The Bullfinch tomato was developed specifically for the northern regions of Russia, where the climate and weather do not meet the requirements for growing tomatoes. The variety adapts to any conditions - it grows without sufficient light, and is not afraid of frost and low temperatures. At the same time, it preserves fruiting and productivity.
Tomato seeds of the “Bullfinches” variety
Grown fruits of this variety
The “Bullfinch” variety is unpretentious and can grow in various conditions.
Tomato Bullfinch: reviews, photos, yield
It is difficult to imagine a garden crop more popular than tomatoes.
But being from warm tropical countries, they have difficulty adapting to the sometimes harsh Russian conditions. It is especially difficult in this sense for gardeners in the northern regions, as well as Siberia and the Urals. Not all summer residents have the opportunity to build a greenhouse or greenhouse for growing vegetables, but they really want to enjoy fresh tomatoes from their garden. Especially for these areas, breeders from the Northwestern region developed a new tomato variety called Bullfinch. This variety has not yet been included in the State Register of Russia and can sometimes be found on sale under the name Snegiri. Its name itself already speaks of the cold resistance of tomato bushes of this variety. But it also has other characteristics that are attractive to any gardener.
Reviews from gardeners
The tomato variety Bullfinch, the characteristics and description of which you could read above, receives good reviews from summer residents and gardeners, primarily due to its unpretentiousness to a wide variety of growing conditions.
Evgeniy, 36 years old, Perm region
In our area, it is customary to grow tomatoes exclusively in greenhouses or greenhouses. But I recently got a summer cottage, so I’m trying to grow tomatoes in the open air. They have to be picked in early August when they are green, because late blight begins to rampage later. I heard from a friend about new cold-resistant tomato varieties from the Biotechnika company and ordered Snegir tomato seeds online. Yes, indeed, everything was without deception, the seedlings took root well after planting in the ground, quickly began to grow, and I tried a ripe tomato from the bush for the first time at the very end of July. I didn’t do anything special with the tomato bushes during the summer, I just set up pegs and tied them up when the tomatoes started to pour in - they were quite large and there were a lot of them, so I was afraid that the branches would not withstand such weight. I am also quite pleased with the yield - my wife even made twists from her own red tomatoes for the first time, so I will grow it next year.
Elena, 43 years old, Chelyabinsk
I sowed the Bullfinch seeds at several times, since only a few of my own seeds sprouted from the early sowings. And when I started planting seedlings, I saw another bush that was stretching out from under the branches that I had thrown over the edge of the beds to hold back the snow. Apparently, seeds from the fruits of this tomato that I had not noticed last year have sprouted. So all summer I grew several dozen bushes of different sowing dates and two more bushes that grew by self-sowing. I didn’t care for the latter at all, I just watered them sometimes in company with other plants. And it had to happen that in August I saw a lot of tomatoes on them. Some were quite large. As a result, I can say that from these two bushes I collected the largest harvest of tomatoes - about 25 fruits from each.
Description of the variety
The Bullfinch tomato was specially bred for cultivation in open ground conditions in Siberia, the Far East, the Urals and the North-West of the European part of Russia. It is known that the climatic and weather conditions of these regions are not at all suitable for growing tomatoes.
In short summer conditions, it is very important that tomatoes can ripen as quickly as possible. The Bullfinch tomato can be called super early ripening, since the first tomatoes ripen after 90-95 days from the appearance of mass shoots. In the conditions of the North-Western region, when growing the Bullfinch tomato in open ground without additional shelter, the first harvest can be harvested around July 20-25.
Interestingly, due to the early ripening period, you can try to sow this tomato variety directly into open ground. Of course, in the conditions of the middle zone and the Urals, it is better to sow under cover with a double layer of film and protect young shoots from return frosts. But, in this case, the bushes without picking will be able to produce the maximum possible yield - up to 3 kg per bush - although at a later date than usual.
Tomato Bullfinch can be classified as a determinate variety of tomatoes. This means that it is very limited in growth, the trunk is very strong and the entire appearance of the tomato bush is solid and squat. It grows in height only to 35-40 cm and does not require pinching at all, and at the same time pruning and gartering. This, of course, makes caring for tomato bushes much easier, although when a bountiful harvest ripens, the bushes still need support, otherwise the branches may break under the weight of the fruit. Also, to improve ventilation and prevent fungal diseases, all lower leaves from the base should be gradually removed.
The inflorescence of this tomato variety is of an intermediate type. The first brush begins to form after 6-7 leaves. The rest - every 1-2 sheets.
If we take into account the early ripening periods of the Snegir variety of tomatoes, we can say that it is characterized by good yield - on average 5-6 kg of fruits per square meter. meters.
In addition, with abundant fertilizing with various fertilizers, primarily nitrogen, the period of fruiting is delayed. As a result, a tomato variety that is early in terms of ripening can turn into a medium one. Beginner gardeners often encounter this fact when growing ultra-early tomato varieties.
The Bullfinch tomato is sufficiently resistant to most diseases inherent in the nightshade family, primarily to late blight. In addition, it is quite drought-resistant and can tolerate short-term lack of water. All these qualities, combined with short stature and tolerance to insufficient lighting, make it easy to grow tomatoes of this variety on the balcony and even indoors.
Useful video
Watch the video: Bullfinch tomato variety
In the table below you will find links to tomato varieties with different ripening periods:
Early ripening | Mid-late | Mid-early |
Pink fleshy | Yellow banana | Pink King F1 |
Ob domes | Titanium | Babushkin |
King of the Early | Slot F1 | Cardinal |
Red Dome | gold fish | Siberian miracle |
Soyuz 8 | Raspberry miracle | Bear Paw |
Red icicle | De Barao red | Bells of Russia |
Honey cream | De Barao black | Lev Tolstoy |
Characteristics of tomatoes
For gardeners trying to grow tomatoes in less than favorable conditions, it is very important that the resulting fruits have all the characteristics of full-fledged tomatoes. And the Snegir variety will not disappoint them in this sense. Its fruits have the following characteristics:
- The shape of tomatoes is traditionally round, they are smooth and aligned.
- During the ripening process, the fruits acquire a bright red color, and at the stage of technical maturity they are dark green.
- The pulp of tomatoes is juicy, and the skin, although thin, can cope with cracking of the fruit.
- Despite the small size of the bushes, the Bullfinch variety tomatoes have quite decent sizes; the weight of one fruit averages 140-160 grams. In particularly favorable conditions, the weight of the fruit can reach 200 grams.
- Tomatoes have quite good marketability because they are rarely damaged by diseases.
- The taste characteristics of tomatoes are good; they can be eaten fresh and used for various types of preservation.
Disease and pest control
The plant is immune to many diseases, but can be attacked by some insects. Spraying with ash tinctures is effective against aphids, armyworms and Colorado potato beetles. Preparing them is simple: 300 g of the substance is poured into 10 liters of water, left for half an hour and filtered.
Use really effective pest control products, otherwise you will only waste time!
Another method allows you not only to get rid of pests, but also to provide the Bullfinch tomato with proper prevention from a variety of infections. This is spraying with a solution of colloidal sulfur. For 10 liters of water you will need 100 g of the substance. Sulfur treatment is carried out before flowering and after fruit ripening.
After the fruits ripen, the use of any chemicals is prohibited!
Tincture of potassium permanganate also helps. The solution should be weak, 1%. Spray the plant with it before the first inflorescences appear.
Review of Snegiri tomatoes
The Bullfinch tomato was developed specifically for the northern regions of Russia, where the climate and weather do not meet the requirements for growing tomatoes. The variety adapts to any conditions - it grows without sufficient light, and is not afraid of frost and low temperatures. At the same time, it preserves fruiting and productivity.
Tomato seeds of the “Bullfinches” variety
Grown fruits of this variety
The “Bullfinch” variety is unpretentious and can grow in various conditions.
General characteristics of the variety
Bullfinch is a determinate variety with a strong trunk that does not differ in significant height (maximum 40 cm). The tomato does not need pinching, gartering or pruning, which makes caring for tomatoes easier. However, with high yields, it is advisable to install a support (wooden pegs). If the variety grows in the middle zone, then it can be planted without greenhouse conditions - directly into the ground.
Appearance of bushes
The bushes are characterized by short stature and small leaves. The number of trunks is from one to 2. Foliage is average, height is from 30 to 40 cm, standard variety.
One brush contains 3-5 tomatoes. The first tomatoes are located above the 6th leaf, the others - after 1-2 leaves.
Description of fruits
Tomato fruits are quite sweet and juicy, but not watery. They have a bright, rich red hue. They differ in the following indicators:
- pulp – moderately dense;
- the number of seeds is insignificant;
- shape – round, even, smooth, sometimes slightly flattened;
- weight varies from 140 grams to 160;
- the color of unripe fruits is dark green;
- the peel is thin, but compacted, so the tomatoes do not crack;
- used for canning, making juices and salads.
Ripening time and yield
Bullfinch is a super-early ripening variety that ripens within 90-97 days after germination.
One stem can have up to 6 brushes, each of which produces at least 3 tomatoes. For 1 sq. m accounts for 6-7 kg of harvest.
To increase productivity, you need to pay attention to the acidity of the soil, the quality of the seeds and seedlings planted, the nutritional value and looseness of the soil. It is important to feed and water the bushes in a timely manner.
It is not advisable to replant flowering shrubs or overfeed them. If underdeveloped seedlings are planted in the soil, the ripening period increases by a couple of weeks, since the bushes take longer to take root.
Transplanting seedlings
Transplantation into greenhouses can be done when the Bullfinch tomato seedlings have at least 5-6 true leaves. The optimal period for this is the end of April-May. It is important that frosts stop at the time of planting. It is better to transplant seedlings into open soil a little later - in June.
Planting is done in holes, the distance between which is 40 cm. At least 70 cm is left between adjacent rows. Before planting, the holes are prepared by adding 1 tbsp to the soil composition. l. superphosphate, 500 g of humus, one handful of ash and chicken droppings.
Since the variety is low-growing (height 35 cm, no more than 50 cm), seedlings can be planted more densely according to the 50 x 35 cm pattern.
Then the whole thing is watered with water and only then the seedlings are planted in the holes, being careful not to damage their roots.
During the first week after planting, there is no need to water the seedlings. This variety requires abundant but infrequent watering. One bush should require up to 1 liter of water.
14 days after planting, fertilize with manure or nitrogen fertilizers. The second feeding is organized at the beginning of the period of bud formation. For this purpose, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are used. You can add ash to the roots or use potassium monophosphate.
Bullfinch is a determinate variety, so it does not need a garter, but it is worth thinking about support in advance. You will need it when the tomatoes begin to ripen. The best support would be a peg with a large diameter but small size. At the right time, the stem of the plant is tied to it with twine to make it easier for it to hold the tomatoes on the hands.
Features of planting and growing
If seeds are purchased in a store, it is necessary to check them for germination quality and prepare the seeds for germination. How to do it:
- prepare settled water (you can use melt water);
- heat the liquid to 50 degrees;
- add seeds;
- let stand until cool;
- collect hollow elements that float to the surface of the container;
- add growth stimulants to the water;
- leave for 3 hours;
- remove the seeds and dry.
As a stimulant, you can use factory-made Epin, honey with water (for 200 ml you need 1 teaspoon of beekeeping product) or 18-20 drops of natural aloe juice for the same amount of water.
Growing seedlings
Before you start sowing seeds for seedlings, it is better to check them for germination. This procedure will allow you to select high-quality seeds from which healthy tomatoes will grow.
Plants need to be fertilized
To do this, infuse table salt in a small amount of water and then heat it to no more than 60 °C. Seeds are placed in it, and those that begin to float can be immediately thrown away. As a growth stimulator, add a spoonful of honey to the water and keep them in the solution for 3 hours.
The germination of seeds is checked by germinating a certain number of them on paper napkins or cloth. Based on the ratio of the number of sprouted seeds to their total number, germination rate is determined (expressed as a percentage). In a saline solution, they do not check germination, but separate the seeds into 2 fractions - full-bodied seeds (those at the bottom) and puny seeds (float on the surface of the solution).
After this, the dried seeds can be sown for seedlings:
- Garden soil, previously mixed with fertilizers, is poured into the container. For this it is better to use humus or peat. To make the soil more loose, it is necessary to add river sand;
- It is necessary to make grooves on the surface of the soil using a match. The optimal depth is no more than 1 cm, and the distance between them is 1-2 cm;
- Next, lay out the seeds, and then sprinkle with earth, in a layer of no more than 6 mm.
Immediately after sowing, you need to water the seed in the boxes, preventing it from deepening. To make the seeds germinate faster, use film. In this case, it will need to be removed periodically to ventilate the soil.
This shelter is removed with the appearance of the first shoots. Optimal conditions for seedlings are a place with good lighting and a temperature of 25 °C.
A week after emergence, it is necessary to fertilize with mineral fertilizers. Nitrogen should predominate in them. Watering is carried out as the soil dries. 2 weeks before transplanting into open ground, hardening of the plants begins. To do this, they are taken outside and left there for no more than 2 hours.
Harvest and storage
Due to the fact that the Bullfinch has a fairly dense peel, it is easy to preserve the harvest. Due to the lack of cracking effect, the crop is harvested in its mature form. If very long-term storage or transportation is required, then it is advisable to collect it in a brown state.
Storage rules:
- the room is equipped with a ventilation system;
- tomatoes are placed in wooden boxes, which are filled with sawdust;
- the fruits should not have mechanical damage or diseases;
- When picking tomatoes, the tails are left on them;
- basement temperature – from 10 to 12 degrees;
- indoor air humidity should not exceed 80%;
- shelf life - 2 months.
Tips for caring for tomatoes
When growing Snegir tomatoes, standard agrotechnical plant care techniques are used.
Loosening and weeding
It is advisable to combine these two important processes. Loosening of the soil is carried out after each watering to maintain moisture, prevent drying out of the soil, its compaction and provide air access to the root system
During the process, it is important to be careful not to loosen the soil too deeply, so as not to damage the root system of the Bullfinch tomato bushes. To improve ventilation, the lower leaves of the bushes are carefully removed
When loosening the soil, it is convenient to simultaneously remove weeds. Harmful plants need to be pulled out by the roots to prevent the appearance and growth of weeds in the future.
Watering the bushes
When growing Bullfinch tomatoes, you need to take into account the plants’ ability to tolerate drought, but you should not abuse this feature, since a lack of moisture can affect the yield and fruits.
When watering plants, it is advisable to use warm water. In hot weather, it is better to water plants in the evening. Water is poured under the stem of the plant so that drops do not fall on the foliage. The optimal solution is to install a drip irrigation system.
In dry weather, the beds should not be over-watered, as stagnation of water can provoke the appearance and development of diseases. It should also be taken into account that sudden changes in the volume of irrigation water can cause cracking of the fruits.
Fertilizer application
When fertilizing Snegir tomatoes, standard schemes are used: for the first time, seedlings are fed with nitrogen-containing mixtures or mullein solution. As soon as the flowering period begins, potassium-phosphorus mixtures are used, which are also used in the fruit ripening phase.
Expert opinion
Stanislav Pavlovich
Ask a Question
Important! The variety was bred for cultivation in soils poor in mineral elements. Therefore, you need to use a minimum of fertilizer so as not to overfeed the plants.
Pros and cons of Bullfinch tomatoes
Advantages of the Bullfinch variety:
- unpretentiousness of care;
- the ability to plant seedlings directly in open ground;
- resistance to low temperatures;
- early maturation;
- the entire harvest can be harvested at one time;
- possibility of transportation and long-term storage;
- excellent taste and juiciness;
- wide range of applications;
- no need to pruning or tying up bushes;
- excellent yield;
- resistance to diseases.
shortcomings found, but immunity to high humidity can be noted.
Description and characteristics of the tomato variety Bullfinch, reviews, photos
Early (94-97 days from germination to the beginning of ripening), determinate, low-growing, unpretentious tomato variety for open ground and film shelters. Very popular among gardeners in the middle zone, the Urals and Siberia.
The bush is not standard, 45-50 cm high, and does not require pinching. The first inflorescence is laid above the 6-7th leaf, each subsequent one after 1-2 leaves.
Basic qualities of fruits
The fruits are flat-round in shape, red in color at maturity, weighing 150-200 grams, with good taste for early varieties. These tomatoes are suitable for early fresh salads, processing into tomato products, and pickling.
Advantages of the variety : early ripening, unpretentiousness and cold resistance, resistance to wet rot and bacterial spotting.
The Snegir tomato variety is not included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements in the Russian Federation.
Seed producer : Biotechnics.
In the catalog of the agricultural company Seeds of Altai, this variety is called Snegiri , all the characteristics of the tomato are similar.
Features of growing tomatoes Bullfinch, planting and care
We recommend sowing the seeds of this tomato for seedlings 55-60 days before the intended planting in the ground. Picking seedlings at the stage of two true leaves. When planting seedlings in a permanent place per 1 sq. It is recommended to place up to 6 plants per meter of prepared area.
Further care for tomatoes consists of timely watering, fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizer, weed removal and preventive measures to protect the crop from diseases and pests.
Soil and fertilizers
Tomatoes need nutritious, loose soil with a neutral reaction (pH 6); in acidic soils, the quality of fruiting decreases. Loamy and sandy loam soils are ideal. Seedlings are planted when the soil is well warmed up, around June; dates may vary depending on the region.
Determining soil acidity using special instruments
We advise you to consider why soil acidity is important for plants, how to determine soil acidity and how to deoxidize the soil.
Predecessors for tomatoes can be peas, beans, cabbage. Should not be planted after other nightshades, including tomatoes. The soil is thoroughly cleared of plant debris, dug up and fed with humus.
Bullfinch tomatoes on video
If you have grown Snegir tomatoes, please write your opinion about this variety. Does it really produce a good harvest in climatic conditions difficult for tomatoes? How do you assess the resistance of a variety to diseases? Briefly describe the advantages and disadvantages of this tomato in your opinion. If possible, attach to the comment a photo of the entire bush as a whole or individual fruits that you grew. Thank you!
Your reviews of the Bullfinch tomato and additions to the description will help many gardeners objectively evaluate this variety and decide whether it is worth planting or not.
Sources:
https://fermilon.ru/sad-i-ogorod/ovoshhi/tomat-snegir-otzyvy-foto-urozhajnost.html https://ferma.expert/rasteniya/ovoshchi/pomidory/snegir/ https://tomatland.ru /catalog/1783