The variety of tomato varieties and hybrids developed through selective breeding never ceases to amaze. Many gardeners have long abandoned conventional high-yielding varieties and switched to exotic crops that can captivate not only with their name, but also with their external decorative appearance.
Every summer resident wants to grow something unusual on his plot. The Strawberry F1 tomato belongs precisely to such hybrids: it captivates not only with the appearance of the fruit, exactly reminiscent of a sweet garden berry, but also with its excellent taste. Extraordinary sweetness with barely noticeable sourness and subtle fruity notes have made the hybrid almost a legend in the tomato world.
Description of the variety
The f1 hybrid was bred by Russian breeders and included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. Recommended for cultivation in open ground and in greenhouse conditions. Adapts well to temperature changes and drought.
Distinctive features
Indeterminate type, height up to 1.5 m, dense foliage, large, bright green leaves.
Reference ! The indeterminate type has no restriction on the growth of the main stem.
An early-ripening hybrid, 90-95 days pass from the moment of sowing the seeds to full ripening.
The productivity is high, up to 5 kg of fruits are harvested from 1 bush, provided that 2-3 seedlings are planted per 1 sq. m. m.
The hybrid genes contain high resistance to many dangerous diseases of the nightshade family.
The culture requires mandatory gartering and pinching. To improve the fruiting rate, plants are formed into 1 trunk.
Fruit characteristics
Average weight is 20-50 g, the shape is not typical for a tomato: ripe vegetables resemble strawberries. The color is bright red. The taste combines spice, sugar, acid and light fruity notes. The pulp is dense, there are few seeds. The peel is thin, but the fruits do not crack during heat treatment.
Reference ! Hybrid Strawberry is divided into two subspecies: orange and red tomatoes. The yellow-orange fruits have a richer sweet taste and are great for making salads and sauces.
Ripe vegetables are consumed fresh: for preparing salads, various snacks, canapés; due to their small size, they are used for whole-fruit canning.
They are not suitable for processing into tomato products due to their dense pulp. Tomatoes are subject to long-term storage and can withstand long-term transportation, which makes it possible to breed the crop for sale.
The photo shows Strawberry tomatoes.
Taste qualities of German tomatoes Orange strawberries
Tomatoes of German selection in appearance resemble heart-shaped strawberries. This is where the variety got its name. The fruits are bright yellow with a red tint and have a uniform, glossy surface, slightly ribbed at the stalk. On average, the fruits reach a weight of 400 - 600 g, but in greenhouse conditions, individual specimens grow up to 800 - 900 g. The skin of the Orange strawberry tomato is thin and dense at the same time. Their pulp is oily, juicy, without voids, with a small number of seeds. The taste of tomatoes without pronounced acidity is distinguished by sweetness with fruity notes, as well as aroma. The fruits also have a high carotene content. Orange strawberry tomatoes are suitable for fresh consumption, canning and pickling, processing into juice or puree.
Important! Orange strawberry tomatoes are recommended for people with allergies to red-fruited varieties of tomatoes.
How to grow seedlings
Sowing seeds for seedlings begins 2 months before planting in the ground. Before sowing, the seed undergoes special preparation.
Seed preparation
The grains are laid out on the table and carefully inspected for visible defects. Seeds suitable for sowing must be free from bending and damage. The emptiness of the grains is checked by immersing them in a saline solution, which is prepared from 1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in a glass of water. Those that floated to the surface after 10 minutes are not viable, which means they are not suitable for sowing.
Then the planting material is disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. After disinfection, they are washed with running water.
To improve germination, seeds are soaked in a growth stimulator for 12 hours. The swollen grains are ready for sowing into the ground.
Reference ! As a growth stimulator, in addition to specialized products, you can use melt water and aloe juice.
Container and soil
The soil is prepared from a mixture of garden soil, peat and washed river sand in equal proportions. The resulting soil is spilled with a hot solution of dark potassium permanganate for disinfection. Also, for these purposes, the soil can be steamed in the oven at a temperature of 50° for at least 15 minutes. When the soil has cooled, it is laid out in planting containers.
Plant in a common wooden box or in individual containers, for example, plastic cups or peat pots.
Reference ! Growing seedlings in a wooden box is the cheapest way, and peat pots are the most expensive. However, many gardeners propagate seedlings in peat containers, avoiding later replanting into the ground and feeding the seedlings. The walls of peat containers contain many nutrients necessary for growth and development.
Sowing
Seeds are sown to a depth of 2 cm with a distance of 3-4 cm from each other. Then sprinkle with peat, level, moisten with warm, settled water using a spray bottle and cover the containers with film to create a greenhouse effect.
The containers are left in a bright and warm room at a temperature of at least +23. Periodically the film is removed for ventilation. The soil is moistened as the top layer of soil dries out with warm water.
Seedling care
When the first shoots appear, the containers are moved to a more illuminated place, on the windowsill, but not in direct sunlight.
Important ! Under direct exposure to sunlight, young bushes receive serious burns.
Daylight for seedlings must be at least 16 hours, so there is a need to provide additional lighting with lamps. Some gardeners provide lighting to young bushes around the clock.
This type of seedling requires long daylight hours.
Water with warm, settled water as needed using a shallow watering can or a regular tablespoon along the edge of the containers, without flooding the soil. Overmoistening threatens rotting of young roots. After watering, the soil is loosened with a wooden stick, superficially, without touching the root system.
Reference ! Loosening the soil promotes better penetration of oxygen to the roots.
After two true leaves appear, the seedlings are picked and placed in separate containers. If the seedlings are left in a common box, then increase the distance between them to 10-15 cm. When picking, weak plants are disposed of, since they will not survive in open ground. During picking, young bushes can be fed with liquid fertilizer for seedlings.
2 weeks before transplanting, the seedlings begin to harden by taking them out into the open air for 45 minutes. Gradually, the time spent outside is increased to 11 hours, while at the same time reducing the night temperature in the room to +13°.
Diseases and pests
The German red and orange strawberry tomato variety is not particularly susceptible to the main nightshade diseases. It is resistant to fungus and viruses, but prevention will not hurt.
Before planting, the soil is spilled with a hot solution of potassium permanganate . During an epidemic of late blight, preventive spraying with copper-containing preparations is useful. Treatments with phytosporin or other non-toxic biological preparation will protect against crown and root rot.
Tomatoes should be protected from insect pests by regularly inspecting the plantings. You can fight thrips, spider mites or whiteflies with insecticides or celandine decoction. Toxic drugs can only be used before flowering begins. Ammonia works well against slugs; aphids are washed off with a warm solution of laundry soap.
Old varieties, tested by many gardeners, are a win-win option for beginners. German red and orange strawberries deserve a place in the greenhouse or garden bed. You can collect seeds for subsequent planting yourself. Tomatoes grown from them have all the qualities of the mother plants.
How to grow tomatoes
After 2 months, the seedlings are ready for transplanting. If the soil temperature is less than +15, then planting in the ground should be delayed, otherwise the seedlings will not begin to grow for a long time, which will delay fruiting.
Landing
The Strawberry tomato loves fertile soil, so humus, wood ash and complex fertilizers are added to the soil.
Planting pattern: 40 cm – distance between seedlings, 60 cm – row spacing. For 1 sq. m place no more than 2-3 plants.
After transplanting, the holes are watered with warm, settled water and mulched with sawdust. Mulching helps retain moisture in the beds longer and prevents the penetration of many pests.
Further care for tomato Strawberry F1
Regular watering is established as young plants adapt to new conditions. Water infrequently, 1-2 times a week, increasing the number of waterings on dry days. It is important to avoid dampness in the beds. Tomatoes do not like excess moisture, and high humidity has a negative effect on developing fruits, giving them a watery taste.
After each watering, the beds are loosened, removing weeds with roots.
Reference ! Weeds can be used as mulch. When rotting, it will feed the root system with additional beneficial substances.
Plants need feeding regularly. The fertilizer is a full complex of minerals, which is added to irrigation every 2 weeks. During the budding period, phosphorus and magnesium are added to the main fertilizing for healthy growth and development of plants, and during fruiting, potassium fertilizers are used for faster fruiting.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
When transplanting, vertical wooden or metal supports are installed next to each bush. Despite the powerful bush, the plant requires obligatory staking not only of the stem, but also of the fruit-bearing branches, since they cannot withstand the weight of ripe vegetables.
The ideal fixation option is a garter on a trellis. To do this, install supports at different ends of the bed and stretch wire between them.
Tall bushes require regular pinching, otherwise a lot of nutrients will be spent on the growth of unnecessary shoots. In addition, if the plants are not planted, there is a possibility that the plantings will become dense, which will lead to the development of fungal spores and the spread of insect pests.
For the greatest return, the crop is formed into 1 stem. This is a necessary condition for those who want to get maximum yield.
Diseases and pests
The hybrid is immune to diseases of the nightshade family. But for the purpose of prevention, it is recommended to regularly loosen and mulch the beds, control the level of humidity and systematically ventilate closed structures.
The influx of fresh air destroys not only the pathogenic environment, but also the habitual living conditions of many parasites, in particular the greenhouse spider mite.
Young bushes are susceptible to attacks by the Colorado potato beetle, which is why regular and thorough inspection of plants is so important. The beetle is collected by hand and burned in glass jars. If there is a lot of it, use the drug “Prestige”. But remember that the use of insecticides is possible only before the ovaries appear.
Advice . Planting sharp-smelling plants next to tomatoes will protect them from many ground and flying pests. Pheromone traps will protect against whitefly butterflies, and treating the stems with a soap solution will protect the bushes from slugs and aphids.
Preparatory work
Any gardener knows that the success of good seedlings lies in the right soil. Therefore, in order to grow an Orange Strawberry tomato, you must first prepare the soil for planting the seeds.
As a rule, well-fertilized and loose soil is used for these purposes. You can purchase a ready-made mixture, or you can prepare it yourself. Experienced summer residents advise sowing tomatoes in loamy soil with the addition of compost or humus. To keep the substrate loose, add sawdust or peat.
There are several rules for preparing the soil for planting tomatoes.
- Before use, the earth is sifted. This will help get rid of unwanted weeds, worms and grubs.
- To protect yourself from all kinds of diseases and pests, the soil is frozen or steamed.
- To enrich it with the necessary minerals, you should add urea, humus, superphosphate or ash.
Another good option for growing seedlings is peat tablets. You can place 3-5 seeds in them. A distinctive feature of such tablets is that they do not need to be spiked.
The nuances of breeding in greenhouse conditions and in open ground
Long daylight is a necessary condition for the full growth and development of the hybrid.
To prevent the bushes from stretching out, select beds in a sunny, draft-free place. To protect the plants from wind and precipitation, install an additional support next to the bush, to which it is fixed immediately upon replanting. To limit the growth point, pinch the tops of plants.
This procedure is especially important in greenhouse conditions, since the growth of greenhouse bushes is usually higher than outside. All lower leaves must be removed. With constant contact with wet beds, they can rot and cause the development of fungal diseases.
Since the crop needs fertile soil, it is necessary to remember the rules of crop rotation, which recommend planting tomatoes on the land where legumes, cabbage, carrots or winter crops were previously grown. After peppers, potatoes and eggplants, the tomato will lack nutrients, since previous crops greatly deplete the soil.
When planting in a greenhouse, the top layer of soil must be changed, and the new soil must be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to destroy pathogenic flora. You can also treat with copper sulfate, which serves as a preventative against late blight.
Features of cultivation
German red and orange strawberries can be propagated by seedlings or without seedlings.
The seeds are soaked in a growth stimulator; preliminary disinfection with hydrogen peroxide or a solution of potassium permanganate is possible. Read more about preparing seeds for planting at home in this article. This procedure is necessary for seed collected independently. Seeds purchased in the store undergo the necessary preparation before sale. Soil for seedlings is made from a mixture of garden or turf soil with humus. It is possible to add a small portion of washed river sand; for greater nutritional value, wood ash or superphosphate is added to the mixture.
The seeds are sown in a shallow depth, sprinkled with soil and sprayed with water. For successful germination, a temperature of at least 23-25 degrees is required. The emerging seedlings are exposed to bright light; in cloudy weather, additional illumination with fluorescent lamps is necessary
It is important to ensure that the sprouts do not stretch; the seedlings should be compact, stocky, bright green
Young tomatoes are watered with warm water, waiting until the soil dries out a little.
Hardening is recommended; it is especially important for plants that will be planted in open ground. Containers with seedlings are taken out into the open air, first for several hours, and then for the whole day. After the first pair of true leaves unfold, the seedlings are picked and then fed with complex mineral fertilizer
Planting in a greenhouse begins in the second half of May; seedlings are planted in open beds in June, covered with film at first. For 1 sq. m you can place 3-4 bushes. The soil for planting is loosened and fertilized with a generous portion of humus
After the first pair of true leaves unfold, the seedlings are planted and then fed with complex mineral fertilizer. Planting in a greenhouse begins in the second half of May; seedlings are planted in open beds in June, covered with film at first. For 1 sq. m you can place 3-4 bushes. The soil for planting is loosened and fertilized with a generous portion of humus.
Tomatoes need careful watering with warm water, loosening the soil, and timely fertilizing. It is preferable to alternate mineral complexes with organic matter; plants are fed 3-4 times per season. The bushes are formed into 1-2 stems, removing the stepsons above the third cluster. It is also better to remove deformed flowers, this stimulates rapid fruit set.
Harvesting and application
Harvesting begins in early summer. Vegetables ripen together, in whole clusters.
Tomatoes are used mainly for preparing fresh dishes: various snacks, summer salads, baking, canapés, vegetable stews. Due to their dense pulp, small tomatoes are used for whole-fruit canning, where they perfectly retain their excellent taste. This type is practically unsuitable for tomato products due to the high dry matter content.
Ripe vegetables are subject to long-term storage and can withstand long-term transportation, maintaining their marketable appearance. For these reasons, the variety is bred commercially.
Watering and fertilizing
Watering should be moderate. The soil should not be over-watered or allowed to dry out.
The best fertilizers are mineral fertilizers, compost, and humus. You should not get carried away with nitrogen fertilizers or increase the dose of any fertilizing - in this case, the plant begins to “fatten”: build up green leaf mass instead of forming fruit clusters.
Tomato "Cherry Strawberry F1" is quite easy to grow and care for. Important: regularly inspect the plants for diseases or pests, water them on time and in moderation, ventilate (if tomatoes grow indoors), weed, feed a little and - don’t forget to harvest!
Good weather and great harvest!
Advantages and disadvantages
Tomato Strawberry f1 has many positive characteristics:
- early ripening;
- good adaptation to temperature changes;
- drought resistance;
- immunity to many diseases;
- simple agricultural technology;
- high fruiting rate;
- excellent taste;
- unusual appearance;
- presentation for a long time;
- possibility of breeding for sale;
- preparations for the winter;
- long-term storage;
- long transportations.
The negative aspects include regular stepsoning and mandatory garter.
Pros and cons of the German tomato variety Orange Strawberry
Among the main advantages of Orange strawberry tomatoes, the following are worth highlighting:
- high taste qualities;
- excellent yield;
- extended period of fruit ripening, long fruiting;
- spectacular, exotic color and shape of tomatoes;
- versatility of use;
- drought resistance;
- frost resistance;
- excellent immunity to pests and diseases;
- the ability of tomatoes to retain their taste during artificial ripening;
- suitability for use by people prone to allergic reactions;
- even at high humidity, the fruits retain increased elasticity;
- Plants develop well in hot weather, and tomatoes do not crack;
- tomatoes do not need careful care.
No obvious deficiencies were identified in Orange Strawberry tomatoes. The disadvantages include increased demands on lighting and a small number of seeds. Although, the last criterion can also be attributed to the advantages of culture.
Other "strawberry" varieties
The Strawberry hybrid is not the only one of its kind, reminiscent of everyone’s favorite garden berry. There are other varieties with similar names.
Tomato Strawberry Dessert
Indeterminate type, requiring obligatory gartering and pinching. The ripening period is average, it begins to bear fruit 120 days after sowing the seeds. Fruiting is extended, lasting until the first frost. Designed for breeding in greenhouse conditions.
The fruits are large, up to 300 g, red with a ruby tint. The taste of vegetables is excellent, richly sweet with a high content of sugars. The variety is high-yielding, at least 10 kg are harvested from 1 bush. There is increased resistance to diseases.
Tomato Strawberry Tree
Indeterminate mid-early variety, begins to bear fruit in 100-110 days.
It takes root equally well both in open ground and in greenhouses. Productivity is high, from 1 sq. m harvest up to 12 kg of fruit. It is highly resistant to diseases such as tobacco mosaic virus, verticellosis, brown spot and cladosporiosis.
The culture requires mandatory gartering and pinching. Ripe vegetables of excellent taste, sweet with barely noticeable sourness, weighing up to 200 g.
Shrubs are often planted in front gardens; their form as a small ornamental tree can decorate any area.
Tomato German red strawberry
Semi-determinate, early ripening species, 100-115 days pass before fruit ripening. Recommended for open ground and greenhouse conditions. The variety is high-yielding, up to 7 kg of fruits are harvested from 1 seedling. Immune to most diseases.
Gartering and pinching plants is a mandatory procedure in tomato care. Unlike other varieties, the origin of tomato is Germany. Ripe fruits are large, 250-500 g, the taste is excellent, sweet, the color is deep red or orange. The culture can be propagated using both seedless and seedling methods.
Hybrid Cherry strawberry
An early-ripening, medium-sized hybrid, recommended for open and protected ground. Fruits in 90 – 100 days.
Immune to typical diseases of the nightshade family. Productivity is high, from 1 sq. m harvest up to 9 kg. It is distinguished by the excellent taste of vegetables and their appearance: it is a copy of a strawberry.
The taste is sweet due to the high sugar content, the color is bright red. Tomato bushes, strewn with fruits, look like decorative decorations for garden plots.
Ripe vegetables are immediately processed, as they cannot be stored for a long time.
Planting and care
Planting of seeds begins in the last week of February. It could last all March.
How to properly prepare the soil substrate:
- Mix garden sod and compost.
The grooves are made 1-2 cm deep, the seeds are laid out at a distance of 2-3 cm. Before germination, cover with film and maintain the temperature in the range of 25 degrees.
What conditions should be created for strong seedlings:
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Farmer reviews
Despite the fact that the hybrid is relatively young, based on its favorable reviews, we can say that it occupies a leading position not only in summer cottages, but also in sales markets.
Olesya, Stavropol: “Wonderful hybrid! She led into 2 trunks, watered and fed. I was pleased with the harvest; there was enough for salads and in jars. Tomatoes are very tasty and beautiful. I’ll definitely plant more.”
Elizaveta, Omsk: “I plant strawberries in a greenhouse, the bushes never get sick, they stay healthy all season. The tomato is high-yielding, which I really like, since I make a lot of preparations for the winter. The tomatoes are very beautiful, they look great in salads and in jars. These are my favorite tomatoes."
The best cherry tomatoes according to reviews from summer residents
Russian vegetable growers like cherry tomatoes; many of them include the best varieties:
- Magic cascade;
- Red and yellow cherries;
- Terek F1;
- Ambrosia red
- Tomato Chio-chio-san;
- Cranberries in sugar.
The largest number of positive reviews have been left about these varieties and hybrids. Vegetable growers consider the taste of these cherry tomatoes to be the best.
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Just think, but 20 years ago gardeners were not tormented by the question of what variety of tomatoes to plant - they simply did not exist. Now the seed market is flooded with various varieties for certain climatic conditions, including for greenhouses. How not to drown in the stream of names and make the right choice? All experts agree that it is indeterminate or tall varieties of tomatoes that are ideal for greenhouses.
They form into one stem and its growth is not limited as long as there is space and favorable temperature conditions. Of course, they need more careful care, but at the same time the yield increases significantly.
In particular, with proper care and watering, you can harvest up to 50 kg of tomatoes from a bush.
The main advantages of indeterminate varieties:
- The bush gives more harvest due to more color brushes
- They are less susceptible to fungal infections due to greater air intake
- Long fruiting phase, which allows you to enjoy tomatoes for a long time
- Bushes are much easier to form, since you only need to leave the stem without stepsons
The disadvantages include:
- Tomatoes are very picky about heat and care, so they may not grow in all areas.
- Unlimited growth, not only in height, but also in width, not suitable for small greenhouses and areas
- Due to precocity, a disadvantage may arise such as different sizes of fruits on one bush
In contrast to tall varieties, determinate varieties perform very well in different climatic conditions and require less care. But at the same time, they have limited growth and, therefore, limited yield. This species is also suitable for growing in greenhouses, especially if there is not much space.
The main advantages of determinate tomatoes include:
- Early fruits. They ripen earlier than identerminate ones, since the flower clusters are formed through fewer leaves.
- High level of early harvests in various climatic zones.
- More uniform harvest yield - several tassels are tied at once and almost at the same time.
Cons of determinate tomatoes:
- The overall yield is lower than that of tall ones, again due to the small growth of the bush.
- Diseases. These varieties are more prone to diseases. Loaded brushes reduce their resistance to viruses. That is why these varieties need to be treated more with chemicals.
- Increased fertilizer and mineral nutrition, again, due to the load on the brushes.
De Barao
One of the most famous varieties of indeterminate tomatoes. Its bushes reach up to 3 meters. At the same time, it can be cultivated both in a greenhouse and in open ground. From each square meter you can harvest a high yield - up to 10 kg per bush.
Like all tall trees, it has increased resistance to diseases. De Barao is divided into several subspecies (pink, royal, gold, black, red, yellow) depending on the color of the fruit, but with the same characteristics - large yield and high stature.
Also one of the leaders in tall tomatoes. It is ideal for growing in greenhouse conditions, and it looks quite interesting. A 3-meter tree with vines on which the treasured tomatoes grow. From such a tree you can get 1-1.5 tons of harvest. At the same time, the fruits have an excellent taste and can be stored for several weeks and even months if properly maintained.
Semko-Sinbad F1
Classic to represent an early, fruiting variety. A very early variety, the first fruits can be harvested after 90 days. On its branch, 8 fruits are formed, weighing 100 g. The variety can be grown not only by seedlings, but also by planting seeds directly into the ground, while it has high resistance to infections.
Bourgeois
This is a mid-season variety, the fruits of which can be removed from the branches on the 100-110th day after planting. The average weight of such a fruit is 200 g. Due to its resistance to temperature changes, it grows well both in the southern regions and in the regions of the middle zone. With quality care, gardeners harvest up to 3 kg of fruit from one bush.
Hybrid Ivanhoe F1
Originally from Holland, tomatoes are loved by Russian amateur gardeners. Like all determinate varieties, Ivanhoe is unpretentious to the weather and easy to grow. The taste is much brighter than other greenhouse varieties of tomatoes, and early fruits can be obtained already at the beginning of summer.
