Agree, if you plant the same tomatoes all the time, you may never find your ideal variety. After all, there are summer residents who do not know that it is possible, for example, not to plant a crop, but there are also varieties that are not afraid of late blight, but it is a disaster for the gardener. These highly resistant varieties include “Silver Spruce” tomatoes; their description and photos are the topic of our article. But that's not all. This variety is unique due to its unusual carved bush, for which it received its characteristic name, and the fruits also have a pleasant pubescence.
Manufacturers, or maybe not them
Tomato “Silver Spruce” reviews, photos, indicate two packaging manufacturers who present their products on the seed market.
LLC "Agrofirma Belogorka" in the picture the fruits are round and red.
Agrofirma Usadba LLC went a little further and, in addition to packaging, provided a little information. According to her data, the tomato is very early and disease resistant. When describing the fruits, it is indicated that they are plum-shaped, very dense, elastic, fleshy, with excellent taste in fresh and processed form.
The third version of “Silver Spruce” comes down to the fact that this is the name given to tomatoes whose fruits are marbled. Many experienced vegetable growers compare this “Spruce” with the “Firework” tomato and point out that the habit of the plant and the shape of the fruit and taste are absolutely identical. The only question remains is why it is unclear what to call an excellent tomato with its own varietal name.
Description
Among the numerous representatives of the genus, it stands out for its slenderness and beauty, undemandingness to growing conditions, frost resistance and resistance to air pollution, surpassing many of its brethren in this indicator.
In nature, it occurs singly or in small groups along rivers and on the northern slopes of the mountains of the western regions of North America. Grows in the mountains at an altitude of 2000-3300 m above sea level. seas.
Prickly spruce 'Silver' Picea pungens 'Argentea' is decorative at any time of the year. The most valuable evergreen tree up to 25 m, and in nature up to 45 m in height, lives up to 100 years. The crown is pyramidal. The branches form regular dense tiers, horizontal or hanging at different angles.
Particularly beautiful are specimens in which the branches are evenly spaced in regular tiers around the trunk from the very ground to the top. The needles are prickly, their color varies from green to light blue and silver. Under good growing conditions, needles live 5-7 years, more often 3-4 years.
Life form: Spruce 'Silver' Picea pungens 'Argentea' coniferous tree
Crown: Conical, dense.
Growth rate: Fast. The annual growth is 30 cm in height and 10 cm in width.
Height 20 m, crown diameter 4 m.
Durability:600 years
Fruits: Cones, elongated, brown from 5 to 10 cm.
Needles: Needle-shaped, pointed, silver-white.
Color:
Decorative: Prickly spruce 'Silver' is spectacular against a dark green background of deciduous or coniferous species.
Use: Single plantings, decorative groups, alleys.
Characteristics of the variety, according to popular rumor
Tomatoes from Usadba
Tomatoes "Silver Spruce" description and photos of those people who grew this tomato in their gardens are confusing. Some, after reading reviews, completely refuse to sow this variety. Others still sow out of curiosity.
The unanimous opinion is that the tomato is short-growing, the height of this plant does not exceed 50 cm. However, it also needs to be tied up. The plant is spreading, the branches fall down under the weight of the fruit, and then it can be difficult to save the harvest.
Growing a vegetable grower in the Leningrad region, sharing her opinion, she did not plant the plant. The bush formed itself. At the same time, it bore up to 30 fruits.
Tomatoes weighing from 60 to 80 g, oblong-rounded, even, with smooth, uniform skin. The gardener liked the taste of the fruit. They were a little sweet for her region, and this was the final point in the decision to leave the variety for further cultivation. Her seeds were from the "Estate".
Another gardener claims that Usadba is a company from the Perm Agricultural Academy and in their region this tomato is very popular and in demand.
Vegetable growers in the Perm region claim that they have been cultivating the variety for ten years and it always shows good results.
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The tomato is productive and unpretentious. In height, this bush barely grows to 40 cm, but its foliage is really elongated and cut and looks like carrots. Early ripening tomato. The fruits are small, slightly larger than the classic “cherry”, but their abundance makes the variety desirable. The tomato tastes with a slight sourness and a characteristic tomato aroma.
Tomatoes from Belogorka
Those vegetable growers who bought seeds from tried to identify the manufacturer by analogy with the Leningrad Research Institute of Agriculture "Belogorka". However, this institute released only two varieties and two hybrids, and “Silver Spruce” is not his.
Tomatoes “Silver Spruce”, which were grown from “Belogorka” seeds, did not make an impression. They turned out to be small, sour, without a pronounced taste. The plant itself tolerated the climate of the Leningrad region well, and, unlike other varieties, did not suffer from late blight.
Description
The variety received such an interesting name because of the appearance of the bush itself: the color of the leaves has a silver tint and the shape of the crown resembles a dwarf blue spruce. Look at the photo.
Ripens early, after 85 days if you live in the southern regions, and after about 100 days if in colder regions.
The silver spruce tomato bush is not tall - up to 90 cm. But even such a low-growing bush will need a garter so as not to break under the weight of the fruit. Although the fruits are not large (up to 100 g), a lot of them ripen, and it will be difficult for the bush to hold them without support.
The oval-shaped fruits are slightly flattened. They taste meaty. This variety does not have the usual tomato sourness. The skin is thin with soft fluff on the surface.
Some people don't like this fluff. They are called "hairy" tomatoes. And in vain. The uniqueness lies precisely in their velvety quality, which does not in any way affect the taste. These tomatoes are also suitable for canning, although they are considered salad tomatoes.
Ripe tomatoes have a bright red color.
Productivity is high. From each bush it is possible to collect 5 kg of beautiful tomatoes.
Can be grown both in greenhouses and in open ground. In open ground, it is not necessary to protect them even with covering material at night. This variety is resistant to temperature changes.
Diseases also avoid this variety. Breeders tried to make it quite convenient and not troublesome to grow. In a word, caring for a blue spruce is a pleasure.
Landing per 1 sq. m. only 3-4 bushes. These are the optimal boundaries for normal growth and development of the plant.
American "Silver Spruce"
As the gardener points out in his review, there is also American spruce. History says that this variety originates in the United States and was bred at the end of the last century. Apparently, the tomato is also named because of its highly dissected foliage, similar to that of a carrot. The color of the foliage has an anthocyanin tint, and when wet it seems to turn silver, perhaps this is what gave the variety its name.
Describing the variety, the gardener spoke not without delight about the special resistance of the tomato plant to fungal diseases. Being the most resistant, it has come to the yard and the gardener is not going to stop cultivating this tomato.
In addition, the fruits of this tomato are characterized by a high content of dry matter and sugars. They taste pleasant, sweet, and have a meaty consistency.
The plant is not tall, spreading, requires garter since the fruits reach 100 g.
Description
Among the numerous representatives of the genus, it stands out for its slenderness and beauty, undemandingness to growing conditions, frost resistance and resistance to air pollution, surpassing many of its brethren in this indicator.
In nature, it occurs singly or in small groups along rivers and on the northern slopes of the mountains of the western regions of North America. Grows in the mountains at an altitude of 2000-3300 m above sea level. seas.
Prickly spruce 'Silver' Picea pungens 'Argentea' is decorative at any time of the year. The most valuable evergreen tree up to 25 m, and in nature up to 45 m in height, lives up to 100 years. The crown is pyramidal. The branches form regular dense tiers, horizontal or hanging at different angles.
Particularly beautiful are specimens in which the branches are evenly spaced in regular tiers around the trunk from the very ground to the top. The needles are prickly, their color varies from green to light blue and silver. Under good growing conditions, needles live 5-7 years, more often 3-4 years.
Life form: Spruce 'Silver' Picea pungens 'Argentea' coniferous tree
Crown: Conical, dense.
Growth rate: Fast. The annual growth is 30 cm in height and 10 cm in width.
Height 20 m, crown diameter 4 m.
Durability:600 years
Fruits: Cones, elongated, brown from 5 to 10 cm.
Needles: Needle-shaped, pointed, silver-white.
Color:
Decorative: Prickly spruce 'Silver' is spectacular against a dark green background of deciduous or coniferous species.
Use: Single plantings, decorative groups, alleys.
Care
Tomatoes "Silver Spruce" care and planting are most likely no different from other varieties. Being, according to reviews, more resistant to diseases, gardeners may give preference to it. However, one cannot discount the need for systematic regular treatments against fungal infections.
Tomatoes are very responsive to soil fertility. With timely fertilizing, the yield of tomato products increases significantly, the content of dry substances and sugars increases, which affects the tasting characteristics.
By caring for tomatoes correctly, even an average variety can show excellent productivity and delight you with delicious fruits.
general description
It is difficult to say exactly where this tomato came from. There is an opinion that he was brought out by a resident of the capital of our Motherland, who at one time went to live in America. And she took her selection work in the form of the Silver Spruce tomato abroad. Soon it became very popular there, and summer residents appreciated its merits.
Now it is almost impossible to find a good description of this tomato, which is why we wrote this article. If we talk about the Silver Spruce tomato, judging by the reviews and photos, gardeners in our country also appreciated the variety. Many people really like the unusual bush, which has carved, green-silver leaves, as if they were covered with frost. You can also find reviews about the fruits themselves, which became a discovery for many, because they do not have a glossy skin, but a slightly downy one. Some say it's like velvet. Seeds are not often found in stores, as they are rare and sell out immediately.
Tomato
- 1 Brief characteristics of the variety
- 2 Care requirements
- 3 Reviews
It is impossible to imagine a personal plot without tomatoes. Why, even on window sills and vegetable gardens, if they grow vegetables, it’s mostly tomatoes.
It is difficult to imagine that this plant was once considered poisonous and was used only to decorate flower beds. Today, breeders simply amaze with their inventions. They not only take into account the climate, but also try to satisfy the aesthetic taste of potential owners of the future harvest.
The article discusses the features of the Silver Spruce tomato, reviews, photos, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as cultivation features.
Brief characteristics of the variety
The first thing that attracts attention is the interesting name. Tomatoes received it for their original marble shade and fluffy “shaggy” surface
Low-growing bushes rarely reach a height of even 50 cm, but despite this, they cannot do without tying them up. This is explained by the spreading shape of the bushes and heavy fruits, located in large quantities on the branches.
If you do not lift the bush above the ground by tying it, the tomatoes will simply rot.
The variety is considered relatively new, so cultivation experiments continue. So, there are conflicting opinions about the need for stepsoning.
Judging by the reviews, the difference in yield between those who did this and those who did not is insignificant.
Tomatoes are not afraid of pests and are resistant to most diseases.
Silver or Blue spruce stands out for its interesting leaf shape. They look a little like carrots, and also have a slightly silvery sheen to them, especially when there is dew on them.
Care requirements
There are no special recommendations for growing this variety of tomatoes. Although, perhaps, it should be noted that it is demanding on the type of soil. Fertile soil and good feeding are the key to a bountiful harvest. Planting can be carried out both in a greenhouse and in open ground.
“Spruce” has a sweetish taste and the more abundant the watering, the more sugar the fruit will ultimately contain.
In the same way, you can reduce the amount of dry matter and make the tomatoes juicier.
This type of tomato is often described as an ornamental plant. Indeed, they are often grown specifically to decorate the site. The oval, slightly elongated fruits look very beautiful against the background of silvery leaves.
Productivity depends on how the plantings are cared for. Under optimal conditions, you can get 5-7 or more kg per kV meter, provided that no more than 3 bushes are placed on the specified area.
To protect against pests, you can plant dill, parsley, mustard, etc. around tomatoes that repel insects with their aroma.
How are tomatoes grown?
Let's consider the features of cultivation and care. Proper care of seedlings and adult seedlings will significantly increase the yield per 1 m². The fact that breeders have made the variety resistant to the most common diseases and infections also contributes to obtaining a rich harvest.
Blue spruce tomatoes tolerate temperature changes and changes in weather conditions well, which makes it possible to grow the variety in different regions of the country. Gardeners usually harvest up to 5 kg of tomatoes from one bush in warm and cool regions.
Planting seeds in the ground is carried out on the twentieth of March or at the very beginning of April. We plant the seeds immediately in peat pots, which will allow us to avoid future problems with transplanting seedlings into open beds or greenhouse soil. This will significantly save time and allow you to preserve the integrity of the root system and stems of plants.
It is also important with this method of cultivation that the seedlings become more resistant to diseases and infections.
Before planting peat pots in the soil, the seeds must be treated with a biostimulant. As soon as the first seedlings appear, it is necessary to provide the seedlings with proper care. First of all, this concerns regular watering. There is no need to flood, just carefully monitor the condition of the soil. As soon as the top layer of soil dries, it is necessary to water at the root. After 2 months, the seedlings are transferred to a greenhouse or open ground.
For those summer residents who decide to grow Silver Spruce tomatoes, descriptions and reviews from gardeners on Internet sites will help them properly plant and care for the plants. To grow strong bushes, the soil must be prepared - treated with a hot solution of potassium permanganate, which will get rid of parasites and pests.
Mineral fertilizer is then placed in each hole. It is necessary to repeat fertilizing 2-3 weeks after the seedlings are planted from the pots. Manure and organic mixtures are excellent fertilizers.
It is important that they do not contain chemicals. Such careful care will allow you to obtain environmentally friendly products.
Irrigation of the bushes should be carried out around the root, water should not fall on the leaves
In the greenhouse, it is important to ensure regular ventilation so that fresh air reaches the bushes. From time to time the soil needs to be loosened, weeds and excess shoots must be removed.
Reviews
“Blue spruce” is considered one of the new products among gardeners, so there can be no better information than reviews from those who have already tried the variety.
Irina Arkadyevna, 43 years old
I love growing tomatoes. I like the aroma of seedlings, so all my window sills in the spring are occupied by completely non-indoor bushes. Last year I planted five bushes of the Silver Spruce variety for testing. I can’t say that I’m completely delighted, but I won’t refuse. Good fruits, beautiful bush shape, fits well with other vegetables (grew on the border of the beds). Overall satisfied. I should also try to prepare the seeds myself.
I live in the city. I very rarely visit my parents in the village. Last time, my mother gave me a pot in which not a potted flower grew, but a tomato bush. I first placed it on the windowsill, and then moved it to the balcony. How surprised I was when, with minimal watering (of course, my mother fertilized the soil beforehand and grew the seedlings herself), we got very tasty tomatoes. Apparently next year I will not have a balcony, but a mini-greenhouse. I wonder if it will be possible to grow them on a windowsill in winter?
Silver Spruce tomatoes are gaining more and more fans. Try growing it too. Moreover, it does not require any care or special conditions to obtain a bountiful harvest.
Features of agricultural technology
Tomato Silver spruce requires compliance with all rules of agricultural technology. In this case, the plants will grow strong, resistant to diseases and bring an excellent harvest.
Seeds begin to be planted in the second half of March or early April.
Seeds should germinate in warm conditions. The best conditions for this are a greenhouse (in the southern regions) or wooden boxes (in the northern regions). In case of insufficient sunlight, additional lamps must be used. The average time for emergence of seedlings is from 7 to 10 days.
Seed germination in heat
Seedlings need to be watered when the soil dries out. The seedlings are transferred to open soil for 55-60 days. Before planting, the soil must be watered with boiling water in which a little potassium permanganate is dissolved. This action helps kill pathogenic organisms.
During planting, mineral fertilizer must be placed in each hole. Feeding is repeated after 2-3 weeks. It’s good if the gardener adds a little manure: this way he will grow environmentally friendly products.
Since this is a determinate variety, the plant stops growing the main stem after 4 to 7 inflorescences form on it. After the first wave of fruits ripens, the growth of the second vegetative stem is observed.
To prevent the stems from falling from their own weight, they need to be tied to a stake. It is driven in from the north side. The height of the support is about 1 m.
Watering
The tomato must be watered correctly. It is recommended to pour water only at the root. It is forbidden to use cold water for this: it must be heated to room temperature.
If you water the leaves, you can expose the plant to fungal diseases. The harvest from this will be significantly less.
Watering is carried out once a week. When the ovary is actively forming, the frequency of watering is doubled. Then you need to loosen the soil (this is also done after every rain). The soil near the bushes and between the rows is sprinkled with mown grass.
Soil requirements
The yield of tomatoes will depend on the composition of the soil. Choose a sunny site for plants. Before planting, add a tablespoon of ash and ammonium nitrate, mixing them thoroughly. Fertilizing is done at the moment when the ovary is formed and before flowering.
Add ash to the soil before planting
If you do not manure the soil, it will be low in nitrogen. In this case, the yield will be very low. For good development of flowers, ovaries and fruits, agronomists recommend the following types of fertilizing:
- Application of potash and phosphorus fertilizers. They help achieve abundant flowering and large fruits. For 10 liters you need 50 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium fertilizers and 15 g of ammonium nitrate. For one plant, 1 liter of water is enough;
- It is recommended to fertilize with ash during flowering and fruit ripening. It is best to dissolve it in water in a proportion of 1 glass per bucket. When planting seedlings, it is better to place a few tablespoons of ash in the hole;
- The seedlings can be watered with water in which iodine tincture is dissolved (1 drop of tincture per 3 liters of water). This fertilizing will improve the plant's absorption of nitrogen and help increase fruit production.
The best predecessors for tomatoes are cabbage, cucumbers, and legumes. But potatoes are unacceptable. Moreover, the seedlings do not need to be planted in close proximity to the potatoes. Eggplants and zucchini are bad predecessors - after them the tomatoes will hurt.
Pest protection
This variety is resistant to pests. However, plants are capable of infecting whiteflies, potato flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, and mites. Methods for processing the plant are:
- For whiteflies - drugs Commander, Iskra;
- For potato flea beetles - infusions of celandine, thermopsis, preparations Komandor, Confidor;
- Special preparations are used to combat the Colorado potato beetle. The number of beetles decreases after treating plants with ash, a solution of table salt, or kerosene;
- To combat spider mites, use a solution of caustic soda, colloidal sulfur, and iron sulfate;
- To combat slugs, use ash or tobacco dust;
- The mole cricket is destroyed using the drug “Thunder”, an infusion of pepper and vinegar.
Growing seedlings
The process of sowing tomatoes begins by preparing the substrate. It should be loose and nutritious. It is optimal when it is made from a mixture of turf and humus soil in equal proportions, and peat is added to make it crumbly. You can also use commercial substrate.
This vegetable crop is sown in containers two months before the planned planting in the ground. To do this, pour soil into a prepared container with drainage holes, moisten it, level it and make 1 cm indentations. The distance between them is up to 4 cm. Then the seed material is laid out and sprinkled.
On average, the appearance of Shaggy Bumblebee tomato seedlings is possible in a week. After the appearance of young plants, it is recommended to lower the air temperature in the room and carefully analyze the length of daylight hours. It must be at least 12 hours, and if the lighting is not enough, additional lighting is needed. Pick up tomato seedlings when a pair of true leaves appear on them.
