The best high-yielding, low-growing tomatoes

Harvesting tomatoes in short, cool summers is not easy, especially in the northwest, Siberia, and the Urals. It takes a lot of effort to ensure the tomatoes grow and produce ripe fruit. Many determinate varieties have been bred for these climates. They have a growth restriction, meaning that once the plants reach a certain height, they devote all their energy to flowering, growth, and ripening. However, these varieties are only planted in open ground in temperate climates; in colder regions, tomatoes require a roof over their heads.

Low-growing tomatoes for growing in Siberia and the Urals

Short tomatoes have strong stems and a limited number of clusters. Their advantages:

• have few stepsons;
• have a strong trunk that can support the harvest;
• do not require much space, can be used in dense plantings;
• They are grown in film greenhouses and without shelter.

For successful cultivation in risky farming zones, it is necessary to select early-ripening and mid-ripening varieties and hybrids:

1. Snegiri. Bred specifically for the Siberian climate, the Urals, and the Far East. Considered an early-ripening variety, it produces its first harvest by June 25th when grown in a greenhouse. Tomatoes turn red 3-3.5 months after planting. Snegiri grows a robust bush, requiring no staking or side shoots, and reaches a height of 0.4-0.5 m. It thrives in poor soils and tolerates excessive nitrogen when fertilizing. Pink tomatoes, perfectly spherical in shape and thin-skinned, weigh up to 150 g. Snegiri produces a yield of approximately 5 kg per square meter. These versatile tomatoes are suitable for both fresh consumption and winter preserves.
2. Visibly invisible. The name of this tomato speaks for itself. It is characterized as an early-ripening determinate variety. Three months pass from seed germination to harvest. Bred for uncovered cultivation, the bush reaches 0.5-0.6 m in height. Staking is required. The tomatoes are pink, round, and smooth, weighing up to 120 g. They are eaten raw, sliced ​​in salads, and processed into lecho, pastes, ketchup, and juices. With proper care, they yield 3.5-4 kg per bush. A sour taste has been noted as a drawback.
3. Summer residentThis variety is considered early maturing, ripening 3.5 months after sprouting. A mature plant reaches no more than 0.7 m in height. It has a medium amount of foliage and a bushy habit. The bush requires staking; it is easy to care for, produces ovaries, and bears fruit even in cold summers. Ripe, round, uniform red tomatoes weigh between 50 and 100 g. This variety is versatile and can be used both raw and for pickling.
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5. Siberian Troika. This variety was developed by Siberian breeders. It has spread throughout Russia and is beloved by gardeners for its robust weather resistance, high yield, and fruit flavor. The bush grows up to 60 cm tall, with a thick trunk that requires staking during the fruit ripening period. These red, pepper-shaped tomatoes grow up to 15 cm long and weigh between 200 and 300 g. In rainy summers, treatment against late blight is necessary. A single tomato plant, with proper care, can yield up to 5 kg of tomatoes. Because of their large volumes, pickling whole tomatoes is not possible, so the fruits are eaten fresh, dried, frozen, or processed into ketchup, pastes, juices, and lecho.
6. Alsu. This variety is considered mid-early and is recommended for both greenhouse and open-ground planting. Uncovered, it grows up to 80 cm tall, reaching 1 m in favorable conditions. Due to its slender trunk, the bush requires staking and support. The heart-shaped fruits are pinkish-red when fully ripe, with a sweet taste, weighing between 300 and 500 g. They are used fresh and for making juices and pastes.
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8. A Siberian heavyweight. Siberian breeders have combined numerous advantages in this variety: large fruits, early harvest, tolerance to weather conditions, and disease resistance. In open ground, plants reach 0.5-0.6 m, while in greenhouses, they reach 0.8 to 1 m. The foliage is a rich green. Due to the large size of the fruits, support is required, and slings are also necessary under the clusters. The pepper-shaped, pink fruits with a dense, juicy interior weigh up to 0.5 kg. They do not burst and can be transported without any damage to their appearance.

Tomatoes for the central zone and the Moscow region

The central zone has a milder climate than the northern regions. The most popular and productive varieties are:

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2. Mongolian Dwarf (Mongolian Dwarf). Its advantage is that it is tolerant of both cold and hot summers, making it suitable for general cultivation. It is one of the shortest varieties. It reaches a height of about 15 cm, but its diameter is about 60 cm. It is classified as a trailing tomato. It does not require staking or pinching, and is resistant to diseases and late blight. With proper care, a single bush can yield up to 10 kg of sweet fruit. Its disadvantages include the difficulty of purchasing varietal seeds.
3. Verochka. Considered a productive and early variety, it grows up to 0.6 m in height. After germination, the first harvest takes about 90 days. Ripe red tomatoes are round, with thin, firm skin. They weigh between 100 and 150 g. This versatile vegetable can be eaten raw, processed into pastes and ketchups, pickled, salted, and dried.
4. Petrushka the Gardener. It has small bushes, up to 0.6 m tall. It's a hybrid, so you need to purchase new seed packets each year for planting. It's best grown outdoors. It's best to tie the bush before fruit set. Petrushka produces up to 4 kg of tomatoes per plant. The fruits are red and slightly elongated. The average weight is 150-180 g. It's delicious in salads and preserves.
5. Kibitz. In Russia, seeds of this tomato are purchased from collectors. It is a low bush with a thick stem and strong roots. It reaches 0.6 m in height and requires support during ripening, otherwise it may break under the weight of the fruit. It is considered an ultra-early tomato. The fruits turn red 80-90 days after germination. The cylindrical fruits, up to 12 cm long, have a sweet and sour taste. Each tomato weighs 60 to 80 g. Due to their small size, they are ideal for canning and drying. They also withstand transportation well.
6. CasparBelonging to the hybrid group, Kaspar tomatoes are widely grown by gardeners. In the open ground, they grow up to 0.6 m tall, and in a greenhouse, up to 1 m or more. They ripen early, 3.5 months after germination. The fruits are elongated, red, weighing approximately 100 g. Each bush can produce 2.5 kg of tomatoes. The skin is thick, and the flavor is tart. Kaspar tomatoes are versatile and can be used in salads, pickling, drying, and making preserves for the winter.

Breeders have developed numerous varieties for cultivation in various climate zones, including determinate varieties, which are primarily planted by gardeners who lack polycarbonate greenhouses, using only plastic shelters, or who lack sufficient space to grow tall tomatoes. Selecting a variety that thrives in such soil and produces excellent yields is only possible after trying many varieties. There are no universal recommendations for all gardeners.