How to grow a hybrid tomato "Barberry" on your site and what positive qualities it has

Cherry tomatoes are very popular. Small tomatoes collected in bunches look attractive in salads and canned whole. “Cherry” tomatoes are also appreciated by adherents of a healthy diet, because the concentration of nutrients in them is higher than in large fruits.

Cherries are often difficult to care for and do not take root well in our climatic conditions. But this does not apply to the Barberry f1 tomato. It is easy to grow; with proper agricultural technology, the hybrid gives a high yield, has excellent taste and shelf life. Next, we will look at all the nuances of cultivating and caring for these tomatoes.

General description of the hybrid

Tomato Barberry is a hybrid. It was developed by crossing two varieties. The seeds of its harvest are not suitable for planting, since the plants grown from them in most cases do not retain hybrid characteristics, acquiring parental ones.

The hybrid is produced by many domestic seed producers.

Attention! Reviews from gardeners indicate that some manufacturers produce other varieties of tomatoes called Barberry. Their fruits are not red, but pink, and the seeds are suitable for replanting.

Distinctive features

The main distinguishing feature of Barberry – the miniature size of its fruits. Tomatoes are oval in shape and resemble enlarged barberries (see photo).

This is a carpal hybrid. Up to 100 fruits can grow on one brush, which gives the bush a special decorative appearance.

The tomatoes taste sweet, with a slight sourness. They have a brighter and more pronounced taste than other varieties of tomatoes.

The shape of the bushes is also interesting: They are not very spreading and grow mainly in height.

Main characteristics

Despite the ease of cultivation, the hybrid produces high yields and has excellent taste.

Characteristics of tomato Barberry:

Sowing seeds

The Barberry tomato is grown in our country exclusively by seedlings.. Seeds are sown 55-60 days before planting seedlings in the ground: in central Russia - in the second half of March, in the south of our country - in early February, in the north - in the first ten days of April. For greenhouse cultivation, earlier sowing is possible.

Processing of planting material

Before buying seeds, you need to check their expiration date. Expired planting material has low germination rates.

To select seeds that will germinate, they need to be soaked in salted water (take 1 teaspoon of salt per glass of liquid) for half an hour. The seeds that sink to the bottom are suitable for planting.

Attention! Some manufacturers treat planting material. This information is indicated on the packaging. Disinfected seeds are distinguished by orange or light green color.

If the seeds are not treated at the factory, they do it themselves. Several methods are used for this:

1. The seeds are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate: take 2 g of potassium permanganate per 200 ml of liquid (the solution should turn out light pink).
2. In “Fitosporin”: take 0.5 teaspoons of powder or 2 drops of liquid “Fitosporin” per glass of water. The soaking time should be according to the instructions.
3. In a soda solution: take 1 teaspoon of soda per glass of water.The seeds are immersed in the composition for 12 hours.

After disinfection planting material is treated with a growth stimulator. Epin is often used for this. A solution of honey (1 teaspoon of honey per glass of water) also shows good results.

It is important to use a growth stimulator correctly: soak a piece of cloth with it, wrap the seeds in it, put it on a saucer, cover with film and place in a warm place. On average, soaking takes 12 hours.

About other varieties of tomatoes:

A find for gourmets - tomato “Moscow delicacy”

Disease-resistant and unpretentious tomato “Pink Stella”

Unpretentious tomato "Marusya" with excellent taste

Preparing soil and containers

The soil for tomatoes should be light but nutritious.. Suitable soil is available at garden supply stores. Prepare soil mixtures for tomatoes yourself.

Soil base for tomatoes – peat, turf and humus (one portion each). To make the soil lighter, add sand, sawdust or crushed coconut substrate (half a portion). To increase nutritional value, ash and “Superphosphate” are added to the soil mixture.

Containers for sowing seeds use large and shallow ones. Stores sell special boxes and trays. Disposable deep plates, instant noodle packages, cake lids, etc. are also used for these purposes.

Plants dive in deep containers with a volume of at least 300 g. For these purposes, use special pots, disposable cups or cut-off 1.5-2 liter bottles.

All containers are disinfected, soaking for half an hour in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate. Some materials are doused with boiling water.To disinfect, the soil mixture is calcined in an oven at a temperature of 100°C or watered with a solution of potassium permanganate. Another option is to put the soil in a colander and pour boiling water over it.

Sowing

The soil is placed in a prepared container so that 3 cm was left free to the edges. The seeds are laid in rows at a distance of 3 cm from each other. The planting material is sprinkled with a centimeter layer of soil on top.

The soil is moistened with warm water from a spray bottle. and cover with film. After this, it is removed to a warm place. The warmer the seeds are, the faster they will germinate.

Advice. If mold appears on the soil, it means it is waterlogged. To cope with the problem, the affected layer is removed and the missing amount of soil is added. After this, the soil is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and left to dry without film.

Seedling care

To grow healthy plants, they need to be properly cared for.

Basic nuances of growing tomato seedlings:

1. When the first shoots appear, the plants will need 16 hours of daylight. Usually in spring there is not enough natural light, so gardeners use special lamps.
2. Seeds and newly germinated seedlings need extreme humidity. It is to ensure this that containers with soil are covered with film. When the first shoots appear, the film is not removed, but is opened slightly every day for several hours. A week later, the improvised greenhouse is dismantled.
3. After two true leaves appear, the plants are planted in separate containers. There are different opinions about whether it is necessary to pinch the central root during the picking process.Some gardeners believe that this will only slow down the growth of seedlings, while others believe that thanks to this procedure the plants will become more hardy.
4. During cultivation in a common box, the plants are watered with a pipette. A week after picking, the soil is moistened with a watering can. This is done so that water does not get on the ground part of the plants.
5. Feed the seedlings three times. The first - two weeks after picking, the second - another two weeks, the last - five days before planting the plants in open ground.
6. 14 days before transplanting to a permanent location, tomatoes begin to harden. To do this, the seedlings are taken out into the fresh air every day, gradually increasing the time.

How to grow tomatoes

Tomatoes are planted in open ground when the soil warms up.. In the southern regions this is done at the end of April or beginning of May, and in the middle zone - in the second half of March. In the northern regions, Barberry tomatoes are planted only in greenhouses. Gardeners note better yields in protected soil and in warmer cities.

The growing area must be sufficiently lit. Therefore, to place tomato beds and greenhouses, choose the sunniest place in the garden.

Planting seedlings in a permanent place

Beds for tomatoes have been prepared since autumn. They are dug up and cleared of weeds. Then dry lime, cow dung and humus are spread over the selected area. In the spring, the beds are dug up again and cleared of emerging roots.

After this, they dig holes in rows in a checkerboard pattern.. A distance of 60 cm is left between the rows, and 50 cm between the holes. Add 1 tbsp to each hole. l. ash. It is useful to pour long-acting granular complex fertilizers into the seedling holes.

Five days before planting in open ground, seedlings are watered and fed. Immediately before planting, tomatoes are removed from the pots along with the soil. It is extremely important not to damage the roots. The tomatoes are placed in the holes, deepened by removing the two bottom leaves, and the soil is moistened. Next time the tomatoes are watered after two weeks.

Care

Hybrid Barberry is indeterminate, so it needs a garterso that the plant does not break under the weight of the fruit and does not lie on the ground. For gartering, use a high wooden support or trellis. When choosing a support for a tomato, you need to take into account that the bushes reach 2 m in height. The plant is tied up as it grows.

Barberry bushes need shaping. Usually two or three stems are left. In both cases, high yields are observed. This hybrid produces many stepsons. They need to be removed regularly. This procedure is carried out in the morning or evening, not on cloudy days.

Water tomatoes as the soil dries in the morning or evening.. Watering should be plentiful and infrequent. On the day of planting, the soil is not moistened. Use only settled water. It is important that during watering the liquid does not fall on the ground part of the bush.

During the season, tomatoes are fed 3-4 times, alternating organic and mineral fertilizers.. Complex mineral fertilizers are sold in stores, while organic fertilizers are often prepared independently.

For preparing organic fertilizer you need to pour 1/10 of the manure, 1/3 of the plants into the bucket, fill the rest of the space with warm water and place in a warm place for fermentation. When the mixture ferments, it is diluted with the same amount of water.

Plants are sprayed twice a season means containing boron - this accelerates the formation of ovaries.

Features of cultivation

Sometimes there are reviews that speak of unexpressed taste or insufficient quantities of barberry fruits. This happens if the gardener does not comply some important rules for caring for a hybrid:

1. Uniform ripening of tomatoes in the bunch is ensured artificially. To do this, after the fruits appear, remove all the leaves under the cluster.
2. Tomatoes are self-pollinating plants. Despite this, to increase the yield, the bushes need to be shaken regularly.
3. All incorrectly formed inflorescences must be removed. This will help high-quality fruits ripen faster.
4. The more sun the plant receives, the sweeter the fruits will be.

Protection from diseases and pests

Barberry is resistant to tomato viral diseases. This makes it much easier to care for.

For fungal diseases The resistance of the hybrid is not so pronounced. Therefore, to prevent infection of tomatoes, it is important to follow the rules of prevention. The soil, containers and garden tools that interact with tomatoes are disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate. Seeds also need to be treated before planting. It is important to follow the watering rules. Dry and waterlogged soil are ideal conditions for the development of fungal infections.

Incorrect stepsoning also causes diseases. For prevention, the bushes are sprayed with “Fitosporin”, copper sulfate or a solution of potassium permanganate. During the season, 2-3 such sprayings are done.

To protect plants from pests, they are sprayed with a soap solution or infusion of celandine. Large insects are collected by hand.

Read also:

Long vines strewn with delicious tomatoes - Rapunzel tomato

Juicy and incredibly tasty tomato “Solokha”

Features of agricultural technology in greenhouses and open ground

Tomato Barberry is grown in greenhouses and open ground. There are some differences in cultivating tomatoes using these methods.

It is important in the greenhouse maintain optimal air humidity. It should not exceed 65%. It is not difficult to achieve the desired indicators. To do this, ventilate the greenhouse daily by opening the windows.

In open ground it is important protect plants from night frosts. To do this, at first they are covered with film.

To protect plant roots from cold, pests and diseases, beds in open ground are mulched with burlap, hay or straw.

Harvesting and application

The first Barberry harvest is harvested in July. Fruiting continues until the end of August. The fruits are picked from the bush when all the tomatoes on the bunch are ripe. To do this, cut off the whole brush. Tomatoes are stored directly on it. In this form they will lie for more than a month.

Tomatoes are used for canning, drying and fresh consumption. They are even frozen whole.

Advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid

Benefits of Barberry:

• high yield rates;
• high sugar content;
• miniature fruit;
• simultaneous ripening of all fruits on the cluster;
• long-term storage;
• good transportability;
• resistance to viral diseases;
• decorativeness of the bush.

Among the shortcomings noted the hybridity of the variety (buying seeds every season), the need for its gartering and pinching, as well as weak immunity to fungal pathogens.

Reviews from summer residents

Reviews about the Barberry tomato are mostly positive. Most gardeners note the excellent taste of its fruits.

Irina, Belgorod: “I’ve been growing barberry in my garden for three years now. The hybrid always pleases with tasty and beautiful fruits. To get a good harvest, it is important to remove leaves under the ovaries. I didn’t find any disadvantages, other than the need for frequent stepsoning.”.

Valeria, Moscow: “This year I planted Barberry tomatoes from two different companies for testing. Only one package of tomatoes turned out the same as in the photo; another manufacturer put in an outright fake. I really liked the barberry itself: it looks beautiful and tastes great.”.

Conclusion

Barberry tomatoes are an excellent option for beginners and experienced gardeners who want to grow delicious cherry tomatoes in their garden. This hybrid is easy to care for and produces high yields.

The only significant drawback of Barberry is that it produces a large number of stepchildren. However, by removing them in a timely manner, you will get an excellent harvest of miniature fruits.