Characteristics and description of the Mongolian Dwarf tomato

The Mongolian Dwarf tomato is a surprisingly unpretentious, early-growing, and cold-resistant tomato variety that will appeal to both novice and experienced gardeners.

Tomatoes can be planted in almost any soil, as they are undemanding to soil composition, easily tolerate temperature fluctuations, and do not require particularly complex care.

Origin and zoning

This variety is particularly popular among vegetable growers in Transbaikalia and Siberia. It was presumably developed by Novosibirsk plant breeders, but it has not yet been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation. For this reason, tomato seeds are difficult to find publicly, but planting material can be purchased online or from local vegetable growers.

Mongolian dwarf thrives and grows well in northern regions with cool springs and autumns. It also thrives in dry climates with constant winds, provided there is no late blight.

Positive qualities of the Mongolian Dwarf tomato variety and its characteristics

The Mongolian Dwarf has many advantages and has the following characteristics:

• a low-growing variety that tends to spread along the ground – the bushes are 15 to 25 cm high and up to 1 meter wide;
• stable and high yield – up to 10 kg of tomatoes can be harvested from one bush;
• tomato does not need to be tied up or side-sonned;
• undemanding to soil composition, grows better outdoors than in a greenhouse, loves fresh air and does not tolerate excess moisture;
• fairly large fruits - the average weight of one tomato is about 200 grams;
• bears fruit until late autumn and the first frosts;
• the shape is round, the taste of the tomatoes is sour and not particularly sweet;
• color – bright red.

Some disadvantages of the Mongolian Dwarf tomato variety

Despite the good characteristics of the variety and its many advantages, there are still some disadvantages to this type of tomato:

1. Seeds are difficult to obtain, and there's a risk of substitution. When buying seeds online, you can't always be sure of their quality or whether they're genuine Mongolian Dwarf seeds. There are also no guarantees when purchasing seeds from private individuals.
2. The initial seedling formation phase is lengthy. But as soon as the first seedlings emerge from the ground, tomato growth accelerates, and the bush, ovaries, and side shoots begin to form rapidly.
3. It doesn't thrive in acidic or heavy soil, and it dislikes heat and humidity. Under these conditions, it will produce very few fruits.

Features of growing and caring for the variety

The low-maintenance Mongolian Dwarf tomato variety will especially please lazy gardeners, as it requires little care. This tomato variety requires the same amount of attention as other varieties: regular watering, weeding, weeding, and fertilizing.

Growing Mongolian Dwarf: timing of planting seedlings, ripening speed

This variety of tomato can be sown starting in February, as well as in March and early April. The first fruits can be seen as early as June. Mongolian Dwarf seeds have a good germination rate of about 40-60%.

You can check the quality of seeds in the following way: soak them in a solution of table salt and wait 5 minutes. During this time, the bad seeds will float to the top and the healthy ones will sink to the bottom. You can discard the good ones without hesitation.

Almost any soil will do for planting. You can use store-bought soil from specialty stores, turf, humus, or garden soil. However, it's recommended to heat-treat soil from your garden (at 200 degrees Celsius in a steam bath or oven) to render it harmless.

On average, a month after planting, the plant will reach 7-8 cm in height and the first five leaves will appear. When 10 or more leaves appear, the plant will begin to form side shoots. The seedlings can be pricked out after the third strong true leaf appears.

While the Mongolian Dwarf is growing, it's recommended to water it as needed, and avoid overwatering the soil, as this will negatively impact the yield and quality of the tomatoes. After watering, the soil should be loosened to prevent a hard crust from forming. Fertilizing the tomatoes increases the yield. The first fertilization should be done 2-3 weeks after planting, and subsequent fertilizations should be done during the ripening period.

Diseases of the Mongolian Dwarf

This variety boasts good disease resistance. However, don't neglect the safety of the plant and its harvest, as there is still a small risk of late blight. This fungal disease can be identified by brown spots on the plant's leaves and fruit, along with the appearance of a white coating.

Late blight develops in areas with high humidity and poor air quality. It can quickly destroy plants and fruit. To combat this disease, preventative measures are essential, including treating tomato plants with Fitosporin, Trichodemin, and other microbiological preparations.

Harvesting and storing fruits

Mongolian Dwarf tomatoes can be harvested either in the milky stage, allowing them to ripen in a warm place, or when they're already ripe and juicy. They have a long shelf life and also withstand transportation well. Due to their distinct, tart tomato flavor without much sweetness, they're great in salads, pickles, and preserves, and are suitable for cooking (stewing and making sauces). Mongolian Dwarf tomatoes are excellent for preserves, making delicious tomato juice and ketchup.

Reviews

Valentina Vasilievna, 56 years old, Kazan

Last year, I decided to plant a Mongolian Dwarf in the greenhouse. It was given a spot, so to speak, as a last resort—not a particularly good one. It grew near the north wall in the shade. However, even after all my abuse, it produced a decent harvest. I harvested fruits averaging about 150 grams. They had a slightly sour taste, but after they'd been stored, the sourness subsided. I'm very pleased with the variety's longevity!

Angelina Mikhailovna, 45 years old, Nizhny Novgorod

I really liked the "dwarf" variety. I planted it for the first time last year, and I'll definitely continue planting it this year. It's compact, easy to plant, and can be nestled between taller plants. The tomatoes were decent in appearance, weight, and flavor.

Alexey Nikolaevich, 49 years old, Ryazan

Mongolian Dwarf is a very easy-to-grow variety. My seeds germinate very well. This is probably because I use my own planting material, which I carefully collect in the fall. I never remove any side shoots, feed them with nitrogen, and get a large harvest.