The “Spetsnaz” tomato, which is resistant to bad weather and has excellent yields: an overview of the variety and nuances of cultivation

We present to your attention a new selection achievement - the Spetsnaz tomato. Developed by Siberian breeders, the variety embodies unique resistance to any climatic factors. Its ability to bear fruit in extreme conditions has won recognition from residents of Siberia, the Urals and other regions with unpredictable climates.

The variety is distinguished by large, juicy and fortified fruits with high taste qualities that will not leave even the most fastidious gourmet indifferent.

Description of the variety

The culture was included in the State Register in 2017, its author is Vladimir Nikolaevich Dederko, a famous breeder from Novosibirsk, who has developed more than one variety. Tomato seeds are distributed by the agricultural company Siberian Garden.

Distinctive features

Indeterminate type, height 1.5-1.8 m, moderate foliage, deep green leaves. The inflorescences are simple, the fruit-bearing branches are not branched, 3-5 fruits are formed on each.

Mid-season species, ripening occurs in two waves. The first collection lasts until the beginning of August, the second wave lasts until the end of September.

Productivity is high, from 1 sq. m harvest up to 10 kg, provided that 3 seedlings are planted per 1 sq. m. m.

The culture does not have stable immunity to fungal diseases and needs protection from late blight and alternaria.

Due to the active growth of shoots, regular pinching is required.Also, tall bushes need a mandatory garter, otherwise they will suffer not only from the weight of ripe fruits, but also from gusts of wind or precipitation.

Fruit characteristics

The fruits are large, the average weight at the primary harvest reaches 500-800 g. The secondary harvest produces fruits weighing 200-250 g. The shape is round, the color is raspberry-red, the taste is excellent, sweet, with a distinct tomato sourness. The pulp is juicy, fleshy, there are few seeds. The peel is dense and not prone to cracking.

Universal purpose: suitable for fresh consumption and for winter preparations. Thanks to their durable skin, tomatoes can be stored for a long time and can withstand long-term transportation.

The photo shows Spetsnaz tomatoes.

How to grow seedlings

The culture does not belong to a hybrid culture, which means it is possible to collect seeds for sowing yourself. Such seed requires special preparation.

Seed preparation

The seeds are carefully inspected for visible damage, laid out on the table one at a time. Grains suitable for sowing must be light in color and without distortion. Then prepare a saline solution by dissolving 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. In this way, the seed is checked for internal voids. The grains that float to the surface will not germinate. The remaining seeds are placed in a pink potassium permanganate solution for disinfection. After 20 minutes, they are washed with running water and dried.

To increase the percentage of germination, grains are soaked in a growth stimulator for 10-12 hours. In addition to specialized drugs, aloe juice, melt water and potato juice are used as stimulants.

Container and soil

The soil is prepared from garden soil, humus and peat in equal quantities. A little washed river sand is added to the resulting mixture for lightness. After thoroughly mixing all components, the soil is disinfected to destroy pathogens. To do this, pour it with a hot solution of potassium permanganate or steam it in the oven for 10 minutes at a temperature of 60°C. After disinfection, the prepared soil is laid out in planting containers, with small pebbles or sawdust placed at the bottom.

Reference! The drainage material at the bottom of the container is responsible for the effective distribution and outflow of water.

You can plant in a common wooden box and in separate containers, for example: plastic cups and peat pots. When sowing in peat pots, the seedlings subsequently require minimal care.

Sowing

The seeds are sown to a depth of 1-1.5 cm, the soil is slightly moistened with warm, settled water using a spray bottle and covered with film to create greenhouse conditions. The containers are left in a warm room at a temperature of 24-26°C, periodically removing the film for ventilation. As necessary, the top layer of soil is moistened with warm, settled water.

Growing and care

When the first shoots appear, the planting containers are moved to the windowsill. In the first week after germination, the temperature is reduced to 18°C. At this temperature, the seedlings will not stretch and become stronger. After a week, the temperature is raised to 23°C. The duration of daylight for seedlings is at least 12 hours. When there is a lack of natural light, phytolamps are used.

Water moderately with warm, settled water along the edge of the nursery using a shallow watering can. After watering, the soil is loosened superficially, without touching the young roots.

When 2 true leaves form, the seedlings dive, planting them in separate containers.When growing seedlings in peat pots, picking is not required.

Reference! After the picking procedure, the plants develop more intensively.

2 weeks after picking, the first fertilizing is performed. 20 g of urea is dissolved in 10 liters of water and distributed 100 ml per bush. The second feeding is carried out 2 weeks after the first. 20 g of nitrophoska are dissolved in 1 liter of water.

Reference! The main active substance of urea is nitrogen, which is necessary for the full growth of seedlings.

2 weeks before planting in the ground, the seedlings are hardened off by taking them outside for 1-1.5 hours at a temperature of 16°C. Gradually, the time interval is increased to 12 hours, while simultaneously reducing the night temperature in the room to 13°C.

How to grow tomatoes

After 2 months, the seedlings are ready to be transplanted into the ground. By this time, 1 inflorescence has been formed on the bushes.

Landing

The holes are prepared several days before planting, watering them generously with water. A little mineral fertilizer or wood ash is first placed at the bottom.

Planting pattern: 60 cm – distance between seedlings, 65 cm left between rows. For 1 sq. m place no more than 3 plants.

Replant on a cloudy day or in the evening, compact the holes, water with warm, settled water and leave the seedlings to get used to the new conditions for 1 week.

Further care for the Spetsnaz tomato

Regular watering install 2 times a week, initially watering with warm, settled water at the root. When the ovaries form, the amount of watering is increased, since the plants need more moisture. But there is no need to create excess moisture in the beds; this will negatively affect the root system and the taste of the developing fruits. After watering, the soil is loosened, removing weeds with roots.

To retain moisture in the beds mulch straw. Mulch not only protects the soil from drying out, but also serves as a preventive measure in the fight against ground-based insect pests.

The culture is responsive to fertilizing. It is regularly fed with complex fertilizers.

2 weeks after transplantation, fertilize with mullein infusion in a ratio of 1:15. 500 ml of solution is used for each bush.

When the second cluster blooms, the plants are fertilized with chicken droppings in a ratio of 1:15 and 25 g of potassium sulfate diluted in 10 liters of water. The resulting solution is used for each bush: 1 liter.

When the third cluster is flowering, feed it with a full complex of mineral fertilizers in the amount of 1 liter for each plant.

Reference! All fertilizing is applied after watering.

Features of care and possible difficulties

When planting in the ground, a wooden or metal support is installed immediately next to each bush, to which the stem is fixed. This technique helps the young stem quickly grow stronger and become even. As the fruit-bearing branches grow, they are also fixed to the support.

Another option garters – fixing plants on a trellis. To do this, supports are installed on different sides of the bed, between which wire is pulled horizontally. The stem and branches are tied to the wire with soft ribbons. This method of gartering is the most convenient, since the soft fabric does not harm the plant.

Culture needs regular stepsoning due to the large number of escapes. It is recommended to remove stepsons that have reached 4-5 cm. If you remove shorter ones, new ones will immediately appear.

Plants grow in 1-2 stems. This is the best option for obtaining maximum fruiting rates.

After harvesting the primary harvest, the tops of the bushes are pinched, thereby accelerating the appearance of new ovaries.

Diseases and pests

The tomato is especially hardy to changes in weather conditions, but is not very resistant to fungal diseases. One of his worst enemies is late blight. When infected, most of the plantings die, so preventive measures when growing tomatoes are especially necessary.

Prevention includes:

• moderate watering with control of the humidity in the beds;
• systematic loosening;
• weed removal;
• mulching beds;
• treating plants with fungicides;
• ventilation of protected structures.

Before planting tomatoes, the ground is spilled with a hot solution of potassium permanganate and treated with copper sulfate to destroy fungal spores.

In the fight against late blight, the systemic fungicide “Fitosporin” or “Hom” is used.

To protect crops from insect pests, plants are treated with insecticides or infused with decoctions of various strong-smelling herbs. The use of chemicals is possible only before flowering begins; traditional methods help throughout the entire growing season.

The Colorado potato beetle is collected by hand, carefully inspecting each bush from different sides for the presence of the pest. Pheromone traps are installed against whiteflies, which capture only parasitic insects without harming others. Also, to repel pests from the beds, strong-smelling herbs are planted next to the tomatoes, for example: calendula or mustard.

Nuances for open ground and greenhouse conditions

Greenhouse bushes grow up to 1.8 m, while in open beds their growth does not exceed 1.5 m. Do not forget that in greenhouses there is often an increased level of humidity, which contributes to the rapid spread of fungal infections. To avoid diseases, the greenhouse is ventilated daily, without creating a draft. A regular influx of fresh air destroys the usual habitat of many greenhouse pests.

To increase the mass of fruits, only 1 or 2 ovaries are left in the lower fruiting clusters. With this technique it is possible to obtain vegetables weighing up to 1 kg.

Seeds for the next planting are taken mainly from the fruits from the second cluster. It is in these vegetables that the seed material retains the properties of the parent genes as much as possible.

The distance between greenhouse bushes during transplantation should be greater than in open beds, otherwise the plants will not receive enough light. In addition, dense plantings are possible, which will lead to the development of infectious diseases.

Harvesting and application

The first vegetables are harvested before the beginning of August, preparing the plants for the second wave. The second time, the vegetables ripen by September, but their size is already smaller.

Reference! Double fruiting is a special achievement of modern selection, successfully embodied in the Spetsnaz variety.

The purpose of vegetables is universal, although the variety belongs to salad vegetables. They are used to prepare a variety of fresh dishes: hot, vegetable, summer salads, various snacks, pizzas.

For canning, use smaller tomatoes, collected a second time. They are also used to prepare pickles and marinades. Tomatoes are processed into tomato products, producing excellent juices, pastes, ketchups, and adjika.

Ripe vegetables can withstand long-term storage and long transportation.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of tomato is double fruiting. In addition, culture has a number of other advantages:

• ease of care;
• cold resistance;
• fruit setting in any conditions;
• high fruiting rate;
• takes root in all regions;
• excellent taste;
• large fruits;
• versatility in cooking;
• long storage;
• long transportation;
• possibility of independent seed selection.

The negative aspects include:

• Garter required;
• regular stepsoning;
• average resistance to diseases.

Farmer reviews

Most of the reviews about the new variety come from Siberia. Gardeners note the excellent taste and large fruits, even with a short and rainy summer season.

Roman, Omsk region: «I planted several Spetsnaz bushes. The package with the seeds said that you can get a double harvest. And so it happened. At the very beginning of August I removed all the large fruits, and by September many more had grown, only smaller in size. The tomato convinced me with its persistence, despite the bad climate.”

Nadezhda, Altai region: “I planted a tomato in a greenhouse. During the growing season it gave a lot of organic matter. The fruits reached a weight of 400-600 g. Excellent taste, good yield. I will definitely continue to grow it. The seeds were collected from the largest tomatoes of the first wave.”

Conclusion

So, you have met a new product in the Siberian collection - the Spetsnaz tomato. Only 2 years have passed since the variety appeared, but despite its short lifespan, the tomato is confidently gaining ranks of fans.

Reliable characteristics, high yields, simple agricultural technology, adaptation to any weather conditions and convincing photographs make every gardener want to try a new product in their beds.