The tomato variety "Bear-toed" appeared due to the efforts of Russian breeders. Their painstaking work was not in vain - they managed to get a plant that can be grown in both southern and northern latitudes. The fruits of this variety differ in different colors (depending on the subspecies) and large sizes. In more detail about the characteristics of the variety, as well as about the technology of its cultivation, we will describe further.
Grade description
Allocate the following basic characteristics of the "Clumsy Bear":
- tall indeterminate bush;
- average fruit ripening rate;
- leaves are neither large nor small, saturated color;
- fruits are round or heart-shaped;
- the pulp is dense, fleshy, juicy and sugary;
- fruits are formed by a brush, consisting of 3-5 pieces;
- bear fruit abundantly, ripen gradually.
Did you know? In 1822, Robert Gibbon Johnson ate a bucket of tomatoes in front of a courtroom in front of a crowd of two thousand. People were extremely surprised: the man was not going to die contrary to the then popular belief that you could go for tomatoes «to the next world»since they are poisonous. From this moment, the popularity of the fetus as a food product began to actively increase.
The variety "Bear-toed" has 4 subspecies, differing mainly in fruit color:
- Yellow. The bush grows to 190 cm and gives 800-gram fruits of a heart-shaped form. Their taste is full, the flesh is fleshy, tender. The plant is resistant to most diseases.
- Orange. The height of the bush is the same as that of the previous variety. The fruit is heart-shaped, with well-defined faces of a bright orange color. They have a bright and rich "tomato" flavor.
- Pink. It grows about 1.5 m. Fruits are raspberry colored, drop-shaped and weigh 700 g. They can be larger. This variety is the most productive of all.
- Red. It grows and bears fruit more actively in the greenhouse than in the open ground. The fruit gives large, heart-shaped, sweet.
Advantages and disadvantages
- The following can be attributed to the positive sides of the variety:
- high productivity;
- the fruits are large and sweet;
- grows well in many climatic zones;
- suitable for greenhouses and open ground;
- the fruits do not lose their presentation in transit;
- stored for a long time.
- Among the negative sides, the following can be distinguished:
- productivity directly depends on the correct formation of the bush;
- the plant requires constant feeding;
- you need a garter.
Features of growing seedlings
In order for a plant to please a plentiful harvest, it must be grown from seedlings. You can grow it yourself.
Optimal timing
The most suitable time for sowing seeds for seedlings: the last one and a half weeks of March - the first one and a half weeks of April.
Soil mix
The soil can be purchased special, for seedlings, or a universal substrate. To increase its nutritional value, ash or superphosphate should be added. You can also prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing in equal proportions the soil from the beds, ash, peat and superphosphate.
Capacity for growing
It is advisable to grow seedlings in special containers or ordinary boxes. They must be disinfected.
Seed preparation
Preparation of planting material consists in soaking it in a biostimulator. For this, the seeds are immersed in a special preparation for a period of 15 minutes to 12 hours. The duration of the procedure depends on the type of stimulator. On the packaging of each substance is indicated how much it is necessary to sustain the seed in it.
Important! The seeds of the Teddy Bear tomato do not need to be disinfected.
Sowing seeds
Seeds are sown in containers in a row. No need to pre-prepare the holes or grooves. Each seed just needs to be buried with your fingers to a depth of 10–20 mm. Then they are sprinkled with dry sifted soil and irrigated from a spray bottle.
Seedling Care
The container with seeds should be covered with a film and put away in a warm place. With the advent of the first shoots, the film is removed, the container is transferred to the windowsill or under the lamp. The temperature in the room should be 20–22 ° С. Seedlings should be regularly watered and fed 2-3 times. With the advent of 2 real leaves, seedlings are dived.
Seedling hardening
1.5–2 weeks before the planned planting of seedlings in the garden, they should be hardened. For this, the seedlings are taken out for a couple of tens of minutes to the street. Gradually, the duration of the outdoors increases.
Planting seedlings in a permanent place
Tomato-toed bear Tomato is planted in open ground in the first ten days of June. By this time, the seedlings should have 6-7 true leaves and 1 flower brush. For landing on a bed, dig holes in a row with an interval of 40 cm. 0.5 m should be retreated between rows.
Important! Each seedling must be nipped at a growth point and diseased, wilted leaves are removed.
Outdoor Care
The key to a good harvest of tomatoes "Bear-toed" is regular top dressing. The rest of the variety is not very whimsical.
Planting Tomatoes
Watering
Tomatoes are very fond of moisture, so they need to be watered regularly and abundantly (up to 1 liter per bush). It is best to perform the procedure in the evening, after sunset. Water needs to be siphoned off at room temperature and preferably under the root.
Top dressing
To form large fruits under the bush “Bears of the clubfoot”, fertilizers should be applied every 2 weeks throughout the entire period of growth and fruiting. It is recommended to use mineral and organic fertilizers. They need to be alternated. It is undesirable to use manure, because foliage, not fruit, is actively growing because of it.
Stepson
Form a bush "Bears clubfoot" in 1 or 2 stems. The best yield is given by bushes formed from 2 stems. To do this, remove all stepsons above the 2nd brush. Cut shoots longer than 5 cm. In order for the stem to develop better, you should also pinch its top and remove the deformed flowers.
Soil care
In order not to bother with soil cultivation on a bed with tomatoes. Experienced gardeners recommend mulching it. To do this, use forest litter, straw, sawdust, shavings, humus or compost. Under such material, weeds practically do not grow, the earth does not crack and retains moisture for a long time. In addition, on hot days, mulch allows you to keep cool.
Did you know? Tomatoes contain a large amount of serotonin (the hormone of happiness), so they are no worse than chocolate capable of raising the mood. The bright color of the fruits also helps.
Hilling of bushes is performed when white tubercles appear on the stem at the base. This is a signal that the plant lacks nutrients and is going to strengthen the root system.
Bush tying
A feature of indeterminate varieties is long and weak shoots. Therefore, without support, the plant will not be able to support the weight of the fruit. In addition, without tying, productivity decreases. Since this variety is tall, it is better for him to use a trellis or linear method of garter. Tie up the bush as soon as the plant takes root in a new place.
Preventative treatment
The variety has been developed resistant to most pests and diseases. However, it can be affected by various types of rot (white, gray, root, fruit). To the disease spoil the crop as little as possible, you need:
- carry out fluffing of the soil after each irrigation, if it is not mulched;
- remove weeds on time;
- pick off the lower leaves;
- daily inspect plants for pests; if detected, treat with insecticides.
Harvesting
Teddy Bear Tomatoes begin to be harvested as they mature. It is very important not to allow overripe fruits to hang on the plant, so as not to provoke the development of rot. This variety ripens perfectly indoors, so the fruits can be picked green and laid out on a window sill for ripening. In this case, a temperature of 20–22 ° C should be maintained.
Reviews about the "Bear-toed" variety are most often positive. Many gardeners are happy that even if the fruits did not have time to ripen before the onset of frost, they can be picked green and they will “reach” in a warm room without losing good keeping performance. This characteristic allows you to enjoy bright and tasty vegetables, even residents of the northern regions.
