Tomato Peter the Great: characteristics and description of the hybrid, reviews from those who grew it, photos of bushes and the resulting harvest

Characteristics and description of the variety

The Peter the Great tomato belongs to the cluster hybrids and is intended for cultivation mainly in closed ground. Planting in open ground is possible only in mild climates, with a small difference between day and night temperatures.

The plant is indeterminate, has a powerful stem and great growth vigor. Without pinching the top, the height of the bush can exceed 2 m, and the number of carpal ovaries on it reaches 45 pieces.

Advantages of the Peter the Great variety:

quick response to agrotechnical manipulations - fertilization, pruning;
productivity - if you follow the care recommendations, the yield reaches 10 kg per square meter. m;
universal use of fruits with excellent taste characteristics;
long shelf life of fruits, low losses during harvest transportation.

The fruits of the hybrid Peter the Great are distinguished by an elongated pepper-shaped shape with a small spout. The average size is 10-12 cm, the average weight is 120 g. The skin and pulp of a ripe tomato are bright red in color, without light areas or spots. The structure of the pulp is dense, not watery, with a high percentage of dry matter. The taste is rich, sweetish.

Productivity

The average productivity of 1 bush is 3.5-4 kg. From 1 m2 they collect 8-10 kg.

When choosing a new variety (hybrid), first of all, pay attention to the characteristics:

ripening period;
disease resistance;
purpose of use;
type of bush;
color, shape, weight and purpose of a ripe fruit;
productivity.

Ripening time

The plant belongs to the group of tomatoes with medium ripening periods. For tomatoes included in this group, the fruits begin to ripen after 105-110 days. The countdown is not from the day the seeds are sown in the ground, but from the day the green sprouts appear. Knowing the ripening time, the time for sowing seeds for seedlings is determined.

The timing is almost the same for the Urals, the Middle Zone and Siberia. It is better to sow in the first ten days of March. In mid-May, you can transplant 60-day-old seedlings into a greenhouse (tunnel), and pick the first tomatoes at the end of June or early July.

The hybrid will make optimal use of the greenhouse space. Powerful bushes reach 2 meters in height. Peter the Great is an indeterminate plant by type of growth, which needs to be pinched at its growth point. Without pinching the crown, the bush will grow until the end of the growing season.

Bushes need strong support. Old style wooden stakes or lightweight plastic stakes will do. There are two ways to plant seedlings:

Place 3 bushes per 1 m² and form them into 2 stems.
Place 4 bushes per 1 m² (dense planting), form into 1 stem, removing all stepsons.

If the summer resident follows the recommended schemes, the average yield per square meter of the greenhouse is 9 kg.

Original, elongated, pepper-shaped fruits with a small spout, small in size, have a good tomato taste. The weight of an average fruit is 100-120 g, length 12 cm. The color of the skin and pulp of a ripe fruit is bright red. The pulp is dense, the percentage of dry matter is high.

The skin is durable and protects the fruit from cracking during preservation. The purpose of the fruits is universal, but the best option for using them would be to make canned tomatoes. The fruits of the hybrid are perfect for making sun-dried tomatoes.

Features of care

At least 2 months must pass from the moment the first shoots appear and the seedlings are transplanted into the greenhouse (tunnel). The manufacturer's instructions contain recommendations regarding the age of seedlings. It is recommended to replant 60-day-old seedlings; they adapt faster, grow and begin to bear fruit.

The plant is indeterminate and has great growth vigor. For good fruiting, it needs to create certain conditions:

a bed filled with organic matter and mineral fertilizers;
compliance with the recommended planting density;
the presence of a strong support;
watering;
root and foliar feeding;
removal of stepsons and leaves;
partial collection of brown fruits that have not reached ripeness;
regular monitoring of air humidity in the greenhouse.

Prepare the soil in the greenhouse in the fall. It is worth removing the top layer 5 cm thick and taking it out into the garden. I fill the ridge with fresh garden soil taken from the ridge where carrots or onions grew. Add rotted manure at the rate of 1 bucket per square meter.

Add superphosphate in the fall, a tablespoon per square meter. I'm going to dig up without breaking the clods. In winter, cover it with a thick layer of snow. In the spring, scatter ammonium nitrate (1 tbsp. l/m²) over the surface, dig up the ground, level it with a rake, and mark holes. At the end of April or in May, transplant the seedlings.

The first Peter the Great tomatoes ripen at the end of June - July, the harvest ends in September. During this time, farmers manage to collect up to 10 kg of fruits from 1 square meter. m greenhouse.

The variety is good for fresh consumption and for preservation. The taste and density make it possible to prepare sauces, juices, and tomato paste from these tomatoes. When preserving whole fruits, the strong skin does not burst. The Peter the Great variety is perfect for withering.

Hybrid tomatoes tolerate transportation well and are stored for a long time, so surplus crops can always be sold at a profit. After picking, brown or green fruits are sent to ripen using the traditional method: they are laid out in wooden boxes in 2-3 layers, covered with paper.

The yield from each bush varies from 2.5 to 5 kg, i.e. The yield per 1 m2 reaches 10 kg.

Recommended regions for cultivation: middle zone and Moscow region. It also produces a good harvest when grown in more southern regions.

How to grow seedlings

The cultivation of hybrid seedlings occurs according to standard rules, taking into account the specific climate. The thoroughness of seed and soil treatment depends on the level of threat of disease and pest infection in a particular planting region.

Seed preparation

Considering that 60-day-old seedlings should be transplanted into the greenhouse, and the best time for planting will be mid-May (for the middle zone), it is better to sow seeds for growing seedlings in the first half of March.

Hybrid seeds are usually already processed by the manufacturer. But some gardeners still disinfect. Harmful microorganisms can live on the surface of seeds and become activated when they enter the soil. The simplest method of disinfection is soaking in hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) for 20 minutes.

Then the seeds are soaked in water at room temperature for 72 hours, wrapped in clean gauze. As a rule, on the third day the sprouts hatch and the seeds are ready for planting.

Container and soil

Seed material is planted in boxes filled with universal store-bought soil for tomatoes. There must be drainage holes at the bottom of the boxes.

You can prepare the soil yourself by mixing peat, sand, and top layer of garden soil in equal parts. It is recommended to additionally treat the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and add a small amount of organic fertilizer.

Sowing

The seeds are deepened into the ground 1-2 cm, watered with warm water and greenhouse conditions are created by covering the container with soil with film. It is important that the soil in the box does not dry out or cool. The optimal way to moisturize during this period is to spray the soil with a spray bottle.

The greenhouse must be well ventilated twice a day. If these conditions are met, seedlings appear within 7-10 days.

Growing and care

After germination, Peter the Great tomato seedlings need to be provided with good lighting, and in the second week, nitrogen fertilizers should be added to stimulate growth.

When 2-3 leaves appear on the plants, they are picked from a common box into separate cups. The volume of the cups must be at least 0.5 liters so that the grown seedlings feel comfortable.

Disease Prevention

Quite often, gardeners are faced with a tomato disease such as gray rot. To avoid this problem, it is recommended to plant the bushes not too densely. Mechanical damage to seedlings is unacceptable. Any infected tomatoes covered with short gray fluff should be promptly removed. Tomatoes can also be affected by black leg. When this disease appears, the root part of the bushes turns black and dries out. Experienced experts cite thickening of the bushes and excessive waterlogging of the soil as the main reasons why tomatoes suffer from blackleg. The following measures are suitable for prevention:

timely ventilation of the greenhouse;
moderate watering;
use of proven planting material;
sterile soil.

Fusarium can appear at any stage of plant development. With this lesion, the lower part of the leaves turns yellow and withers, and dark outlines of blood vessels can be seen on the cut of the stem. If such a lesion develops, the tomatoes cannot be cured. In order to avoid having to destroy tomato bushes, it is necessary to first dig up and disinfect the soil, use healthy planting material and control the acidity of the soil. Experts say: at a pH level of 6.5-7, the development of harmful fungus slows down significantly.

How to grow tomatoes

Tomatoes require daily attention from gardeners. Following the recommendations for growing Peter the Great hybrid tomatoes will ensure healthy plants and a rich harvest.

Landing

Peter the Great tomatoes are planted in greenhouses in mid-May - early June. By this point, night temperatures in the greenhouse should not fall below 10 °C.

Planting density per 1 sq. m is 3 bushes when subsequently formed into 2 stems or 4 bushes when formed into 1 stem.

The soil in the greenhouse is prepared in the fall, replacing its top layer with soil from carrot beds. Then they add manure and dig up the soil without breaking up the lumps.

Care

10 days after planting tomatoes in permanent soil, it is well loosened and organic fertilizers are applied. Mineral fertilizers are added before flowering and during the period of fruit appearance.

Plants require abundant watering with warm water - drying out of the deep layers of soil is unacceptable. The soil is loosened weekly to ensure adequate oxygen exchange in the tomato root system.

The bushes grow actively throughout the growing season, and to ripen the fruits, it is recommended to remove the stepsons, pinch the growing points and the crown.

Attention ! During the period of fruit ripening, plants will need strong support - wooden or plastic stakes of sufficient thickness.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

With responsible care, the Peter the Great tomato feels comfortable in greenhouse conditions and enters the fruiting period 110-120 days after germination. Sometimes, despite observing all agrotechnical nuances, difficulties are observed with fruit ripening. To help the plant, experienced farmers advise removing some of the tomatoes that have acquired an intermediate brown color.

Throughout the warm season, it is necessary to maintain an optimal level of humidity in the greenhouse - this is ensured by regular watering of the soil and natural evaporation of moisture, but on dry summer days you can install small containers of water between the bushes.

Diseases and pests

Hybrid Peter the Great is resistant to viral and fungal infections, but for prevention it is recommended to periodically treat the above-ground part of the plant with Fitosporin.

When pests appear, we recommend spraying the bushes with an insecticidal preparation. Root protection will be ensured by watering with a solution of copper sulfate.

Caring for a tomato variety

Caring for the plant of the described variety includes a number of traditional measures, which include good watering, high-quality fertilizing, timely pinching, weeding and loosening the soil.

Feeding and watering

Since the crop is characterized by high growth intensity, it needs good, abundant watering, the need for which is determined by the drying of the top layer of soil. When carrying out irrigation procedures, you should focus on the abundance of moisture, and not on their frequency.

Frequent, but small waterings contribute to the formation of small root shoots, which are not able to fully nourish the plant and saturate it with the required amount of moisture. Rare but plentiful moisture promotes the development of a strong and powerful root system, which can provide the bushes with the necessary nutrients and moisture. However, when irrigating, water should not be allowed to stagnate in the soil, as this will lead to rotting of the roots. To moisturize, you should use settled, non-cold, soft water.

Important! It is recommended to water in the morning, evening or in cloudy weather.

It is equally important to organize systematic feeding of the crop, for which it is allowed to use organic matter or complex mineral products. Any fertilizers should be applied only to moist soil, which is why experts recommend combining fertilizing with watering.

Fertilizers are applied for the first time 10 days after planting the seedlings. To do this, prepare an infusion of bird droppings or mullein and herbs. The concentrated solution is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 and the bushes are watered. One bucket of fertilizer is enough to feed 10–13 bushes. The second portion of fertilizers is applied during the flowering phase of the crop, and the third during the period of fruit formation. In this case, mineral preparations based on potassium and phosphorus are used. At the end of summer, tomato bushes are sprayed with a solution of boric acid, at the rate of 2–3 g per 1 bucket of water.

Stepping and bush formation

The formation of bushes is one of the mandatory procedures when growing the Peter the Great variety. If you ignore this stage, you will not be able to get a decent harvest of high-quality, large fruits.

Plant formation can be done in two ways:

In one stem . In this case, all side shoots are removed, leaving only one main, strongest stem. The lateral shoots are trimmed every 10 days, after they reach a length of 5–6 cm. At the same time, the first flowering brush is pinched, which makes it possible to reduce the load on the crop and promote better yield.
In two stems . With this formation scheme, a central stem and the strongest lateral shoot are left, on which there are at least 5 flowering clusters. The remaining stepsons are removed regularly, every 7–10 days.

As practice shows, the variety shows the best yield results when bushes are formed into two stems.

Read more about how to properly plant tomatoes in open ground.

Loosening the soil and weeding

Experienced gardeners recommend loosening the soil 1–2 times a week, which allows you to:

saturate the soil with nutrients and enrich it with oxygen, thereby activating the growth of the root system;
create favorable conditions for bush growth;
destroy some pests and parasitic larvae living on root shoots.

The first loosening with a deepening of 8–10 cm is carried out a few days after planting the seedlings, the second and subsequent ones - as needed, at least once every 7 days.

In addition to loosening, a mandatory procedure when caring for tomatoes is weeding, the presence of which inhibits the development of the bush and negatively affects the yield. Weeding is carried out regularly, at the first appearance of weeds. It is especially important to destroy parasitic plants before they bloom.

To prevent the appearance of weeds and also retain moisture in the soil, experts recommend covering the soil under the bushes with a layer of mulch - straw, sawdust, hay.

Did you know? Tomatoes contain a unique substance - the powerful antioxidant lycopene, which prevents the formation of cancer cells and also slows down the growth and development of existing ones.

Difficulties in growing

Despite the fact that the variety is quite resistant to many viral and fungal diseases, when growing it, novice summer residents may encounter a number of difficulties, which, as a rule, are associated with violation of the basic rules of agricultural technology. Excessive soil moisture, as well as excess fertilizers, can lead to late blight, fusarium, and powdery mildew . To combat these diseases, as well as for prevention, modern fungicidal preparations are used, for example, Fitosporin, or folk remedies - Bordeaux mixture.

Against parasites such as slugs, whiteflies, aphids , insecticidal preparations “Aktofit”, “Profi” or folk remedies - soap or garlic solutions, potassium permanganate, a mixture of pepper and mustard are especially effective.

Simple preventive measures will help prevent the development of diseases and the appearance of pests:

compliance with crop rotation;
timely loosening of the soil and destruction of weeds;
compliance with the rules of watering and fertilizing;
systematic professional treatment of bushes with biological products.

It is worth noting that the variety is almost never affected by the pathogen Verticillium wilt.

Also find out what you need to do to make tomatoes turn red faster.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

The Peter the Great tomato, like many mid-season hybrids, is not intended for growing in open ground. In the southern regions, it is possible to plant bushes outside greenhouses, in beds, but in this case, care should be taken to quickly cover the tomatoes with film from rain or hail.

Growing indoors is possible throughout Russia. At the same time, summer residents from regions located above the middle zone often use heated greenhouses. With proper care, tomatoes bear fruit until the end of September.

Regardless of the form of planting, Peter the Great tomatoes require strong support, good lighting (at least 12 hours a day), and regular feeding.

Important ! Plants must be protected from sudden temperature changes.

Subtleties of cultivation

Full-bodied, smooth seeds of a characteristic shape that do not have an unpleasant odor are sown on seedlings. Tomato flavor is allowed. The optimal sowing time is 56-60 days before the planned planting in the ground. Some running time is allowed, since suitable weather conditions for planting seedlings in the garden bed may occur earlier or later than usual.

Seedlings can be grown with or without picking. In the second case, seeds are sown immediately in 3-4 pieces. into separate pots or cassettes, and then remove weak shoots, leaving 1 or 2 strong plants. To save space, some gardeners grow 2 plants in each container, but everything is better when they grow one at a time, so the seedlings will definitely not lack light, water and minerals.

Hardening

The seedlings are hardened by gradually lowering the ambient temperature to 8-10 degrees. You can also keep pots or boxes in the yard during the day and bring them indoors at night. The main thing is that the leaves do not get sunburned. There are two ways to prevent such a nuisance: gradually increase the time the plants stay outside or simply place them under a canopy.

How to distinguish hardened seedlings

Reviews about the Peter the Great tomato confirm that the yield from “our own” seedlings is higher, but not everyone has the opportunity to grow it

If bushes are purchased on the market, you need to pay attention to their appearance

Hardened bushes are easy to identify: they are stocky, strong, with dark green leaves.

Seedlings that grow in warm, low-light conditions are usually elongated, pale green, and look pampered. This is undesirable for early and mid-early low-growing varieties. If the late ones have time to compensate for the lag in growth and gain strength, then the middle ones do not have much of it.

Important! If you plant frail, weak seedlings, you may not expect a good harvest.

Now no one doubts the benefits of hardening, but when growing seedlings for sale, this measure is usually neglected. Hardened specimens adapt better to changing weather conditions, tolerate cold and heat more easily, are more resistant to diseases and are not so damaged by pests. For obvious reasons, they also produce more harvest.

Harvesting and application

The first Peter the Great tomatoes ripen at the end of June - July, the harvest ends in September. During this time, farmers manage to collect up to 10 kg of fruits from 1 square meter. m greenhouse.

On forums about tomato Peter the Great

Oksana, Saratov

Two years ago we built a greenhouse. Peter the Great's seedlings were the first to plant from tomatoes. She didn’t sit straight, but at a slight angle. I took the description from “Sedek” as a basis. When growing , the bushes were formed into 2 stems, and the extra shoots were removed. The fruits are too dense for salads, so I used everything for preparation. When pickled, pepper tomatoes taste and look good. Today I planted 5 bushes again, but I neglected the bushes - I didn’t break out the stepsons in time. There were enough tomatoes for harvesting, the fruits were set until the end of August.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Growing Peter the Great tomatoes does not require complex agricultural manipulations, and even inexperienced farmers can count on a good harvest.

The main advantages of the variety:

long fruiting;
resistance to infections and fungi;
pleasant taste and high fruit density.

No obvious disadvantages of hybrids have yet been identified; the list of possible inconveniences includes:

large size of bushes, tendency to grow quickly;
the need for solid support, and not just tying;
difficult cultivation in open ground;
it is necessary to partially unload the plant by removing unripe fruits.

Some gardeners find fresh Peter the Great tomatoes too tough to cut into a salad. But this minus turns into a plus when canning.

Description of the hybrid

The Ercol tomato belongs to the first generation hybrids.
The compact bush attracts attention due to the uniform ripening of fruits and resistance to diseases

The characteristics of the variety indicate the possibility of cultivating the plant in open ground conditions, observing agrotechnical conditions. During the growing season, a low bush is formed, 55-70 cm high. Intermediate inflorescences are formed on the plant.

The fruit ripening period is 100-110 days.
The shape is cylindrical, the tomatoes are red in color, with high density and excellent taste.
When cutting a tomato horizontally, you can see the presence of 2-3 chambers with seeds.
The fruits, weighing 110-130 g, ripen almost simultaneously.
From 1 bush you can harvest 1.5-2 kg.
Harvested tomatoes are stored for 1.5-2 months, maintaining their taste.
They withstand transportation over long distances very well.

In cooking, the Ercol tomato has a universal purpose. It is used for preparing salads, preparations in general and in processed form.

Farmer reviews

The Peter the Great tomato variety was developed relatively recently and has not yet received sufficient distribution, but reviews from farmers who have become acquainted with the hybrid are mostly positive.

Sergey, 48 years old, Novorossiysk: “High yield compensates for some of the inconveniences of growing. I have a large farm, and good keeping quality guarantees profit from harvest sales.”

Anna, 38 years old, Novgorod: “Summer in our region is not hot, so I only plant tomatoes in a greenhouse. Peter the Great has not failed for 3 years, but every year it is necessary to replace the fertile layer of soil in the greenhouse.”

Irina, 42 years old, Saratov: “It’s nice to go into the greenhouse - the tomatoes have grown powerful and healthy. Large bunches of ripe tomatoes look impressive, and their photos are nice to add to the archive of my agricultural achievements.”

Preparing seeds and soil

Only those seeds purchased through agricultural companies are suitable for growing seedlings. This variety is a first level hybrid. Therefore, if you collect seed from your own tomatoes with your own hands, the plants will not retain their species qualities. They will produce small fruits that are not similar in shape, and the bushes themselves can become sick and become infected with viruses.

Before sowing the seeds, they can be soaked in growth stimulants, then they will sprout earlier and more smoothly. For disinfection, soak in a weak, pink solution of potassium permanganate. Usually 7 hours, or overnight time, is enough for this.

Good care of seedlings will increase tomato yields

Prepare containers or containers with holes to allow excess water to escape. Soil for sowing can be purchased or created yourself. It contains some components.

Be sure to take garden soil, which is fried, and this gets rid of parasites or viruses.
Fine-grained sand ensures loose soil.
Rotted manure over a couple of years will fertilize the soil.
Sometimes, to prevent the earth from clumping, small sawdust from fruit trees is added.

But when planting tomatoes in a permanent place, the sawdust is carefully removed. When they decompose, they absorb nitrogen, which is necessary for plant growth.