Tomato bushes of this series are low-growing, from 20 to 70 cm. They are productive and require minimal care. They are distinguished by uniform ripening of fruits. They bear fruit both in greenhouses and in open ground.

Due to the compactness of the bushes and root system, vegetable growers grow more plants in a small area and get a rich harvest. Plants set fruit in any conditions, so they are suitable for open ground not only in the south, but also in the middle zone.

A common drawback of the series varieties is the simple, unsaturated taste of the fruit.

Advantages and disadvantages

The following advantages of this variety are highlighted:

• formation of stepson branches in small quantities, compact dimensional characteristics of plantings;
• resistance to temperature changes and to pathologies that affect other tomato varieties;
• getting an early harvest;
• increased productivity;
• the need to provide minimal care, the possibility of growing in greenhouse structures, in open ground conditions;
• high taste qualities of vegetables.

But there are also negative traits. The lack of rich taste and the small size of the fruits stand out separately.

Top best varieties of non-sprouting tomatoes

Agro has created 14 non-grafting varieties of tomatoes in the series, seven of them are included in the State Register. The varieties of the series are similar, the growing conditions and care do not differ. There is diversity only in the size, color and taste of the fruit. Let’s take a closer look at the seven varieties introduced in 2017 and 2022. to the State Register of Tomato Varieties.

Natalya Petrenko about tomato varieties:

Choosing vegetable seeds for the soil and for the greenhouse You will like these varieties!

Nepas

A salad variety, early ripening (95-110 days), with a red, flat-round fruit, weighing 50-80 g. The plant is determinate, 50-60 cm high, unpretentious and resistant to temperature changes. Productivity – 6.3 kg/m².

Nepas 2 (non-grazing crimson)

Hybrid F1 for salad use, mid-early, with a raspberry-colored fruit, round in shape, weighing 100-140 g. The plant is determinate, with an average height of 50 cm. The tomato sets fruit well, is resistant to stress caused by unfavorable weather conditions, and is unpretentious. Productivity – 8.2 kg/m².

On a note. Determinate – limited in growth. In such tomatoes, at a certain point, the growth of the central tip stops.

Nepas 3 (pink)

A mid-early variety for salad use, with round, pink fruits (110-140 g). The tomato is determinate, reaches a height of half a meter. The pulp of the fruit is fleshy and sweetish in taste. Productivity – 6.4 kg/m². Suitable for growing without seedlings in areas of unsustainable agriculture. Requires moderate pinching.

Nepas 4 (heart-shaped, orange)

An early variety, for salad use, with beautiful heart-shaped orange fruits with a spout at the end, weighing 60-70 g. The pulp is dense and sweet. Productivity – 6.3 kg/m². The tomato variety is resistant to root and blossom end rot.

Nepas 7 (giant)

Mid-early, salad, large-fruited (150-200 g). Resistant to tobacco mosaic virus. The fruits are round, red, smooth, and have excellent taste. Productivity – 6.3 kg/m². Indeterminate. The stepson grows moderately.

On a note. Indeterminate – unlimited in growth. The growth of the central tip occurs without restrictions throughout the life of the plant.

Nepas 9

Early, salad, with cylindrical fruits, weighing 50-60 g. The tomatoes are red, dense, fleshy, excellent taste, do not crack. Productivity – 6.3 kg/m². The height of the bush reaches 80 cm. The plant is determinate, 70-80 cm high. Does not require mandatory pinching.

Nepas 12

Ultra-early ripening, salad, with rounded red fruits, weighing 100-150 g. The plant is determinate, up to 50 cm high. The variety is the most unpretentious. Suitable for seedless cultivation in areas of unsustainable agriculture.

Variety selection

You should choose a varietal subspecies according to your own taste preferences. In order to eat fresh tomatoes or use them for making vegetable salads, the best options are No. 2 and No. 7. Nepas No. 3 also has suitable characteristics.

For preservation, Nepas No. 4 and Nepas No. 6 are considered the best options. These tomatoes are medium in size and have dense flesh.

Nepas No. 11 is suitable for decorating ready-made dishes. And No. 9 and No. 10 are characterized by decorative external features. Thanks to these qualities, these subspecies are used for preserving and decorating prepared festive dishes.

How to grow varieties of the Nepas series

Some “totally lazy” gardeners grow Nepas series tomatoes using the seedless method, that is, they sow their seeds directly into the ground. Since tomatoes are a heat-loving crop, they are sown with seeds in warm beds, box beds or buckets.

We grow non-sprouting tomatoes in buckets

This method has been used since the late 40s of the last century. Back then they used buckets without a bottom. The harvest obtained by this method is no worse, and sometimes even better, than using the conventional method.

What are the advantages of this method? The soil warms up well in a bucket; under unfavorable conditions, it can be brought into a greenhouse or even into a house, no need to weed. The sun illuminates the plants well. They can be used for garden decoration.

In metal containers and black containers, the soil warms up especially well, which accelerates the growth of tomatoes. Water and fertilizers are not wasted, the plant receives them completely.

The soil for growing tomatoes in buckets is prepared from turf soil (medium loam), humus in equal parts, 300 g of wood ash is added to 1 bucket, peat or sawdust is added. The soil is steamed over an open fire and watered with a solution of rich pink potassium permanganate, diluted at the rate of 1 g per 10 liters of water.

If there are any, holes are made in the bottoms of the buckets so that the water does not stagnate. However, it should be taken into account that if the holes are too large, the water will quickly “leave”, so some gardeners do not make holes, but simply put drainage (broken brick, expanded clay, etc.) on the bottom, covering the top with non-woven material.

What are the advantages of planting tomatoes in buckets, what are the nuances of caring for them in this method - watch the video about this.

How to grow tomatoes in buckets (Alenin's garden):

TOMATOES in buckets / Growing tomatoes in buckets, bags, boxes / Vegetable garden in containers

In box beds

Growing low-growing tomatoes in box beds is popular. What is a box bed? This is a high bed, fenced with wooden frames made of boards or rods. Experts consider the most convenient size for such beds to be 6 m long and 1.2 m wide, but this depends on your capabilities.

Arches are installed over the ridges, on which covering material (film, non-woven material) is laid to extend the season, speed up the ripening of the crop, and protect the plants from the vicissitudes of the weather.

A box bed is formed from plant residues and food waste, which provide heat during rotting, so tomatoes can be grown in them directly from seeds.

Features of planting and growing Nepas tomatoes

The peculiarity of the agricultural technology of Nepas tomatoes is one: they are not difficult to grow. At the same time, most varieties can be grown without seedlings, by direct sowing of seeds in a garden bed. But to realize the sign of early ripeness, seedlings are almost always prepared. Seedlings are grown without problems; it does not require more than two months, which must be taken into account when calculating the timing of sowing seeds in boxes. Tomato seedlings of the Nepas series, ready for planting, are rarely taller than 15–18 cm and often have flower buds.

Nepas tomato seedlings are always strong and compact

The compactness of the bushes allows them to be planted densely: up to five plants, sometimes even six, are placed per square meter. Stepchildren are removed only if the bush is clearly thickening, which can happen with an excess of nitrogen fertilizers. Leaves are torn off only if they turn yellow. Water the bushes as usual and give 2-3 feedings per season. Tomatoes, as a rule, ripen well on the bushes; there is no need to pick them unripe: after all, these varieties do not always have enough sugar content, and when ripened at room temperature, the fruits will turn out even more sour.

Tips and tricks

Buy seeds in trusted, specialized stores. Pay attention to the packaging. It must indicate the variety, manufacturer, number of seeds, and date of manufacture.

To get a good harvest, caring for plants is necessary, despite their unpretentiousness. Nepas series varieties are left unattended for 1-2 weeks in favorable weather, but it is important to ensure watering once every ten days.

The bushes need to be tied up, weeded, the soil loosened, and fed every two weeks.

The basic agrotechnical methods are the same as for other varieties, with the exception of pinching and bush formation.

Growing seedlings

Seedlings are needed by most subspecies of the Nepas tomato, but there are no special requirements for it. You will need warmth (20–25 degrees), light and fertilizing at least once.

March is the very month when you can work on seedlings so that they have time to arrive by May. But here every summer resident can calculate the moment for seedlings on his own, since it must be done 2 months before transferring the bush to the ground, not earlier.

It is recommended to soak all seeds in potassium permanganate before planting. Then they are placed in the ground to a depth of 50 mm, and all pots are covered with film for the first time. When moisture appears on it, the film is turned over.

Reviews

This is how Valentina Vladimirovna Redko, a well-known tomato collector in Russia, speaks about the Nepas series tomatoes: “It’s difficult to grow - it’s no longer interesting. So that it would be fruitful, abundant, easy, and the Nepas 12 non-grafting large tomato was bred. With this variety, you can either go to peace or go to a feast.”

Lorena Mil35 (Ekaterinburg) writes: “Nepas tomatoes bear fruit abundantly, but they require staking. I liked the variety of tomato seeds Nepas because it does not require pinching. It is grown in the usual way, the seeds are planted for seedlings in March, at the end of May the seedlings are planted in greenhouses or hothouses. The Nepas variety is early ripening, the tomatoes turn red already in July, one of the first. The variety bears fruit abundantly, the bushes are not tall, but spreading, and requires tying for support, as it cannot bear a lot of fruit.”

Seleznev Boris Sergeevich (Kingisepp): “I live in the Leningrad region, where temperature changes are often observed. Because of this, difficulties arise in growing tomato seedlings by the required date. Often the plant developed before the cold weather subsided and the soil warmed up to the desired temperature. I consider the Nepas No. 12 tomato my salvation, since it can be grown without seedlings at the moment when optimal weather conditions have established outside.”

Magrat writes: “I welcome non-pinching varieties, since I always miss the time of “pinching.” Productivity 3.7-4.5 kg/sq.m. I didn’t check the scales, but for my not-so-favorable growing conditions, the yield is more than decent. The value of the variety: resistance to stress caused by unfavorable weather conditions - I don’t quite agree. He was the first to react to the drop in temperature. I didn’t even understand when he managed to freeze! The rest stood up cheerfully and continued to sing! I really liked the variety. The manufacturer's promises have been fulfilled. I’ll add the following on my own behalf: despite his short stature, he needs support. Even better is a straight triangle for each bush, because it is REALLY productive. So much so that the trunk can’t stand it.”

Svetlana M. (Asha): “Gardening is one of my favorite pastimes, however, in our climatic conditions it is difficult to get a large harvest, and there is a little more work with plants. I prefer non-sprouting and early ripening varieties, such as non-sprouting raspberry or plum. They form neat bushes, ripen quickly and allow you to enjoy the results of your own labor even in the summer months. I roll up the plum-shaped one for the winter, and the whole family eats the pink one with pleasure.”

Alexey V. (Novoorsk): “Our summers are warm, even hot, but dry and short. Growing crops is sometimes difficult, so before I buy a new variety, I read its description and reviews from gardeners. This helps me understand which seeds are worth buying in the store and which are not. I bought the last curiosity - the non-grazing striped tomato, I really liked the appearance of the tomato, and the description of the variety was good. The yield is sufficient, although I don’t plant much, rather just for fun, but it’s enough for salting.”

Protection from diseases and pests

Hybrids of the Nepas line are distinguished by high immunity to most diseases characteristic of tomatoes. However, if basic care rules are not followed, they can suffer from a number of ailments.