A tomato with huge fruits, proven over decades - “Russian size F1”

The first tomatoes brought to our country from South America were very modest in size and inexpressive in taste. Thanks to modern selection, this crop has changed a lot. Now on store shelves there are varieties and hybrids that are distinguished by their bright taste, color and shape of the fruit.

Domestic agronomists do not lag behind their foreign colleagues. They annually release new varieties and hybrids of tomatoes. One of the most famous achievements of domestic selection is the Russian size tomato. Its fruits amaze the imagination with their enormous size, and the yield reaches 9 kg per square meter.

Read on to learn how to grow this unusual hybrid in your own soda.

General description of the hybrid

Russian size – tomato hybrid. It was bred by domestic gardeners almost two decades ago. It was included in the Russian register in 2002.

Russian size tomatoes have been sold in horticultural markets for more than 17 years. During this time, he has not lost his popularity. It is grown not only for personal purposes, but also on an industrial scale.

Distinctive features of tomato Russian size

The main feature of the Russian size hybrid is the gigantic size of its fruits. The smallest of them weigh 400 g. There are specimens weighing 2 kg. Their dimensions resemble a medium-sized pumpkin.

Despite their hybridity and large size, the fruits of this tomato have a pronounced sweet taste with almost no sourness.Tomatoes have a lot of pulp that melts in your mouth, but they are juicy.

Russian size tomatoes are bright red in color. The fruits are consumed mainly fresh. It is also suitable for making ketchups and juices. Due to its size, it is not preserved entirely. Gardeners say that they retain their shape when preserved in slices.

Russian size is immune to most tomato diseases, but is sometimes affected by late blight.

This hybrid cannot be called unpretentious. It is demanding on the composition of the soil and needs regular pinching and shaping. Therefore, only experienced gardeners grow it.

Main characteristics

Tomato Russian size is popular among gardeners. It has impressive characteristics.

Description of Russian size:

Growing seedlings

Since Russian size is grown exclusively by seedlings, its seeds are sown later than planting material of many other varieties and hybrids. Seedlings of this hybrid begin to be planted in early April.

Seed treatment

Before you start sowing seeds, you need to prepare them. Preparation of planting material includes 4 stages:

1. Checking the quality of planting material. To do this, you need to look at the expiration dates on the packaging. Then the planting material is sorted out, removing all damaged and darkened specimens.
2. Checking seeds for germination. The seeds are soaked in a solution prepared from 1 tsp salt and 1 tbsp. water for 30 minutes. Then all floating specimens are removed and thrown away. Those seeds that have sunk to the bottom are washed and used later.
3. Treating planting material. To do this, the seeds are soaked in a disinfectant solution. There are several options for such products: soda solution (1 heaped tsp per 1 tbsp. water), aloe juice (aloe juice and water in equal proportions), “Fitosporin” (0.5 tsp powder per 100 ml of water ). Planting material is soaked in such products for 12 hours.Another option is to soak the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes.
4. Stimulation of growth. Soda and phytosporin solution, as well as aloe juice, not only disinfect the seeds, but also stimulate their growth. If a solution of potassium permanganate was used for dressing, then the seeds are additionally treated with Epin.

Note! Many manufacturers treat Russian size seeds with disinfectant compounds. Information about this is indicated on the packaging. Typically, treated seeds are colored green or orange.

Preparing soil and containers

To grow seedlings, use any container of suitable volume. If you plan to sow the seeds in one container, then use large boxes, trays, deep disposable plates, and packaging for semi-finished products.

For picking plants, use containers with a volume of 300 ml. Use special pots or disposable cups.

Another option is to sow seeds in individual peat tablets. It is considered the most convenient, but expensive.

The soil mixture for growing tomato seedlings should be nutritious and light. Suitable formulations are sold in gardening stores. Many gardeners prepare their own soil for tomatoes.

To prepare the soil for tomatoes, you need to take 1 part of garden soil (preferably from a greenhouse), 1 part of humus and 1 part of peat. Add half a portion of sand or coconut substrate to this mixture. To increase the nutritional value of the soil and reduce its acidity, place a glass of ash and a matchbox of superphosphate on a bucket of soil.

There is also a simpler version of the soil. To prepare it, mix chernozem and sand in equal quantities.

Containers and soil must be disinfected.To do this, pour boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate over them. For containers, take a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

Sowing seeds

Experienced gardeners recommend sowing Russian size seeds directly into individual containers. After all, the fewer seedling picks, the healthier and more fruitful the bushes will be.

Peat tablets are the best option for growing this hybrid. After all, when planting seedlings in a greenhouse, the plants will not have to be removed from the containers and their root system will not be disturbed.

The cost of one tablet starts from 5 rubles. Therefore, when growing tomatoes in industrial seedlings, this option will be very expensive.

When growing tomatoes for yourself, this method pays off.

Sowing seeds in peat tablets:

1. The tablets are folded with the hole facing down. They are poured with boiling water.
2. When the water is absorbed and the workpieces swell, add more water.
3. The swollen tablets are removed from the container and turned over with the hole facing up. The seeds are immersed in peat, deepening them by 1 cm.
4. Tablets with seeds are placed in one deep container, which is covered with film and placed in a warm place.

Some gardeners plant seeds directly into individual pots. In this case, drainage and soil are poured into the container, after which the seeds are buried 1 cm in the soil.

Seedling care

Russian size seedlings require regular care. Only if all the rules are followed will the gardener grow a healthy plant that produces an abundant harvest of large fruits.

How to care for seedlings:

1. Watering plants. Before the seeds germinate, the soil is moistened with a spray bottle. After the first shoots appear, use a watering can with a thin spout or a syringe. Water should not get on the greenery of the plant.Be sure to use only settled water at room temperature.
2. Loosening the soil. The soil of tomatoes growing in individual containers must be loosened after each olive harvest. This is convenient to do with special miniature beds or a regular fork.
3. If the seeds are sown in a common box, then the plants are planted in individual containers after the first leaves appear. It is not recommended to pinch the root; this will slow down the growth of the seedlings.
4. Feeding seedlings. During the period of growing seedlings of Russian size, fertilizers are applied 2 times. Fertilizers are applied for the first time 2 weeks after the first leaves appear. The last one is 3 days before picking the tomatoes into the greenhouse.
5. Hardening of seedlings - a mandatory step even before planting it in a greenhouse (if it is not heated). Plants are taken outside 14 days before they are transplanted into the greenhouse.

When growing seedlings, gardeners face various problems. The list contains the most common of them:

1. Mold on the soil. It appears before seed germination due to excessive soil moisture. To get rid of it, remove the affected layer and water the ground with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
2. Loss of turgor and yellowing of seedlings. This indicates waterlogging or drying out of the soil.
3. Wilting of seedlings at normal soil moisture. This problem often occurs if the seedlings are in a draft.

Growing tomatoes

Russian size tomatoes are planted only in a greenhouse. The seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the second half of May.

Landing in a permanent place

Tomatoes are planted in a bed where no other nightshade crops have grown for the last 3 seasons. Some gardeners even change the soil in the greenhouse.

In autumn, the beds are cleared of all plant debris and dug up. If the acidity of the soil is increased, it is reduced with dry lime. To enrich the soil, cow dung is added to it.

In the spring, if necessary, the beds are cleaned of plant roots. Then holes are dug. For 1 sq. m place no more than 3 plants. Long-acting mineral granules or ash are poured into the holes.

Seedlings that were removed from the pots along with a lump of earth are placed in the holes. The depressions are filled with soil and then watered. Use 1 liter of water per plant.

Basic rules of care

Hybrid Russian size required tie up. This should be done within a week after planting it in the greenhouse. To do this, use a strong wooden support with a height of at least 1.8 m. The plants are tied only with synthetic thread.

I form that tomato bushes into 1 or 2 stalks. The more stems remain, the less the fruits will weigh and the later they will ripen.

Stepsoning plants should be regular and frequent. This hybrid produces a large number of stepsons. Along with unnecessary shoots, damaged leaves are also removed. In the lower part the bush is completely cleared of greenery.

Watered beds with tomatoes abundantly, but infrequently. Their strong root system can compensate for minor droughts. If you frequently moisten the soil with a small amount of liquid, the tomatoes will crack.

Be sure to loosen the soil after each watering. Otherwise, an earthen crust will form, preventing root air exchange.

During the entire period of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, 4 root fertilizers are applied. Alternate mineral and organic fertilizers.

Foliar fertilizing is applied twice a season.To do this, plants are sprayed with boron.

The nuances of growing Russian size

Russian size is considered a difficult hybrid to cultivate. There are several nuances of its cultivation, without knowledge of which it will not be possible to get a good harvest:

1. To get the largest possible fruits, the bushes are formed into 1 stem. If you leave 2-3 stepsons, the tomatoes will weigh 400-600 g.
2. Avoid feeding this hybrid with fertilizers containing high amounts of nitrogen. Otherwise, it will form a large number of stepsons, which will negatively affect the yield. Russian size needs to be fed with preparations that include potassium and phosphorus. Fishmeal is often used.
3. All leaves up to 1 inflorescence are removed. Thanks to this, the fruits will be as large as possible.
4. No more than 3 fruits are left on one brush. You need to choose ovaries of the most correct shape. To get more than a kilogram of berries in a paddle, one fruit is left on one cluster.

Diseases and pests

Russian size has high immunity to many tomato diseases. This hybrid does not suffer from Fusarium wilt, tobacco mosaic and other viral infections.

However, due to the late ripening of such tomatoes, they are often affected late blight.

To avoid this problem, follow the prevention rules:

1. All instruments that come into contact with plants are disinfected. Seeds, soil and greenhouse walls need treatment.
2. Weed the beds regularly. Weeds contribute to the development of diseases and negatively affect the root system of tomatoes.
3. Monitor soil moisture. Any deviations from the norm create favorable conditions for the development of infection.
4. Remove the stepsons completely.
5. For prevention, tomato plantings are sprayed with a solution potassium permanganate, copper sulfate or “Fitosporin”.
6. Large pests are collected by hand. A soap solution will help get rid of aphids. To protect against other pests that attack the ground part of the bush, use an infusion of celandine.

Growing in greenhouses and open ground

The Russian size tomato is grown in open ground only in the southern regions of our country, but even in a warm climate its yield indicators will be lower than in greenhouses.

When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is important to treat the walls of the room. To do this, use copper sulfate or a solution of potassium permanganate.

To maintain optimal humidity, ventilate the room daily by opening all windows.

Harvesting and application

Russian size tomatoes ripen in August. At maturity they are red in color without green spots.

Ripe fruits are cut with a knife or picked by hand. It is important to leave the stalk, which increases the shelf life of the berries.

The use of the crop is universal, but the fruits are not very suitable for whole-fruit canning due to their size.

Advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid

Advantages of tomatoes Russian size:

• giant fruits;
• wonderful sweet taste;
• immunity to tomato diseases.

Among the disadvantages, note the whimsical nature of the tomato and low yield in open ground.

Farmers' reviews of tomato Russian size

The Russian size has positive reviews from gardeners. Despite all the difficulties of growing it, gardeners are pleased with the result.

Ksenia Ivanova, Moscow «Russian size is my favorite hybrid. Every year I plant it in a greenhouse. Yes, you need to take care of it regularly, but it's worth it. Its fruits have a rich, sweet taste.The largest tomato I managed to grow weighed 1.4 kg.”

Alena Krikunova, Sochi “I’ve been planting Russian size for three years now. I really like its huge fruits. They turn out exactly like in the photo. Some berries do not fit in the palm of your hand. We eat all the tomatoes fresh.”

Conclusion

The Russian size tomato is really worth the attention of gardeners. Fruits of record sizes grow on it. Some of them are the size of a small pumpkin.

To grow this hybrid, you need to put in a lot of effort. It needs regular care and requires certain skills in growing fastidious crops. Therefore, the Russian size is suitable only for experienced gardeners.