Buran Tomato: Variety Characteristics and Growing Techniques

Dutch tomato hybrids are among the favorites of many gardeners, as they produce excellent results when properly cared for. Buran F1, a hybrid from Enza Zaden, is renowned for its yield and is grown by both private farmers and many vegetable gardens.

Description of the hybrid

The Buran F1 tomato is included in the State Register and is recommended for cultivation in all regions, including under film shelters in risky farming zones.

The plant is tall, vigorous, and beautiful, producing numerous fruits weighing up to 200-220 grams. In the southern regions, open-ground beds yield up to 30 kg of fruit per square meter. In greenhouses in the central and northwestern regions, due to climate conditions, the yield will be slightly lower, but still impressive – up to 12 kg per square meter.

The hybrid is resistant to many diseases and productive, which is why it has become popular among many farmers and ordinary gardeners.

Main characteristics

The hybrid with the original "winter" name Buran F1 belongs to the tall-growing tomato category. This indeterminate plant grows tall, reaching 180-210 cm. In terms of ripening time, it's a mid-season hybrid, with the first fruits ready to harvest in just 110 days.

The bushes require shaping, removal of side shoots, and support. Buran produces good results in greenhouses when grown using a trellis. The bush has large, dark green leaves and simple inflorescences. The fruits are initially a soft green, but when fully ripe, the skin and flesh turn dark red. The skin is dense and glossy. Fruits weigh up to 230 grams, averaging 180 grams. All tomatoes in the clusters are uniform and attractive.

The flesh is juicy, typically containing up to six chambers. The flavor is excellent, and this hybrid is primarily used for fresh consumption and salads. The fruits are suitable for juice, lecho, pasta, and various sauces. Products made from Burana fruits have a rich red color and are very appetizing.

Advantages of a hybrid

Buran F1 is praised by many, who value the tomato for the following qualities:

• unpretentiousness;
• high yield (but you need to provide good nutrition to the plants);
• mid-season;
• good taste;
• large-fruited;
• suitability for transportation;
• good fruit set;
• attractive appearance of tomatoes.

The Buran tomato is one of the best hybrids for producing a variety of tomato products. Furthermore, this hybrid is resistant to a number of common tomato diseases:

• Cladosporiosis;
• TMV;
• fusarium.

This is a crucial quality for greenhouse-grown tomatoes. It can be difficult to achieve a high tomato yield in the harsh climates of the Urals, Siberia, and northern regions, especially if the summer is cold and rainy. However, the Buran tomato produces very good results; the key is to ensure the plants receive proper care.

Disadvantages of the Buran F1 hybrid

When discussing the yield of these tomatoes, breeders always pay special attention to agricultural practices. Hybrids only produce results with good nutrition, regular watering, and weeding.

Also, tall Buran tomatoes require training (usually with two stems), and all side shoots should be removed promptly. Another drawback: if you find the tomato to be a success, you'll need to purchase seeds in advance each year. It's not recommended to use your own seeds from F1 hybrids, as these tomatoes don't retain their desired properties and won't produce the desired results.

Otherwise, there are no shortcomings, and the “Dutchman” is well worth attention.

Reviews of growing the Buran F1 hybrid

Sofia, Kirov

I bought a Buran tomato; I always try new varieties and hybrids every year. I didn't like it because the fruit set a bit late, though maybe our climate wasn't ideal. I picked the tomatoes when they were all green, and they ripened well in a box at home. The flavor is average, with a hint of tartness. The bunch contained uniform-sized fruits, weighing about 150 grams.

Igor, Leningrad region

I bought Buran by chance; the store clerk had raved about this hybrid. I sowed it for seedlings a bit late; at first, I didn't even want to sow it, and had forgotten all about it. But it quickly caught up with the one I'd sown two weeks earlier, and then it became quite suitable. I planted it in the greenhouse in early June, and there were four plants in total. The harvest is good, and it's very resistant to late blight. At the end of July, quite a few tomatoes in my greenhouse got sick, and preventative measures didn't help, but these plants were still green. The tomatoes are delicious; we used them all for salads.

Features of agricultural technology of the F1 Buran hybrid

First, you need to grow tomato seedlings, for which you need to prepare not only seeds, but also boxes, cups for seedlings, and nutritious soil.

Growing seedlings

Inexperienced gardeners often overlook the fact that a good harvest will only come from properly grown and healthy seedlings. To achieve this:

1. The timing of sowing tomatoes is determined (usually for hybrids with ripening periods such as Buran, this is March).
2. They steam the soil under the seedlings and disinfect the containers where the tomatoes will be grown.
3. Hybrids typically don't require seed treatment. The manufacturer will advise this on the seed packet. Therefore, sow the seeds directly into the soil on the designated day.

Maintaining a consistent temperature regime is essential: +25 ºC … 27 ºC during seed germination, +22 ºC … 25 ºC during seedling growth. It's best to provide the seedlings with a stable temperature, without fluctuations.

Once the plants have two true leaves, they need to be repotted. If tomatoes are initially grown in individual containers of sufficient volume, then only soil is added to the plants. When sowing seeds in shared boxes or containers, transplanting into individual cups is essential.

All seedling feeding should be done only after transplanting, waiting at least a week. This allows the plants time to establish themselves and continue growing. For home use, it's best to use ready-made fertilizers (KEMIRA, AGRICOLA No. 3 – for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants). Complex fertilizers, such as nitrophoska, are also suitable.

Fertilizing is recommended along with watering. When growing tomato seedlings, it's crucial to avoid overwatering the soil, as this can lead to various diseases. Among these is the dangerous "blackleg," which appears on seedlings when the watering schedule and air temperature aren't maintained. Proper care can help prevent this problem, as can sprinkling the soil around the plants with calcined river sand or ash.

About two weeks after planting, tomatoes begin to harden off by placing them outside (in warm weather) or on a balcony. During the first few days, 15-30 minutes of fresh air will be sufficient, but this can then be increased to several hours. This procedure is very beneficial, as it helps prevent stress during transplantation.

Caring for tomatoes in a greenhouse

The timing of planting in a greenhouse depends on many factors:

• condition of tomatoes;
• air and soil temperature;
• climatic features of the region.

The Buran hybrid is quite resistant to many weather conditions, but it's still necessary to follow proper agricultural practices. Tomatoes are planted when the soil at a depth of approximately 10 cm has warmed to 14ºC to 16ºC. In greenhouses, the beds can be additionally covered with plastic film to speed up the warming process. After planting, it's also advisable to cover the tomatoes with lutrasil or agril to protect them from unnecessary stress and possible temperature fluctuations.

Complete care includes:

• watering;
• mandatory loosening (many inexperienced gardeners forget about this technique);
• application of fertilizers;
• weeding.

When growing this hybrid, shaping and pinching out side shoots are essential. It's recommended to immediately equip the greenhouse with trellis supports. If the tomatoes will need individual supports, use stakes (rods) and cotton ribbons (preferably using these rather than rope for tying).

Tomatoes are watered regularly, taking into account weather conditions and the microclimate in the greenhouse. These plants dislike high humidity and do not tolerate dry air well (especially during flowering), so it will be necessary to maintain watering volumes and ensure adequate ventilation in the greenhouse.

The approximate watering schedule is twice every 7-8 days. During flowering and early fruiting, watering volumes are increased; in August, when the fruits begin to ripen en masse, watering is gradually reduced and then stopped.

After watering, the soil is carefully loosened, being careful not to disturb the plant roots. Mulching the soil can replace loosening, thereby saving time. Mulch—compost, peat, sawdust, or hay—protects the soil from drying out and excess moisture. These beds are less prone to weeds, which also significantly simplifies tomato care.

When growing tomatoes, fertilize them. Keep in mind that greenhouse plants will have higher nutritional needs than tomatoes grown outdoors. Providing tomatoes with potassium, calcium, and phosphorus is especially important, as these nutrients are absorbed more rapidly under the high humidity and low light conditions of greenhouses.

The first feedings usually focus on nitrogen, which plants need to grow green mass; subsequent feedings focus on phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers such as cow manure or poultry manure are suitable, diluted with water in strict ratios (1:10 and 1:20). When the first fruits appear, it's a good idea to feed tomatoes with "green" organic fertilizer, made by infusing various herbs in water.

To do this, place chopped nettles, comfrey, and dandelion in a large container (a tank or barrel), add water, and let it steep for 5-7 days. Cover the infusion with a lid or plastic wrap. Once the mixture has fermented, stir it. After a week, the finished fertilizer can be used for tomatoes. Dilute it with water: one liter of the infusion per bucket of water, and gently water the tomatoes at the roots.

The following ready-made fertilizer preparations are used:

• Fitosporin-M (the composition also serves as a preventative measure against powdery mildew and root rot);
• Fertika Kristalon;
• Agricola;
• Kemira;
• Aquarin.

Purchased compounds come with instructions, so all fertilizing should be done following the recommendations provided.

What compounds can be used for spraying tomatoes?

1. During flowering – infusion of ash (do not forget to filter the infusion).
2. Also during flowering, it is recommended to treat plants with urea (diluted with water: 50 grams per bucket of water).
3. Once a month, spray with boric acid diluted in water.

It is advisable to alternate types of fertilizers: organic with mineral fertilizers, foliar spraying with application of fertilizers under the root.

Buran is usually trained with two stems, although it's possible to leave just one "trunk" or increase the number to three or four. If more are left, two bushes are planted per square meter to prevent the branches from obscuring each other.

Also, remove all side shoots from the tomato plants promptly, preventing the bushes from becoming overgrown to the point of becoming a jungle. Tomatoes are harvested around day 110, but at this point the fruits are still green. Tomatoes are picked when they are technically ripe and ripened further at home.