Tasty and not at all capricious - Alsou tomato: advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Among the tomatoes resistant to adverse weather, bred specifically for the northern regions, the Alsou tomato stands out. One of the best varieties of Siberian selection was developed in Novosibirsk and has been on the register since 2008. Today Alsou produces agro. It is grown not only in cold, unpredictable climates, but also in the European part of Russia. It is permissible to plant plants in open beds, under temporary film cover or in greenhouse conditions.

Description and characteristics of the variety

• This is a hybrid variety.
• It belongs to the early ripening varieties, since ripe fruits can be harvested 90-100 days after emergence.
• Determinate, the bushes limit their growth independently when the last cluster is formed. In open ground, the height does not exceed 80 cm. In a greenhouse, bushes can stretch up to 1-1.5 meters.
• Not standard.
• Recommended for cultivation in greenhouses, greenhouses, under film, as well as in open ground.
• Alsou variety bushes have a weak trunk, especially when grown in greenhouse conditions, and therefore require obligatory tying to a support.
• To get a larger yield, it is better to form 2-3 stems.
• Medium sized green leaves.
• The inflorescences have simple articulations on the stalks. Ovaries appear every 2 leaves.
• It bears abundant fruit.
• It has high immunity to diseases that most often affect this crop.
• Productivity is high. From 1 sq. per meter of planting yields 7-9 kg of ripe tomatoes.

Planting in the ground and caring for tomatoes

A month after sowing the seeds, the young seedlings are sent outside. Tomatoes are planted in a greenhouse at the end of spring, and in open areas at the beginning of summer. If the weather has not stabilized during this period, the “moving” of the seedlings is postponed for a week. For the beds, select a sunny, ventilated area. The soil is pre-moistened and saturated with humus.

You cannot plant tomatoes in a place where nightshades were cultivated last year.

The seedlings are fragile and break easily, so they require special care when transplanting. It is optimal to distribute 3-4 plants per square meter. With this arrangement, the bushes will receive enough nutrients and moisture, and the fruits will grow large and sweet.

Caring for adult plants is not difficult, but without it a high yield cannot be achieved. It is important to adhere to the following measures:

1. The bush needs shaping. To get good productivity, tomatoes on the street have two stems, and in a heifer - three.
2. The stems of the plant are frail, therefore, despite their short stature, they need to be attached to a support.
3. If tomatoes are cultivated in a greenhouse, the structure is ventilated.
4. It is necessary to periodically remove side shoots at the bottom of the bush.
5. The Alsou tomato takes mineral fertilizers well. During the period of growth and fruiting it needs nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium supplements. Complex fertilizers are mainly used. The introduction of organic matter is limited to one feeding. Its excess leads to the growth of the green part of the plant, which worsens air circulation.
6. Watering is carried out once every five days, and it is important not to wet the green part of the bush. After moistening, the soil is loosened.

Fruit characteristics

• Heart-shaped.
• The skin is smooth, slightly ribbed at the stalk.
• At the ripening stage, the fruits are colored green, with a dark green spot on the stalk. Ripe tomatoes turn red-pink.
• The pulp is dense, fleshy, juicy.
• The fruits are large, the average fruit weight is 500g, but tomatoes of this variety can grow up to 800g. The largest ones form at the bottom of the bush; the higher you go, the smaller the tomatoes become.
• There are 6 seed chambers inside with a small amount of seeds.
• They tolerate long-distance transportation well.
• They have good keeping quality.
• The taste is sweetish, without sourness.
• Resistant to cracking.
• The dry matter concentration is average.
• Alsou tomatoes have a lot of minerals and vitamins, especially A and C. They also contain large quantities of the strongest antioxidants: lycopene, vitamin E.

Tomato Alsou: reviews, who planted

• I planted the tomato variety Alsou for only one year. The bushes grew to medium size and fit perfectly into my greenhouse. As for care, I just did watering and removed the stepsons up to the first brush. With all this, a lot of tomatoes have grown. And their appearance corresponded to the picture from the packaging. The first ripened tomatoes weighed approximately 600 grams, and the last ones were already smaller. And their pulp is simply amazing, tasty and juicy. I will definitely plant again. Natalya, 39 years old
• I read the description and reviews about Alsou tomatoes and decided to try growing them in my garden. I planted it in a greenhouse, the plants grew up to 1.5 meters. The bushes themselves grew weak and with a thin trunk. True, I planted the variety in one trunk, although I read on the Internet that it was necessary to have 2-3, so, apparently, few brushes were formed. My tomatoes eventually grew to an average of 400 grams. I really liked the taste of Alsou tomatoes; besides, they are very juicy and sweet. Only because of the excellent taste will I plant again. Olga, 45 years old

Tomato Alsou: video about the variety

Photo

Below are photos of Alsou variety tomatoes , which show unripe tomatoes on the bush and harvested ripe tomatoes.

Harvesting

It is recommended to collect fruits in June. They ripen gradually - until August. Unripe tomatoes can be placed in a box and left to ripen indoors.

Note! To speed up the ripening of tomatoes, you can use apples. Fruits release ethylene, which speeds up the process.

Tomatoes of this variety are great for salads and snacks. Tomatoes can be baked or canned. They make delicious juice, paste, and ketchup.

The variety is characterized by delicious sweet fruits

This hybrid tomato variety has many advantages. It is characterized by high yield and excellent taste of the fruit. To achieve success in growing a crop, you need to provide it with proper care.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any variety of tomatoes, the Alsou tomato has its own advantages, among which the main ones can be identified:

• high productivity;
• excellent taste;
• good presentation;
• large fruit;
• disease resistance;
• long fruiting.

Alsou tomatoes also have several disadvantages:

• not suitable for canning in its entirety;
• seedlings and young seedlings are weak and therefore require careful care.

Advantages and disadvantages, features, differences from other varieties

Now, a decade after the appearance of the variety, the Alsou tomato can no longer be considered unambiguously the best among similar large-fruited salad varieties, but it has a lot of positive qualities and very few negative ones. The advantages of the variety are:

• high resistance to adverse climatic conditions;
• increased disease resistance;
• large fruit;
• early ripeness;
• attractive presentation of tomatoes;
• no cracking of fruits;
• good transportability of the crop.

The disadvantages of the Alsou tomato are:

• weakness of both seedlings and shoots in adult plants;
• the need to form and tie up a bush.

In addition, it must be remembered that against the backdrop of positive reviews about the taste of fresh tomatoes, even according to the official characteristics it is considered only good. There are now many similar varieties that have excellent taste and are intended for fresh consumption. This list also includes many developments of the same Novosibirsk team (for example, Pudovik, Babushkin Secret or Heavyweight of Siberia), varieties and hybrids of other breeders intended for the Siberian climate (Raspberry miracle, Altai honey, Velmozha, etc.).

Tomato Grandma's secret of the same authors is considered more delicious than Alsou

Among these and many other varieties, Alsou does not stand out for its exquisite taste; the weight of fruits and yield are at the level of many representatives of the list of large-fruited Siberian varieties. At the same time, the variety should be considered one of the most resistant to the vagaries of the weather, and if not for the frail stems that require qualified garter, the variety could be considered one of the most unpretentious in care.

Features of cultivation

Alsou tomato seeds for seedlings are sown 55-60 days before planting in the main place. Many gardeners advise buying tomato seeds Alsou Sib Sad .

Advice! Seedlings need to be given more attention, as they are weak at the beginning of development.

Planting seeds is carried out according to the following algorithm:

• Disinfected soil is poured into the container. It should be loose and light.
• The seeds are laid on the surface of the ground at intervals of 1-2 cm from each other.
• Moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
• The crops are sprinkled with a 1 cm layer of soil.
• Moisten the soil again.
• The containers are covered with film and left in a bright and warm place for germination.
• As soon as the seedlings hatch, the film is removed. Seedlings are kept in a room with an air temperature of 16-17 degrees for 1-2 weeks.

When 1-2 true leaves are formed on the seedlings, pick them into separate 0.5 liter cups.

10-14 days before transferring the seedlings to a permanent place, it is necessary to carry out the hardening procedure. To do this, the seedlings are placed outside. First for a few minutes, gradually increasing the interval up to the whole day.

55-65 days after sowing the seeds, the seedlings are planted in the beds. You should not keep it longer, as this may negatively affect the strength of the entire plant in the future. Transplantation is carried out together with a lump of earth very carefully due to the weakness of the seedlings. This will preserve the integrity of the root system and the plant will quickly adapt to new growing conditions.

The holes are dug to such a depth that a clod of earth with seedlings can completely fit in them, but no more.

Planting is carried out according to the scheme - 50x40 cm. Per 1 sq. 3-4 bushes are planted per meter.

More information about growing tomatoes is described in the article: Technology of growing tomatoes. Secrets of planting and care

You might be interested in: How to properly plant tomatoes in a greenhouse: bush formation diagram, care features, photos and videos

Useful information: How to properly tie tomatoes in open ground: the best methods, step-by-step photo and video instructions

Recommendations for cultivation

The Alsou tomato variety is grown in seedlings. In order to get strong and healthy seedlings, you need to properly prepare the seeds. Their preparation includes several stages:

• Selection of small and damaged seeds. After this sorting, it is recommended to immerse all the seeds in water and select those that float to the surface. These seeds are empty and unsuitable for planting.
• Treatment with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It is very important to achieve a weak solution. Strong concentration can spoil the seeds. Keep them in the solution for no more than 20 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
• Soak seeds for up to 12 hours.

Advice! If you add mineral fertilizer or a growth stimulant to the soaking water, seedlings will appear much faster.

This seed preparation is optional. But its implementation can increase the germination of seeds and strengthen their immunity.

Alsou tomatoes are not as demanding on soil as other varieties. They can grow well even in universal soil. But in order for young seedlings not to experience stress after transplantation, experienced gardeners recommend planting seeds in garden soil. Soil from any garden bed will do, except for potatoes and tomatoes.

The Alsou variety should be planted for seedlings no earlier than the beginning of March. You can plant seeds in separate containers, or in one large one. The main requirement for planting is the sowing depth. It should be 1.5 cm. If the planting is deeper, the seedlings will be weak. When planted superficially, the seeds may dry out. Providing an optimal temperature of 20 - 26 degrees will allow seedlings to appear already on the 5th day. After their appearance, the temperature can be lowered to 14 - 16 degrees during the day and to 12 - 14 degrees at night.

Advice! Young seedlings of the Alsou variety can be hardened off.

To do this, place containers with seedlings near an open window at night. In order for the plants to get stronger, but not freeze, they need to be covered with a film to prevent drafts. If this is not done, the seedlings may stretch out. Hardening should be carried out for 1.5 - 2 weeks, after which the temperature should be increased by several degrees.

If the seeds were planted in one container, then when the first two leaves appear, they must be planted. It is very important to water young plants before transplanting - this will preserve their root system. Under no circumstances should seedlings be pulled. They need to be carefully dug up with a thin stick. All damaged, weak and diseased plants must be discarded without pity.

This video will help you avoid mistakes when growing tomato seedlings:

Ready Alsu tomato seedlings are planted in a permanent place 55 - 60 days from the moment the first shoots appear. It is worth considering that regardless of whether it is planted in open or closed ground, there should be 50 cm of free space between neighboring plants of this variety. The optimal distance between the rows will be about 40 cm. One square meter of land can accommodate from 5 to 9 Alsou tomato bushes.

Caring for the Alsou tomato variety is no different from caring for any other tomato variety and includes:

• Timely watering. Despite the fact that the Alsou tomato variety has good resistance to drought, you should not allow the soil to dry out too much. If tomatoes grow in a greenhouse, then they should be watered no more than once a week. When grown in open ground, watering is carried out 1 - 2 times a week. It is very important not to get on the tomato tops when watering.
• Mandatory garter and stepson. In addition, bushes of this variety must be formed into two or three stems.
• Weeding and loosening.
• Regular feeding. Alsou tomatoes are undemanding when it comes to fertilizing. They will respond equally well to both mineral and organic fertilizers.

You can learn how to properly form a tomato stem from the video:

The Alsou tomato variety is one of the best varieties bred recently. It is quite undemanding to care and has increased productivity.

Bush care

Agricultural technology for growing the Alsou tomato involves the following activities::

• Attachment to a trellis, post or greenhouse frame. Performed immediately after transplantation;
• Regularly breaking off stepsons “on a stump” to form bushes with 2-3 stems;
• Shallow watering every 3-5 days depending on the weather;
• Loosening the soil between waterings to prevent the formation of a hard earthen crust;
• Mulching with straw or sawdust to retain moisture in the soil;
• Feeding with NPK complexes once every two weeks.

Rules of care

The agricultural technology for cultivating the Alsou variety is traditional for determinate tomatoes.

Support and garter

Unstable stems of the Alsou tomato with heavy fruits must be tied up. It is better if a separate strong support is installed for each plant, then the plant is tied with soft cloth or twine below each fruit cluster. If plants are tied to a trellis or crossbar, each stem must be periodically wrapped around twine so that it does not sag under the weight of the fruit.

See also Tomato variety Irina f1: yield and reviews

Formation

An excessive amount of vegetative mass leads to thickening of the bush, poor ventilation and lack of nutrition for fruit set, so the growth of the Alsou tomato bush needs to be controlled. In open ground, you can leave no more than 3 shoots; for greenhouses, the formation of 2 stems is more suitable. Shoots for growing additional stems are left above the first flower cluster.

Stepsoning

Stepchildren grow in the axil of each leaf and require a lot of nutrition, so you need to remove the excess ones as quickly as possible. The plants are inspected at least once a week and the lateral shoots are cut out or broken off, leaving a small stump to prevent the shoot from regrowing. Stepchildren are removed from the main and additional stems.

Attention! In order not to injure the stem, the stepsons are not allowed to outgrow more than 5 cm.

Watering mode

Alsou tomatoes need moderate moisture. In open ground, the sequence of watering depends on the amount of natural precipitation. In the greenhouse, depending on weather conditions, watering is carried out as the soil dries 1-2 times a week. Water the plants in the morning with warm water, wetting the soil around the trunk to the depth of the roots, preventing them from being washed out. Do not water the bushes on the day of planting.

Attention! After watering, it is recommended to ventilate the greenhouse.

Prevention of diseases and pests

The Alsou tomato resists well the main tomato diseases, but in order to maintain immunity, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatments with copper-containing preparations after 10-14 days. Insecticides are used to kill whiteflies, spider mites and other insects.

Loosening and weeding

To improve the breathing of the root system, periodically loosen the soil and simultaneously destroy weeds. This agrotechnical technique is best carried out after rain or watering. Top dressing

Expert opinion

Stanislav Pavlovich

Gardener with 17 years of experience and our expert

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10-14 days after planting, the Alsou tomato is fed with liquid organic fertilizer or mineral nitrogen. The next fertilizing is carried out two weeks later with complex phosphorus-potassium fertilizer to stimulate fruit set and ripening.

How to plant Alsou tomatoes for seedlings

The Alsou tomato variety is grown in seedlings.

First, you should properly prepare the seed material (but not purchased seeds). Seeds collected from a personal garden plot should be checked for germination before sowing. To do this, they are placed in a salty aqueous solution. Only those seeds that have sunk to the bottom of the container will be suitable for planting, and those floating on the surface should be thrown away - they are empty inside and therefore unsuitable for planting.

Then the seed material is placed in a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection for 1/3 hour. Then the seeds are washed and wrapped in a damp cloth for 12 hours for germination.

Photo of planting tomato seeds for seedlings

Carrying out such procedures improves the germination of seed and strengthens the immunity of future plants.

Soil for planting Alsu tomato seeds can be purchased at a specialized store, and you can also purchase universal soil. But you can prepare it yourself. It is best to take soil from your own garden, but not from beds where nightshade crops grew.

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Such soil should be disinfected before planting - either calcined in the oven at 180 degrees for half an hour, or spilled with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Alsou tomato seeds should be sowed for seedlings depending on the climatic conditions of the growing region. Tomato seedlings are planted in open ground at the age of 2 months, based on this, the optimal time for planting seed material at home is the first or second decade of March.

Photo of growing tomato Alsou

For planting, you can take containers of any size. The depth of planting seed material is no deeper than 1-1.5 cm.

Important!

In the first week, the room temperature should be at least 25 degrees Celsius. After the emergence of seedlings, the temperature regime is changed: during the day the temperature is lowered to 15 degrees, and at night - to 12-13 degrees Celsius.

If the seedlings are too thick, then at the stage of 2-3 true leaves the picking procedure should be carried out. To do this, the plants are transplanted into separate cups and placed in partial shade for 1-1.5 weeks so that the plants acclimatize better and faster.

Tomato Alsou from the Siberian Garden in a greenhouse - video