SERNA

Tomato variety Serna is a medium-early determinate type intended for cultivation in open ground. The fruit ripening period ranges from 83 to 101 days for direct sowing and 96 to 109 days for seedling cultivation. The plant is semi-spreading, medium-branched, and medium-leafed, reaching a height of 30–45 cm. Leaves are medium-sized and light green; the first flower cluster forms above the 6th–7th leaf, with subsequent clusters appearing every 1–2 leaves. The peduncle has a joint, facilitating harvest. Serna’s fruits are cylindrical, elongated, with a smooth surface. Immature fruits are light green, while mature ones turn to a deep red hue. Fruit weight varies from 53 to 76 grams. Each fruit contains 2–3 locules. Flavor qualities of fresh fruits and processed products, including tomato juice, are rated as good to excellent. The variety is versatile: suitable for salad use, whole-fruit canning, and processing into tomato products. Serna features uniform fruiting, even fruit size, and good transportability, making it convenient for mechanical harvesting. Yield reaches 6–8 kg per square meter. For cultivation, transplanting at the first true leaf stage is recommended, with a planting scheme of 30x50 cm. The variety responds well to irrigation, enhancing productivity. In Russia’s middle zone, seedlings are sown at the end of March to early April, and transplanted into the ground in early May, when seedlings are 30–35 days old.