Regionalized tomato varieties are cultivars and hybrids adapted to specific climate conditions. Tomatoes bred for the south will not produce a good harvest in the northwest.
Just over 40 varieties have been developed for cultivation in the Leningrad Region. Among them, you can choose the best ones not only for yield but also for different growing conditions: polycarbonate greenhouses, plastic shelters, or open ground.
How to choose tomatoes for the Leningrad region
The region is characterized by frequent precipitation, high cloud cover, and a prolonged, cold spring. Return frosts can occur in early June, and summers are short and the weather is variable.
The morning may be warm and sunny, followed by a shower in the afternoon, and the evening may begin with gusty winds that persist into the next day. Tomato varieties zoned for the Leningrad Region (Zone 1) must withstand high humidity, short daylight hours, sudden temperature changes, and wind.
Gardeners who can grow their crops in a greenhouse have nothing to worry about, but those with small gardens will have to build hotbeds or use plastic shelters. There are few varieties suitable for planting in open beds in this area.
As in other regions of Russia, tomatoes are grown using seedlings, but with one mandatory condition: the seedlings need to be hardened off.
In addition to ripening time and resistance to adverse factors, gardeners pay attention to characteristics such as yield and fruit size. Large tomatoes in unheated greenhouses, hotbeds, and open beds don't have time to fully ripen before the significant cold snap in autumn.
Some fruits do not even reach technical maturity, which makes them unsuitable for ripening and pickling (an unpleasant bitterness remains).
The most fruitful
It's clear which varieties to choose for risky farming zones, but to identify even a few successful options, you need to browse numerous websites and specialized forums. This takes a lot of time, and the information isn't always reliable. To make your decision easier, we've compiled several selections of the best, proven tomato varieties for the northwest.
For open beds
First, let's note an important detail: any tomato variety in the northwest cannot be grown completely unprotected. Covering is essential immediately after planting and towards the end of summer. It's important to monitor the weather throughout the growing season. When determining the height of supports (arches, rods, etc.) for polyethylene, consider the characteristics of the mature plant.
Dwarf 1185
A tomato that ripens 96–115 days after germination. The bushes are low, neat, and standard, requiring no staking or pinching. The first inflorescences appear above the 5th or 8th leaf, with subsequent inflorescences appearing every 2–3 leaves. An unfortunate characteristic of this variety is its complete lack of immunity to late blight; in the Leningrad Region's climate, regular treatments with copper-containing preparations are required.
The first harvest occurs in early August. Dwarf tomatoes are slightly less productive than other high-yielding varieties, yielding around 3.5 kg/sq. m. The tomatoes are oval-round, bright red, firm, and juicy, weighing 50–70 grams. They are versatile, with a pleasant, sweet-tart flavor and a rich aroma. The skin is firm, and the fruits are easy to store and transport.
White filling
Early maturing, recommended for fresh consumption, but also suitable for canning. The bush is determinate, no taller than 80 cm, and medium-dense. Excellent tolerance to high humidity and sudden cold snaps. Fruiting is excellent in short-day conditions. Resistance to major diseases and pests is high, except for late blight.
The fruits are round, slightly ribbed, red, and weigh 75–150 grams. They have 5 to 12 small seed chambers and a medium-sized kernel count. The skin is firm but not tough, glossy. The flavor is good, rich, sweet, and slightly acidic. These tomatoes transport well, have a long shelf life, and have excellent marketability (up to 95% of those harvested throughout the season). The yield per bush ranges from 3.5 to 4 kilograms.
Yamal
This early-ripening, salad-type variety is suitable for whole-fruit canning. The bush is standard, determinate, and neat, takes up little space in the garden, and tolerates light shade. It is resistant to adverse weather conditions (including drought), and has excellent immunity to root and blossom-end rot, as well as pests.
The tomatoes are flat-round, lightly ribbed, sometimes unevenly, and bright red in color. They average 85 grams in weight, though smaller and larger varieties are also available. They have approximately 4-6 seed chambers and numerous seeds. The flavor is very good, sweet with a subtle acidity, and the aroma is rich. The skin is firm but not tough, and ripe fruits do not split. Yield is approximately 5 kg/sq. m.
Siberian early ripening
The fruits ripen 95–110 days after germination (early season). The plant is determinate, up to 80 cm tall, and can reach 100 cm under plastic. It is highly resistant to low temperatures, excessive humidity, and short daylight hours, but does not tolerate prolonged dry periods. It has increased immunity to diseases and pests.
The fruits are red, spherical or flattened-round, slightly ribbed across the entire surface, weighing from 60 to 130 grams. The flavor is sweet and sour, pleasant, but not bright or rich; rather, it's somewhat bland, and the aroma is weak. These tomatoes are best suited for canning and pickling. They have no more than four nests, a medium number of seeds, and the flesh is juicy and soft. Yield is approximately 4 kg/sq. m.
You may be interested in:Baltic
The bushes are determinate, but require staking and pruning (side shoots and leaves). This variety ripens early, is rarely attacked by pests, and is resistant to fungal and viral diseases. Its immunity persists even when neighboring plants are heavily infested. Baltic grows well and produces fruit even in rainy, cool, and cloudy summers.
The tomatoes are red, flat-round, slightly ribbed, and loose, averaging 150 grams. There are virtually no small berries on the bushes, and fruits often reach around 300 grams. There are 4-6 seed chambers, with a medium number of seeds. The flesh is juicy, not watery, and grain-free, and the skin is thin and soft. The flavor is excellent: sweet with a subtle acidity, and the aroma is rich. Yields up to 5 kg/sq. m.
Northern beauty
A salad variety with a mid-season ripening season. The indeterminate bushes require staking and pruning; for a good harvest, it's best to grow the plant in 2 or 3 stems. Northern Beauty produces fruit well even in adverse weather conditions and tolerates heat and drought well. It has good pest resistance, including high resistance to fusarium and tobacco mosaic virus.
Ripe tomatoes are pink, sometimes with a dark crimson spot near the stem, and pear-shaped. The skin is smooth and loose, and the flesh is pleasantly juicy and soft. There are no more than three seed chambers, and the seeds are few. The average fruit weight is 60–150 grams. The flavor is sweet, sometimes with a hint of tartness. This salad variety is suitable for canning and juicing. Yield is approximately 4.5 kg/sq. m.
For greenhouses and hotbeds
Here are high-yielding tomato varieties for all types of greenhouses and hotbeds (including those with plastic coverings). In such conditions, plants require maximum attention, including keeping the beds free of weeds, proper ventilation, pruning, and preventative treatments. In heated greenhouses, tomatoes can be grown year-round, but only with a good supplemental lighting system.
Gribovsky Ground
The fruits ripen 95–115 days after uniform germination and are recommended for various dishes and juices, which produce thick juices. The bush is determinate (up to 60 cm tall), semi-spreading, and neat. Immunity to typical diseases and pests is increased, and yields do not decrease in cloudy, rainy summers.
The tomatoes are bright red, flat-round, and slightly ribbed, weighing between 60 and 110 grams. They have no more than four seed chambers and a small number of seeds. The skin is medium-thick, the flesh is quite firm and juicy, and the flavor is often described as satisfactory or good; it is balanced, sweet and sour. The aroma is very bland, almost imperceptible. Yields up to 4 kg/sq. m.
Leningrad early ripening
The plant grows as a standard, reaching a maximum height of 30 cm (up to 80 cm in a greenhouse). It's best to plant it loosely, ensuring the bushes are well ventilated on all sides. It's recommended to plant no more than six seedlings per square meter of soil. It ripens mid-early, yielding its entire crop by mid-August. It has excellent resistance to adverse weather conditions (bad weather, diseases, and pests).
The tomatoes are spherical, uniform in size, and rich red when harvested. They weigh 45–65 grams. The skin is thick, but barely noticeable when eating. Leningradsky Skorospelny is not prone to cracking or overripening, and the fruits have a long shelf life and do not spoil during transportation. The flavor is sometimes a bit bland, but most often it is good, balanced, and sweet and sour. Yields are approximately 10–13 kg/sq. m.
You may be interested in:Ural polycarp
It ripens mid-season. The indeterminate, vigorous bush requires staking and pinching. To obtain a bountiful, high-quality harvest, the plant should be trained into two stems. The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption, home cooking, and canning. Pest resistance is weak, but disease resistance is excellent; the variety tolerates both heat and cold equally well.
The tomatoes are red, flattened, and spherical, with slight ribbing. Fruit weight ranges from 60 to 120 grams, though the bush is often littered with medium-sized tomatoes (70–80 grams). The flesh is tender and juicy, while the fruits are quite firm. The skin is firm, does not crack, and is barely noticeable when eaten. The flavor is good. The yield is very high, reaching approximately 15 kg/sq. m in years with favorable weather.
Leningrad autumn
This variety ripens mid-season. The indeterminate plant is vigorous and tall, requiring pinching and pruning. When the bush reaches 130–150 cm, it's best to pinch off the top to ensure all the energy goes into the fruit. It has excellent resistance to pests and brown spot, but is highly susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus. Preventative treatments with folk remedies and biological products are best carried out throughout the growing season.
The fruits are spherical or flattened round, slightly uneven in shape, weighing from 50 to 160 grams. The flavor is very good, sweet with a pleasant, mild acidity. The flesh is juicy, tender, and grain-free, and the skin is firm but not tough. This variety is versatile, but not suitable for drying; it partially loses its flavor when frozen. Tomatoes set fruit well in low light, yielding up to 6 kg/sq. m.
Fox
A mid-early ripening variety, ideal for whole-fruit canning and salads. The bushes are indeterminate and tall, requiring pruning, shaping, and support. Excellent temperature tolerance, the variety produces fruit well in cloudy weather. It has increased immunity to the most common diseases.
The fruits are obovate or oval, orange when fully ripe, and weigh 100 to 150 grams. There are no more than three seed chambers, with a medium number of seeds. The flavor is very good, sweet with a slight tartness and a rich tomato aroma. The flesh is moderately firm and juicy, with a skin that is barely noticeable and does not crack. With proper care, the yield is 9.5 kg/sq. m.
Palace
An early-ripening, indeterminate variety, it requires staking and pruning. It has good resistance to adverse weather conditions and diseases. Suitable for salads, the tomatoes are also suitable for homemade dishes, juices, pastes, ketchups, and canning. The flat-round, red fruits weigh 200–350 grams. They have a good, sweet flavor with a subtle acidity. There are no more than nine seed chambers, few seeds, and the flesh is juicy. The skin is dense but not tough, cracking only when very overripe. Yields up to 14.5 kg/sq. m.
Many gardeners call such varieties and hybrids as Olya the leaders in yield, Verlioka, Ural And De-BaraoThey produce fruit well in virtually any growing conditions and have increased immunity to the most common diseases and harmful insects. Truly good results can only be achieved by following proper agricultural practices.
When to sow seeds for seedlings in the Leningrad region
To determine the sowing date, keep in mind that seedlings at least 50 days old are considered ready for planting. Keep in mind that it takes about 4 days for the seeds to germinate. Transplanting into greenhouses and under plastic can be done after June 1st. Therefore, early varieties should be sown 50-60 days before the intended planting date, approximately April 1st-10th.
If the crop is planned for planting in open ground, the second ten days of June, when the risk of recurrent frosts has passed, is a favorable period. Seeds can be sown from late March to April 5. In the northern parts of the Leningrad Region, sowing (under any growing conditions) should be done a week later. Tomatoes can be planted in their permanent location when the soil warms up to 12 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit) and the average daily temperature for 7 days remains between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius (55 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit).
Growing tomatoes in the Leningrad Region is no longer a problem; even a novice gardener can handle the task. In open ground in the northwest, it's best to plant only regional varieties that are fully adapted to the climate. We've described time-tested options that consistently produce good yields. We also recommend considering varieties and hybrids such as Sanka, Mithridates, Baron, Gina, Yantarny, Ballada, and Leningradskiy Kholodok.
Reviews
Andrey, Pervomaysky
When I moved from the south to the northwest, the first tomato I noticed was the Leningradsky Skorospelny (Leningradsky Skorospelny) variety. Its description was very enticing. I wasn't disappointed; I planted most of the plants in a greenhouse and left four seedlings outside. All produced a good harvest and were disease-free. The year before last, while looking through recommended tomato seeds for the Leningrad region, I chose the Lisichka (Fox) and Baltiysky (Baltic). I wasn't quite careful with the plants; they grew too large, so I had to trim some branches and pinch back the rest. Surprisingly, almost all the fruits ripened before early fall.
Kristina, St. Petersburg
I consider the best, most productive tomatoes for the Leningrad region to be Dvortsovy, Uralsky Mnogoplodny, Gruntovy Gribovsky, Baltiysky, and Bely Naliv. I only plant the latter in unprotected beds. Although these varieties aren't particularly fussy, I recommend following basic rules to ensure they bear fruit well. Ventilate the greenhouse daily, loosen the soil, regularly fertilize the plants, and don't forget preventative treatments.
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Angelica
Over the past 20 years, the following have become favorite and always helpful, delicious varieties and hybrids: Nadezhda, Katya, Baltic, Bychye Serdtse Pink, Shuttle, Cherrypalchiki, Japanese Crab, Ladies' Man, Utenok, Energo, the creeping variety Mongolian Dwarf (a real find for open ground), cherry Your Nobility, and Kotya.
Shchelkovsky early, very early ripening.