The 'Silbertir', also called 'Silvery Fir Tree', owes its extraordinary name to its silvery-green leaves. We introduce you to the silver fir tomato and its special features.
The 'Silbertir' variety is a real rarity among the bush tomatoes, because it produces surprisingly large fruits for their small plant size. We introduce the robust silver fir tomato and give tips on growing it.
Tomato 'Silbertanne': profile
| Synonyms | 'Silvery Fir Tree', 'Morkovnij', 'Carrot Like' |
| Fruit | Beefsteak tomato; deep red |
| Flavour | fruity, sweet and sour |
| Maturity | early |
| Growth | Bush tomato, up to 60 cm |
| Location | Greenhouse, sheltered field, pot |
| Special feature | determined variety |
History and Origin
The 'Silbertir' tomato variety originally comes from Siberia in Russia. It is also known under the names 'Silvery Fir Tree' or 'Morkovnij'. Also 'Carrot Like', in German "similar to a carrot", is a synonym of the 'Silbertanne', which alludes to its special leaf shape. Nothing further is known about the breeders or the year in which this tomato variety first appeared.
Flavours and characteristics of silver fir tomato
The bush tomato 'Silbertanne' reaches a height of just 60 centimeters. Particularly striking and eponymous are the delicately feathered, filigree leaves, which have a silvery shimmer and are somewhat reminiscent of carrot leaves. This early-ripening tomato variety bears the first ripe, then deep red and flattened fruits from July. With a weight of around 120 grams, they are among the beefsteak tomatoes. The taste of the 'silver fir' can be described as fruity and balanced between sweet and sour. You can get tomato seeds from this variety yourself and plant them next year, because it is seed-firm and retains its varietal characteristics in the next generation.
Silver Fir: Tips for Cultivation and Care
As a Siberian variety, the 'Silbertanne' is well adapted to cool summers and even then produces a good yield. This bush tomato, which stays small, is ideal for growing as a balcony tomato in a tub. It also finds a good place in the covered field and in the greenhouse, but it is particularly recommended for cultivation in pots. The young plants of the 'silver fir' can be placed outdoors from mid-May, in the greenhouse earlier from the beginning of May. The planter for the 'silver fir' should have a volume of at least 5 liters. When planting, it is best to fill it up with potting soil that is suitable for tomatoes, such as our Plantura organic tomato soil. The pre-fertilized substrate already contains all the essential nutrients for a good start to the growing season. Many potting soils contain environmentally harmful mined peat to store water. Our Plantura soils, on the other hand, are completely peat-free, but have a high proportion of compost, which takes over the water storage and at the same time promotes soil life. The young bush tomatoes are now placed in the potting soil, pressed lightly all around and watered vigorously.
Despite its short growth in length, the bush tomato 'Silbertanne' should be given a stick for support. So it is protected against wind and weather and does not get into an imbalance. The tomato fruit season begins in June and the heavy consumers demand more nutrients than before. Now the first fertilization is announced. With a plant-based liquid fertilizer, such as our organic Plantura tomato and vegetable fertilizer, the fertilization process is very uncomplicated. About once a week, add a dose to the irrigation water and use it to water your tomato plants. The nutrients are thus flushed directly to the roots and can be absorbed quickly. Our liquid fertilizer is therefore also suitable for the acute treatment of deficiency symptoms. By the way, there is no need to pinch the tomatoes with the weak-growing bush tomatoes, because flowers quickly form on the many short and strong side shoots. The 'silver fir' bears plenty of fruit and is extremely easy to care for.
Harvest and use the 'Silbertir' tomato variety
The juicy, deep red beefsteak tomatoes of the 'Silbertanne' variety are real all-rounders and can be used in a variety of ways. They are ideal for eating fresh, in salads or with a snack. The fruits of the silver fir tomato can also be put to good use for processing and preservingwill. Check out our special article for tips and instructions on how to preserve tomatoes.
Bush tomatoes are particularly popular on small balconies and there is now a large variety of them too. In our variety article, we present you the bushy growing tomato variety 'Little Red Riding Hood' from the former GDR.