Advantages and disadvantages of Alice's Dream tomatoes and cultivation features

Alisa's Dream is an early-ripening, high-yielding tomato variety with an indeterminate growth habit. The fruits are characterized by a firm, sweet flavor, and a bright, attractive appearance. The plants adapt well to climate change, rarely suffer from diseases, and are almost free of pests, provided proper cultivation practices are followed.

History and regions of cultivation

Polish breeder Zbigniew Pauluchko, who named it after his daughter, worked on the selection of this crop in 2015, and the variety was based on the "Precious Stone" and "Blue Gold" tomatoes.

In Russia, tomatoes are grown primarily in hot regions—Krasnodar Krai and Rostov Oblast—where the climate allows them to fully develop their qualities. In the central and northern regions, tomatoes are grown in greenhouses to protect them from adverse weather conditions.

Description of the bush and fruits

When grown outdoors, plants reach a height of up to 1.8 m, and in greenhouses they can stretch up to 2.2 m. As they grow, secure the shoots with supports, as the weight of large and heavy vegetables can cause them to droop toward the ground, which is undesirable due to the risk of soil contact.

Distinctive characteristics and features:

• The bushes have strong, thick branches that can support the considerable weight of tomatoes without damage. However, side shoots form throughout the growing season and must be removed regularly. This allows the plant to devote all its resources to the formation of fruit clusters and ovaries.
• The leaves have a standard tomato shape and a rich dark green color.
• During the flowering period, the bush is covered with bright yellow flowers, collected in simple and complex inflorescences.
• The first cluster typically forms above the 8th or 9th leaf, with subsequent clusters appearing every 2-3 leaves. A single cluster can hold 8 to 10 fruits ripening simultaneously.

Ripe tomatoes are easily distinguished from others by their unique coloring: yellow-black with dark red (brown) stripes that cover most of the surface. They are large, weighing up to 400 g, with a round or slightly flattened shape.

Main characteristics

Among salad tomato varieties, Alisy's Dream stands out for its unique coloring. This variety also boasts a number of other advantages, making it increasingly popular among Russian agronomists.

Ripening time and yield

Alisa's Dream is a mid-early variety. Good productivity is achieved thanks to consistent fruit set, even with frequent temperature fluctuations. Gardeners harvest 5 to 7 kg of large, attractive tomatoes from a single mature bush.

Store harvested tomatoes in a room with a temperature no higher than 6°C and avoid exposure to sunlight. With moderate humidity, the fruits will stay fresh for up to 10 days.

Taste and scope of use

Colorful tomatoes have a pleasant, sweet flavor, making them ideal for fresh eating. They are also used in summer salads paired with greens.

This variety is also excellent for processing. These tomatoes produce aromatic lecho, rich pastes, sauces, and rich juices.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The crop has natural immunity and high resistance to most nightshade diseases. However, to maintain plant health, preventative treatment with fungicides is recommended.

Among the pests that can cause damage to plants are whiteflies in greenhouses and the Colorado potato beetle in the early stages of growth in open ground.

Growing seedling bushes

The "Alice's Dream" tomato planting material is sown two months before transplanting. The exact timing depends on the region's climate. In southern regions, this occurs in late February to early March, in the middle zone – the second half of March, and in the northern regions – early spring.

Preparation of planting material

Before sowing, pre-treat the seeds. This process improves germination, accelerates germination, and protects future plants from disease.

Preparation stages:

• Selection. Sort the seeds, removing any dark or unevenly colored ones. Soak the seeds in a salt solution (5 g salt per 200 ml water) for 20 minutes. Any seeds that float to the surface are considered unsuitable; discard them.
• Disinfection. To disinfect seeds, use appropriate solutions. Potassium permanganate (1 g per 100 ml of water) is suitable. Soak the seedlings for 20 minutes, then rinse with clean water. Instead of potassium permanganate, you can use baking soda (5 g per glass of water). Soak the seeds in the solution for 10 hours.
  Experienced gardeners disinfect planting material with aloe juice (mix juice and water in equal proportions and soak the seeds) or Fitosporin (1 drop of solution or 2.5 g of powder per 100 ml of water and soak the seeds). The optimal soaking time is 12 hours.
• Germination. After disinfection, place the seeds in a stimulating solution. You can use a commercial solution, such as Epin, or prepare your own (5 g of honey per 100 ml of water). Soak a cloth in the solution, wrap the seeds in it, then place them on a saucer, cover with plastic wrap, and leave in a warm place for 12 hours.

A soda solution, aloe juice, and Fitosporin simultaneously disinfect and stimulate germination, making seed preparation easier.

Preparing containers and soil

Wide but shallow containers are suitable for sowing Alice's Dream tomato seeds. These can be special boxes and trays, or containers made from scrap materials.

Helpful tips:

• Use shallow boxes or trays.
• When repotting plants, use containers with a minimum capacity of 300 ml. These can be plastic or peat pots, cut-off plastic bottles, disposable cups, or other suitable containers.
• A convenient option for collectible varieties is peat pellets. This method eliminates the need for transplanting.

The soil should be light and nutritious. Prepare a fertile mixture by mixing the following ingredients:

• 1 part humus;
• 1 part river sand;
• 1 part turf.

Add 20 g of superphosphate and 200 g of wood ash to the mixture. You can purchase ready-made soil at the store. Disinfect it before use: bake it in the oven at 100°C or pour boiling water over it. Disinfect the containers: rinse them with boiling water or soak them in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes.

Sowing seeds

Fill a large container with fertile soil and make 1 cm deep grooves, spaced 3 cm apart. Then follow these recommendations:

1. Place the seeds in furrows at 2 cm intervals.
2. Gently moisten the soil with settled water from a spray bottle.
3. Cover the container with plastic wrap and place it in a warm place with a temperature of 23-27°C. The higher the temperature, the faster the seeds will germinate.

You can use peat pellets to produce high-quality seedlings. This method is considered simpler and less labor-intensive.

Caring for seedlings

To ensure your Alice's Dream tomato plants are strong and healthy, they require regular care. Follow these basic guidelines:

• Move the containers to a well-lit place and maintain a daylight period of 12-14 hours using phytolamps.
• Set the temperature to +18…+20°C during the day and +14…+16°C at night to prevent the plants from stretching.
• Water moderately, using settled water at room temperature, avoiding over-watering of the soil.
• When two true leaves appear, transplant each plant into a separate pot.
• Feed the seedlings every 10-14 days with a weak solution of complex fertilizer.

Following these rules will ensure the development of strong and healthy tomato seedlings.

Alice's Dream Farming

The plant thrives in warmth. In northern and central Russia, it is grown in greenhouses, while in southern regions, it can be planted outdoors. The timing of transplanting seedlings to their permanent location depends on the regional climate. In the central part of Russia, Alisa's Dream is planted in late May or early June.

Planting seedlings in the ground

Start preparing your tomato beds in the fall by adding organic fertilizer and ash to the soil. Follow these recommendations:

• If the soil is acidic, add chalk or dry lime. In the spring, dig over the beds and clear them of plant debris, disinfecting them to prevent disease.
• Dig holes 25 cm deep. Add 20 g of ash to each hole. Place no more than 4 holes per square meter, staggering them.

When planting, remove the seedling from its container and center it in the hole. Fill the hole with soil and moisten.

Caring for tomatoes

Proper crop care is the key to a good harvest. Key recommendations for successful cultivation:

• Water the bushes at the roots to avoid water getting on the leaves, as this increases the risk of disease.
• After each watering, be sure to loosen the soil to prevent the formation of an earth crust, which hinders air exchange.
• Use only settled water for moistening, avoid using a garden hose.
• Train Alice's Dream into one or two stems. Remove side shoots on dry days, preferably in the evening.
• Tie up the shoots, as without support, heavy clusters of fruits can break the stem.

Apply 3-4 root fertilizers per season, alternating mineral and organic fertilizers. Apply foliar fertilizers 2-3 times, using boron-containing products.

Growing nuances

When growing Alice's Dream tomatoes, it's important to consider several key factors. Following a few rules will help avoid care mistakes:

• This variety is sensitive to overwatering. Excess moisture can make tomatoes less sweet and cause them to crack. Water only after the soil has completely dried out.
• Anthocyanins, which give berries their purple color, are concentrated in the dark areas of the fruit. The more sunlight the plant receives, the brighter and larger these purple spots will be.

Diseases and pests – prevention and control

The Alice's Dream tomato variety has good immunity against most diseases, but preventative measures should not be ignored. Follow these general guidelines:

• To prevent contamination, disinfect garden tools, soil and seeds before use.
• Following proper watering and pinching methods will help minimize the risk of fungal and viral diseases.
• Spray the bushes with Fitosporin several times per season.

Harmful insects not only damage plants and fruits but also carry viruses and fungi. To protect tomatoes, treat them with a celandine infusion. Large insects (beetles, caterpillars, and slugs) should be collected by hand.

The difference between growing in a greenhouse and open ground

Many gardeners prefer to grow the Alice's Dream tomato in their gardens, as it produces sweeter and more flavorful vegetables. There are several differences between growing this variety in a greenhouse and in a garden bed:

• In open ground, the bushes reach a height of up to 1.5 m, while in a greenhouse the stem can grow up to 2 m.
• In the beds, seedlings are covered with plastic for the first two weeks and on cool days. In the greenhouse, daily ventilation is essential.

In unprotected soil, mulching the beds plays an important role; in a greenhouse, this procedure is not necessary.

Harvesting

Tomatoes of this variety begin to ripen in July. In southern regions, the first harvest can be collected as early as late June.

Pick vegetables as they ripen, but leave the stems on to improve storage. On cloudy and hot days, pick larger vegetables while they're still unripe. This way, they'll ripen at home, preserving all their flavor.

Pros and cons

The indeterminate "Alice's Dream" variety is characterized by high marketability and a long fruiting period, lasting until the first frost. This cultivar boasts numerous advantages:

Gardeners point out the plants' tall stature, which necessitates support, among their shortcomings. Furthermore, they require regular pruning of side shoots and frequent fertilizing to ensure abundant fruiting. Another drawback is that tomatoes are not suitable for whole-plant canning.

Reviews

Alisa's Dream tomatoes are a favorite among many gardeners because they resemble a juicy nectarine. They have a unique coloring that closely resembles the beloved fruit. They are juicy, large, and often perfectly round. These tomatoes make an interesting garnish for a variety of dishes and are suitable for processing, allowing for a variety of winter preserves.