High-yielding, tasty and easy-to-care Stresa tomatoes for growing in open ground or in a greenhouse

The popularity of hybrid tomatoes is growing from year to year. While some gardeners prefer varietal crops, others successfully cultivate hybrids on their plots. Tomato Stresa f1 is just one of these. It is valued for its ease of care, high productivity and excellent taste.

In this article, we have prepared an overview of the main characteristics of the crop, the pros and cons, and the nuances of agricultural technology in greenhouses.

Description of the hybrid

Tomato Stresa f1 is a mid-early hybrid for cultivation in closed ground. The breeding of the crop was carried out by biologists from the seed company Semco Junior. The hybrid is recommended for winter-spring and spring-summer rotation.

Indeterminate bushes with an unlimited growth point grow up to 2 m, require removal stepchildren And garters to the supports. The plant is compact in size, with medium internodes. The first inflorescence is formed above the 8-9th leaf, the rest - after two leaves. 5–7 ovaries are formed on one brush.

The photo shows a hybrid tomato Stresa f1.

The table summarizes the distinctive features of tomatoes.

How to grow seedlings

The crop is grown through seedlings. Sowing work begins in the second ten days of March, 60–65 days before transferring to closed ground.

Preparing the soil and sowing seeds

Seeds do not need to be treated with potassium permanganate or soaked in growth stimulants before sowing. This is what they do in production.

To identify empty grains, a calibration method is used. The seeds are soaked for 10 minutes in a saline solution (1 tsp per glass of water at room temperature). Poor quality material will float to the surface; it is not used for sowing. The seeds remaining at the bottom of the glass are washed with warm running water.

Soil for growing seedlings is prepared from equal parts of turf, peat and river sand with the addition of superphosphate (40 g per bucket of soil mixture). They also use ready-made substrate in bags for growing seedlings of peppers and tomatoes. Such soil is already enriched with nutrients.

Before use, the soil is disinfected in an oven, steamer, and treated with a solution potassium permanganate or "Fitosporin M". The procedure prevents the development of bacteria and fungi in the soil.

For sowing seeds, cassettes, boxes, plastic trays, pots, juice or milk tetrapacks are used. The seeds are placed in moist soil to a depth of 2 cm with an interval of 2–3 cm. A film is pulled over the top to create greenhouse conditions and the containers are taken to a dark, warm place. The seeds hatch after 4-5 days at a temperature of +25 °C.

Care

After the shoots appear, the film is removed and the containers are taken to a lighted place. The duration of daylight should be at least 15–16 hours. To prevent seedlings from stretching out and gaining strength faster when there is a lack of sunlight, fluorescent lamps are installed above them.

Seedlings do not like overwatering, so instead of a watering can, use a spray bottle.

At the stage of 2-3 leaves, seedlings are planted in individual pots made of plastic or peat. A week after picking, the seedlings are fed once with Effecton or Agricola.

At home it is easy to prepare universal foliar and root feeding:

• 20 g superphosphate;
• 10 g of potassium sulfate;
• 5 g urea.

Reference. A week before transferring to the greenhouse, the seedlings are taken out to the balcony every day for half an hour for hardening.

How to grow tomatoes

Hybrid Stresa f1 is grown in protected ground using standard methods. The soil and greenhouses are prepared in the fall. In the spring, they are re-loosened and fertilized with humus. Indeterminate plants need pinching, staking, moderate watering and the application of organic and mineral fertilizers.

Landing

The strengthened seedlings are transferred to a permanent place in mid-May. The soil is dug up in the fall, plant debris is removed along with the roots and a bucket of humus is added per 1 m². At the beginning of spring, the soil is loosened and fertilized with humus - 10 liters per square meter.

Holes 20 cm deep are dug in a checkerboard pattern every 40 cm. The distance between the rows is 70 cm. Cool boiling water is poured into each hole, a handful of wood ash and a tablespoon of superphosphate are added. Seedlings are moistened abundantly with warm water and planted in holes.

Reference. There are 3-4 tomato bushes per 1 m².

Care

After planting, the soil is covered with black agrofibre to prevent the growth of weeds, the spread of fungi and bacteria, and reduce labor costs for caring for tomatoes. Instead of synthetic fiber, straw, peat, sawdust, and pine needles are used.

The bushes are formed into two stems by removing young shoots after the fifth cluster and tied to high wooden supports or a trellis. The procedure stimulates the formation of ovaries and increases productivity.

Tomatoes prefer moderate watering with warm rain or settled water at the root in the morning or evening. Installing a drip irrigation system will help optimize plant care.

Young bushes require about 5 liters of water, adults – 10 liters. Watering frequency is once every 10–12 days.

The Stresa hybrid needs regular feeding with organic and mineral compounds. During the growing season, plants are fertilized 3-4 times. The first fertilizing with organic matter is carried out two weeks after planting. An infusion of chicken manure (20 g per 10 liters of water) or mullein (1 liter of infusion per 10 liters of water) is suitable for this. Ready-made organic fertilizers are popular: “Pixa”, “Vermix”, “Ripen-ka”, “Reliable”.

14 days after adding organic matter, the bushes begin feed mineral complexes during the flowering period, ovary formation and at the beginning of fruiting: “Kemira”, “Universal”, “Rastvorin”. Their main advantage is their balanced composition, eliminating the need to prepare the mixture yourself. The manufacturer indicates on the packaging the consumption and frequency of use.

Features of growing in closed and open ground

When cultivating Stresa tomatoes in a greenhouse, maintain an air humidity level of 65–70%.Excessive humidity causes pollen to stick together. When humidity is low, pollen scatters and does not reach the pistil. In both the first and second cases, pollination is difficult or does not occur at all.

Despite the manufacturer’s recommendations, in the southern regions the crop is also grown in open areas. The agricultural technology of tomatoes is no different from growing them in greenhouses. The culture withstands heat and cold and rarely gets sick. At the same time, yield indicators decrease, but the taste and presentation of the fruit remain at a high level.

Diseases and pests

The hybrid has strong immunity to tomato mosaic virus, cladosporiosis, fusarium, verticillium and root-knot nematode.

For prevention late blight (brown spots on stems, leaves, tomatoes, whitish coating on the back of the leaves) the bushes are sprayed with “Fitosporin”, a whey solution (100 ml per 1 liter of water), the soil is mulched with sawdust, hay or pine needles, and an optimal level of humidity is maintained in the greenhouses.

The preparations “Confidor”, “Borey”, “Flumite”, “Iskra”, “Aktarra”, “Epin”, “Commander”, “Decis Profi” will help get rid of aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, Colorado potato beetles, and gnawing cutworms.

Slugs collected by hand at night or sprayed on plants with ammonia solution (4 tablespoons per 10 liters of water).

Advice. To attract beneficial insects, plant mustard, marigolds, chamomile, basil, fennel, and mint next to the tomatoes.

Harvesting and application

The first tomatoes ripen approximately 90–95 days after full germination. Consumers and farmers appreciate the taste of vegetables. The fruits are large-fruited, fleshy, juicy and aromatic.

Good in seasonal vegetable salads and pickled.They make delicious and rich tomato juice, pasta, sauces, adjika, lecho, soups, and borscht dressing.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of a hybrid:

• immunity to tomato diseases;
• ease of care;
• high productivity;
• the fruits are large and smooth;
• high level of transportation;
• excellent taste and aroma;
• universal use in cooking.

Flaws:

• tall bushes require pinching, shaping and gartering;
• in open ground, productivity decreases.

Reviews

Many gardeners like the hybrid for its low maintenance requirements, resistance to bad weather and diseases, high productivity and pleasant taste.

Irina, Kstovo: «Stresa first planted tomatoes last year in a greenhouse. The characteristics correspond to those stated on the packaging. I grew the bushes into two stems, moistened them moderately, and fed them with ready-made liquid fertilizers. Given low labor costs, I received a rich harvest. Some of the tomatoes were sold, some were put in jars for the winter.”

Yaroslav, Novovoronezh: “I’ve been growing Stresa in a greenhouse for four years in a row. Every time I receive fruits of excellent quality. From one square meter I collect about 20 kg. I like the hybrid because it does not require special care. I organized drip irrigation in the greenhouse and apply fertilizer once every two weeks. This is enough to get a large harvest."

Vasily, Kirov: “In our climate zone, tomatoes can only be planted in greenhouses. Last year, a neighbor in the country shared seedlings of the Stresa hybrid. I was just looking for a productive tomato to grow for sale. I was surprised by the high productivity of the crop with minimal care. The taste of the fruit is sweet, with a slight sourness. Tomatoes are suitable for fresh consumption and storage for the winter.”

Conclusion

Hybrid Stresa is one of the best tomatoes for beginners. Biologists have tried to collect the best characteristics of the ancestors in the culture to obtain excellent results.

It is not difficult to care for tall plants - just regularly remove young shoots, form bushes into two stems, tie heavy brushes into supports, water moderately, fertilize with organic matter and mineral components. With the right approach, about 25 kg of selected tomatoes are harvested from one square meter.