Try this unusual variety that will not leave you indifferent - the “Pepper Sturdy” tomato.
Pepper-shaped tomatoes have managed to gain well-deserved popularity in Russia both among buyers and among gardeners - from amateurs to experienced breeders. Tomatoes of the Pepper-shaped robust variety have appetizing shapes, and they are also pleasant to the taste - juicy, with sweet crumbly pulp and a small amount of seeds.
With all its gastronomic advantages, the main advantage of Krepysh among its relatives in the pepper family is its unpretentiousness. Even for a novice gardener, the process of cultivating it will not cause much difficulty. A real dream for gardeners and housewives!
Characteristics and description of the variety
The first pepper tomatoes began to be imported to Russia from abroad 20 years ago. A distinctive feature of the variety is the elongated oblong shape of the fruit, reminiscent of a sweet pepper, from which they got their name.
In 2001, the State Register of Russia registered the first-born in this line - the Pepper-shaped tomato. And in 2014, the Pepper-shaped Krepysh tomato.
By the way. The ripe fruit is oblong in shape and has a pleasant pink color and weighs 100-150 g.
Distinctive features
This variety fully lives up to its name. He is solid and strong in the Siberian way. Bred by breeders of Western Siberia for cultivation in open ground, therefore it is well adapted to cold weather.
Pepper-shaped Krepysh has undeniable advantages:
- compact, low-growing bush reaches a height of only 30-40 cm, so does not require shaping, gartering or pinching;
- begins to bear fruit early, 105-110 days from germination;
- disease-resistant, has immunity to many viruses, including TMV (tobacco mosaic virus);
- unpretentious in care (compared to other varieties of pepper tomatoes), it responds well to watering and fertilizing with complex fertilizers.
See in the photo what the Pepper-shaped tough guy looks like.
Fruit characteristics and yield
The fruits of Krepysha are large, weighing 100-150 g. The shape does not exactly replicate the appearance of peppers, but is more smoothed and rounded. Color - from pale pink to rich crimson. Suitable for both fresh consumption and canning.
The yield of these tomatoes compared to other tall varieties is low - up to 4 kg per 1 sq. m. But this shortcoming is more than compensated for by the unpretentiousness of Krepysh. Variety determinant, standard - its growth is limited and enters the fruiting phase when the bushes reach 30-40 cm. This significantly reduces the cost of growing it.
Important! Trellis are not required - the bushes do not need to be tied up, they do not need to be leveled or pinched.
How to grow seedlings
In general, the process of growing Pepper-shaped fortress is the same as for other varieties of tomato, but there is a nuance. This is a hybrid variety. Means, seeds Tomatoes grown by yourself may not retain the main parental characteristics. Seeds need to be purchased. And do it from a reliable and verified source from a reputable manufacturer.
Seed preparation
They are soaked in diluted aloe juice for 12 hours to 24 hours or treated with a solution of potassium permanganate to kill fungi, viruses and increase plant immunity.
Container and soil
It is better to purchase a nutrient substrate for cultivation in a specialized store. It is usually packaged in paper bags marked “for tomatoes and peppers.” But you can prepare the soil yourself.
It's simple: mix peat, turf soil, compost and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:0.5. To a bucket of this mixture, add 1 cup of wood ash and a complex fertilizer, which will include phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. Such a substrate contains all the macro- and microelements necessary for the normal development of plants.
Under seedlings prepare small boxes filled with purchased or prepared soil.
Sowing
Seeds are planted in the substrate at least 50 days before transplanting to a permanent location. The sowing depth should be no more than 1-2 cm, and the width between the grooves should be 3-4 cm. The seeds are sprinkled with soil, watered abundantly and covered with film.
In the future, they must be ventilated regularly - at least once a day. The optimal temperature for germination is 22-25° C.
Growing and care
After the shoots emerge, the film is removed and the boxes are moved to a well-lit place. When the sprouts have 2-3 leaves, as carefully as possible so as not to damage the barely formed root system, they are planted (planted) with small pieces of soil in individual containers. Peat pots are best suited for this.
The sun and abundant watering will have a beneficial effect on the development of the root system and plants in general.To harden the seedlings, a week before transplanting them to a permanent place in the open ground, they are placed outside for 3-4 hours every day.
How to grow tomatoes
The next crucial moment is transplanting to permanent beds. Depending on the geographical location and climatic characteristics of the area, the landing time ranges from the end of April to the end of May. You can perform simple arithmetic operations.
The vegetative period of the Pepper-shaped fortress is 105-110 days. 50 of them or a little more should have already passed by the time of transplantation. This means that there are still 55-60 days left until the bright day of harvesting the fruits.
For example, farmers in central Russia can safely replant at the very beginning of May, because Krepysh is zoned for Siberia. Consequently, somewhere in the Samara or Nizhny Novgorod region the harvest will be ripe at the end of June.
If some liberties are allowed over time when Krepysha is planted, they are unacceptable with the location. Areas where potatoes, peppers, tobacco, tomatoes or other nightshade crops were grown in previous seasons are of little use and are even contraindicated for seedlings. The soil is much more favorable after cabbage, carrots, onions, dill or legumes.
Important! It is strongly recommended not to plant tomatoes in soil in which any plants of the nightshade family have previously been grown.
Landing
Unlike many of its fellow peppers and tomatoes in general, the pepper-shaped Krepysh causes noticeably less trouble when planting and cultivating. As a rule, it is planted in open ground - in pre-prepared depressions the size of peat pots. Based on 3-4, maximum 5 plants per 1 sq. m.
The variety is standard, so garters, trellises or any other structures are not required.
Care
Seedlings should be abundantly water settled water and regularly loosen the top layer of soil around them. Loosening can be omitted at all, and watering can be done less frequently if you mulch - lay a layer of dry grass, leaves or pine needles around each plant. This will also almost completely save you from weeding.
Don’t forget about fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. The three most important minerals are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The deficiency of one or another element can be judged by the appearance of the plants.
Here are the special signs of deficiency:
- nitrogen – yellowed leaves, elongated stems, the trunk becomes soft, and the veins on the underside of the leaf acquire a bluish tint;
- phosphorus – the stem becomes stiff and brittle, and the leaves curl inward, the color of the plant changes to purple;
- potassium – the leaves darken, curl into a tube, and brown spots appear along the edges, forming a border.
Based on this, fertilizers should be selected, replenishing the lack of certain mineral elements - one, two or several at once. Compose feeding You can do it yourself or purchase it ready-made in the form of a complex fertilizer.
“Feeding” will not only significantly improve the growth and durability of the bushes, but also the taste of the tomatoes. When applying complex fertilizers, strictly adhere to the dosages and recommendations given on the packaging.
Attention! There are many opinions and disputes about the amount of fertilizing. But most tomato growers believe that the required minimum is 4 times.
It is necessary to fertilize with mineral fertilizers at least 5 times during the growing season - by applying fertilizers at the roots of tomatoes and by spraying the bushes.
The most common complex mineral fertilizers and their main characteristics are listed below:
- Ammophos consists of nitrogen and phosphorus. It is presented in stores in granular form. The advantage of the drug is the absence of chlorine and nitrates. It accelerates the formation of the root system and promotes fruit ripening. It is used both in the process of feeding tomatoes and as the main soil fertilizer.
- Ammofoska contains all 3 minerals, in addition, it contains sulfur, potassium and magnesium, which contributes to additional nutrition of plants. Increases immunity to diseases and ensures full growth of the crop.
- Diammofoska - complex fertilizer, which, in addition to the main ones, contains 8 additional elements, including iron, zinc and manganese. Well nourishes tired soil, indispensable for greenhouses.
- Nitroammophoska - an effective fertilizer consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur. Available in the form of granules, it can be used as spring and summer feeding.
- Nitrophoska, containing a 3-component composition of mineral fertilizers. Well applicable to any type of soil, promotes intensive plant growth. Fertilizers not only improve the growth and durability of bushes, but also the taste of tomatoes.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
The main features of growing the pepper-shaped robust plant can be described in two words: simplicity and minimalism. Even for a novice amateur gardener, this process will not cause much difficulty.
Diseases and pests
Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is a real scourge of all nightshades, a persistent headache for several generations of gardeners. Pepper-shaped Sturdy is immune even to TMV! Pepper-shaped tomato varieties are generally less susceptible to diseases.Pests also avoid them, despite all the obvious taste benefits of peppers.
The only problem may be blackening of the fruit due to excess moisture at low temperatures. This late blight. To prevent this disease, it is better to select a sunny and well-ventilated place for planting. A fungicide is used as a treatment agent. Recommendations for its use are described in detail in the instructions for the drug.
The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse
The hybrid was bred for cultivation in open ground, and in Siberian conditions. In addition, the Pepper-shaped toughy is inferior to its tall relatives in terms of productivity, i.e. the mass of collected fruits from the same area. Therefore, growing it in greenhouse conditions goes against common sense.
If Krepysh is planted in greenhouses, then only in temporary ones. Once the risk of severe cold snaps has subsided, they will be dismantled. But during this period, you need to carefully monitor humidity and temperature, and to avoid late blight, organize ventilation in the greenhouse
Harvesting and application
The harvest ripens in mid-summer. The fruits have a sweetish fleshy and crumbly pulp with a small amount of seeds. Therefore, tomatoes of this variety are used to prepare vegetable salads, consumed fresh, and also made into purees and juices for children.
Because of these same features, combined with a thick skin, the fruits of Krepysha are actively used in baked and stuffed form. They are optimally suited for whole-fruit canning. This is truly a universal variety.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Let's summarize what is so remarkable about the Pepper-shaped tough guy:
- the growing technology is as simple as possible compared to other tomatoes;
- the fruits can be eaten fresh, stuffed and canned - the dense structure of the pulp does not allow it to fall apart during cooking;
- when preparing tomato juices and fruit purees, a large yield of the finished product is obtained due to the fleshiness of the fruit;
- under appropriate conditions, they retain not only their taste, but even their smell for a long time;
- tolerate transportation well.
The disadvantages include the relatively low yield per unit area.
Farmer reviews
And here is what those who have already grown it say about the variety.
Valentina, Moscow: “The Strong Pepper tomato will appeal to all lovers of sweet pink varieties; it makes delicious salads, winter preparations and other vegetable dishes.”
Natalya, Ryazan: “A very tasty tomato with a thick skin. It does not burst either during ripening or during canning. This is a fairly cold-resistant variety, so a sudden drop in temperature in the spring does not frighten young bushes.”
Conclusion
The pepper-shaped robust plant is a real godsend for a summer resident who is still little familiar with agricultural technology and is only taking his first steps in growing tomatoes. It is enough to follow the simple sequence of operations described above: choose the right seeds and germinate them; grow seedlings and transplant them into garden beds. Water regularly and feed with fertilizers. That's all.
And the end result is attractive fruits that will find worthy use in the hands of a skilled housewife.