Tomato “tree” in the beds - a productive hybrid Octopus

All summer residents, without exception, grow tomatoes on their country plots. There are many varieties of these plants. Moreover, one of the most unusual is the Octopus F1, or tomato tree. Caring for tomatoes of this variety is easy. However, they are still grown using a slightly different technology than ordinary tomatoes. Further in the article, we will look in detail at what the unusual Octopus F1 tomato actually is - photos, reviews from gardeners, and care features will be presented in our review.

General description of the variety

The Octopus F1 tomato is called a tree because it is grown over two seasons and reaches a very large size. The trunk of such a perennial tomato becomes woody, and the shoots form a spreading crown, the area of ​​which can reach 40-50 m2. From one such tree alone you can collect up to 1500 kg of fruit. This variety has no restrictions in growth. At the same time, it constantly produces new shoots. Therefore, when growing it in a greenhouse, a special frame is built.

The fruits of such a plant as the Octopus F1 tomato tree, reviews of which are also good for this reason, are simply distinguished by excellent taste characteristics. This variety is also praised for the fact that its fruits have an even, close to round shape and are not too large in size. One bunch can contain up to 6-7 tomatoes. The color of the fruits of this tomato is red. The brushes themselves grow every 3-4 leaves.

Another reason for the extraordinary popularity of this variety and good reviews about it is that its fruits are characterized by increased shelf life. Some summer residents manage to store Octopus F1 tomatoes until the New Year.

Characteristics of the variety

Thanks to the Japanese breeder, who at the end of the 20th century developed the hybrid Octopus F1, it became possible to grow not only bush forms, but also tomato trees

By the 21st century, the variety was patented by the agricultural company Sedek, after which it appeared in the State Register of Russia. They developed a special technology for growing crops, taking into account the climate of our area. Now it can be planted even in Siberia.

Bushes

The description of the tree is as follows:

• height - up to 5 m;
• crown diameter reaches 50 m²;
• oval-shaped leaves;
• Lifespan is up to 15 years. A distinctive feature is that new shoots appear regularly.

All tomatoes by their biological nature are perennial plants. But in temperate conditions they are grown as an annual crop. If an ordinary bush tomato variety is grown at home in a tub or pot at a constantly high positive temperature (+22-25 degrees), the tomato will grow and bear fruit for several years.

Fruit

About 6-7 fruits are formed on one brush. Their shape is round. The size is medium, weight is about 150 g. Color varies from yellow to red. The pulp is juicy, aromatic, with a sweet aftertaste.

One Sprut tomato tree can bear up to 15 centners of fruit.

The harvest is used for making sauces, tomato juice, and canning. They are stored for a very long time; at home they may not spoil for 5-7 weeks. They tolerate transportation well.

Features of care

How is this original tomato, Octopus F1, grown? Photos and reviews from summer residents and gardeners allow us to judge it as a truly very original and at the same time productive plant. However, you can, of course, get a lot of tomatoes from this variety only with proper care. In addition to the unusual appearance and size, Octopus F1 tomatoes differ from other varieties in their cultivation technology. They are planted exclusively in large greenhouses, which must be heated. After all, as already mentioned, one bush can be grown for two seasons. In the warm season, the optimal temperature for these tomatoes is considered to be 24-26 degrees, in winter - at least 19 degrees.

Many gardeners grow these tomatoes simply in open ground or an unheated greenhouse - for one season. In this case, the tree, of course, does not grow. But even when planted outside, tomatoes of this variety reach quite impressive sizes (even larger than De Barao).

When growing Sprut F1 tomatoes in soil, the same fertilizers are used as for conventional varieties. These can be either organic or mineral compounds. But more often these tomatoes are grown using a special technology - hydroponics. This allows you to completely control the process of nutrient consumption by the plant and promotes the delivery of the maximum amount of oxygen to the roots.

Choosing a place

Tomato trees can grow outdoors in beds, but it is better to grow them in barrels or boxes.

1. You will need a barrel with a volume of at least two hundred liters . You can take a wooden box or a thick plastic bag.
2. To remove excess water, knock out the bottom of the barrel. Using a 20 by 20 cm pattern, we make centimeter holes in the walls. They will provide oxygen access to the root system.
3. Install on the sunny side.
4. Pour in 10 cm layers a mixture of equal parts of soil, turf and biofertilizer .
5. We make a mound by filling a bucket of fertile soil. We plant the strongest bush of seedlings, with the lower leaves and stepsons torn off in advance so that the wounds heal.
6. We fill it with another ten-centimeter layer of soil mixture. Cover with film until freezing stops.
7. As the shoot grows 10 cm, sprinkle it with soil up to the lower leaves. We repeat the procedure until the planting container is completely filled.

Before you start filling the barrel with soil, place a rubber hose with several slots in it. Close the end of the hose at the bottom tightly. Connect the pump from the outside.

Blow air twice a week to improve ventilation.

Growing hydroponically

So, we have given a detailed description of such a plant as the Octopus F1 tomato. Reviews about it are simply excellent, especially when using hydroponic growing technology. In this case, professional farmers, and sometimes just summer residents, use special plugs made of a material that absorbs water well. The seeds are planted in them. A week later, each such plug is placed on its side and several pieces are combined on a tray. As a result, the tomato stems bend and become stronger. The cubes themselves are thoroughly soaked in water.

The seedlings are transferred to special containers filled with perlite and connected to drainage pipes. When watering, the rock collects a nutrient solution, the remains of which flow into special tanks. Sprut F1 tomatoes are planted even if they do not want to get trees, at a considerable distance from each other (1-1.5 m).

Sometimes, instead of containers with perlite, special slabs (for example, “Argo”) are used for plants. Nutrient solutions for irrigation are prepared according to special recipe tables. In this case, a variety of fertilizers and microelements are used. When growing a tree, these tomatoes are not allowed to bear fruit for the first 7-8 months. At this time, the plants’ root system and crown itself are actively forming.

Growing in open ground

The soil for growing in open ground should have a pH of 5.5-6.8, be loose and enriched with organic matter, and contain clay or sand. The landing site should be well lit and protected from winds. The distance of groundwater from the roots should be at least 2.5 m.

Before you sow the seeds, they need to be germinated. To do this, take a damp paper napkin and place seeds inside. Place on a plate and wrap in cellophane. Store the seeds in a warm place and water as the napkin dries.

In 4-5 days they will germinate and be ready for planting in the ground. It must also undergo a little preparation: turf soil, river sand or clay and peat are added to the soil in a 1:1 ratio. Next, fill it with a solution of urea, potassium sulfate, superphosphate and water.

Special containers for seedlings

Growing technology

For open ground, there is a special seed planting scheme, a description of which will help the gardener.

1. For planting, use small containers with through holes at the bottom. Treated soil at room temperature is placed in them.
2. Water the soil with water that has stood at room temperature to speed up the appearance of sprouts.
3. The seeds are poured into the soil in an even layer and the soil is compacted.
4. Place the boxes in polyethylene to keep moisture inside for as long as possible.
5. Send to a warm place until June, periodically checking the soil for moisture. As the plant grows, it needs to be transplanted into larger containers.
6. In June, all stepsons, buds and damaged branches are removed.
7. Dig small holes and lower the sprouts without plunging the leaves underground.
8. The top of the main trunk is pinched to prevent it from growing.
9. The distance between seedlings should be at least 1.5 m.

Recommendations for growing tomatoes Octopus F1

The seedlings of these tomatoes should be illuminated in the evening. If you plan to grow tomatoes using conventional technology, in the ground, the seeds are planted not in boxes, but in larger containers. Many gardeners sow them in plastic bags filled with soil mixture (several pieces). When transferring seedlings into the ground, the main root of tomatoes of this variety must be cut off. This promotes rapid development of the root system. Trellis are also a must when growing these plants. After all, large size is what distinguishes the Octopus F1 tomato. Reviews (photos presented on the page clearly show the size of the bushes) about these tomatoes are good mainly from those gardeners who did not violate any recommendations or technologies in the process of growing them.

For example, Octopus tomatoes should never be pinched. An attempt to artificially form the crown of tomatoes of this variety can lead to a significant reduction in yield. The gardener only needs to ensure that no yellowed leaves remain on the bushes or trees. When growing in soil, fertilizing is applied at the root.

How to grow Octopus in a greenhouse?

When purchasing seeds of any hybrid, it is necessary to take into account the ripening time, since they are taken into account when sowing seedlings. For late-ripening regular Octopus F1, sowing time is mid or late February; for early-ripening hybrids, the best time is mid or late March.

Tomato seedlings: what is important to know

Typically, hybrid seeds do not require preliminary preparation, and this greatly simplifies the process. Seeds are sown in prepared boxes with soil, covered with film and put in a dark place.

In warm weather, seedlings appear quickly, and as soon as the “loops” of tomatoes are visible, the film is removed and the seedlings are exposed to light. Water the plants moderately, at the roots, carefully moistening the soil. To prevent blackleg, it is recommended to water the tomatoes with a pink solution of potassium permanganate a couple of times. In March, the seedlings are illuminated using fluorescent lamps.

As soon as 2-3 true leaves appear, the seedlings are transplanted (picked) into separate pots. It is desirable that the volume of the containers be at least 0.8-1 liters.

Tomatoes are fed after picking using ready-made compounds (Kemira, Agricola) or complex fertilizers.

ON A NOTE! Hybrids of the series are demanding on soil fertility, so fertilizing is carried out regularly, observing nutritional standards.

Planting tomatoes

Judging by the reviews, higher yields are obtained from tomatoes cultivated in a greenhouse. The hybrid is planted in a permanent place in May, taking into account the weather conditions of the area. To warm up before planting, about 10 days in advance, the soil on the ridges is covered with a dark film.

Needs to be grown per 1 sq. 2-3 meter of Octopus bush, since subsequently the plants grow greatly. It is advisable to add a handful of humus or compost and 20 grams of superphosphate to the holes. Immediately install supports and trellises to tie up the fast-growing stem and shoots.

Types of tomatoes Octopus F1

Tomato Octopus F1 (photos, reviews from gardeners allow us to judge it as one of the most productive and unpretentious varieties), thus, can be grown as a “tree” for two seasons. In addition to its main variety (F1 itself), there are also F1 Slivka tomatoes. This variety is also positioned by breeders as a tomato tree.

The tomato Sprut Slivka F1, which also has good reviews, differs from the main variety of tomatoes primarily in the shape of the fruit. The tomatoes of this variety are not round, but oval, but also have a red color. At the same time, they have dense and quite juicy and tender flesh. This variety is named cream precisely for the slightly oblong shape of the fruit. They, like the tomatoes of the main variety, are not too large in size and are collected in clusters of 6-7 pieces.

The excellent taste of the fruit is also what earned this Octopus F1 tomato good reviews. In open ground or an unheated greenhouse, these tomatoes can reach a height of more than 1.5 meters (up to 2.2 m). The fruits of tomatoes Sprut F1 Cream ripen on the 101-110th day after planting. Just like the fruits of the main variety, Slivka can be stored for a very long time. Even under normal conditions, ripe tomatoes do not rot for almost 1.5 months.

Tomato care

Be sure to tie up the bushes

Proper care affects yield, fruit quality and disease resistance. The following rules will help you grow Octopus tomatoes:

• The culture does not need pinching, so it cannot be carried out;
• feed with organic and inorganic mineral fertilizers 3 times a week;
• a tree can grow significantly over a season: to prevent this, its top is cut off;
• water the tree regularly and in the right amount;
• dried leaves must be removed to avoid the development of diseases;
• high branches are tied up, you can make a support from a stick.

To protect the roots from the development of diseases, they are treated with an iodine solution. It is prepared from 10 liters of water and 1 bottle of iodine. Water the plant with the solution once. During the first days after planting, seedlings need abundant watering. The soil moisture level should be at least 60%; irrigate only with water at room temperature.

To fertilize the soil, use the following composition: compost and soil in equal quantities fill the container 1/3 full. Fill with water and leave for a day. Feed from July until fruit harvest 2-3 times a week.

It is better to resort to hydroponics - a special technology thanks to which the plant grows not directly in the soil, but in an artificial environment enriched with micronutrients. This significantly increases the yield and sustainability of the tree.

Advantages of Octopus F1 tomatoes

In addition to tasty fruits and intensive development, the advantages of this variety include:

• Good branching.
• Fruiting from July to September.
• Uniform distribution of fruits according to taste. Tomatoes collected at the top of the bush are no different from tomatoes picked at the bottom.
• Adaptability to high humidity, cold and heat.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The universal purpose of the hybrid variety and high yield potential are qualities. Which attract not only ordinary gardeners, but large farms. Tomatoes have several advantages:

• Neat appearance and excellent taste of the fruit.
• High yield and extended fruiting.
• The variety has strong immunity, the plants are resistant to drought, high temperature, and diseases.
• Tomatoes do not wrinkle during transportation and are stored fresh for a long time.

Flaws:

• Bush formation is required.
• Plants need increased feeding.

Tomatoes Octopus F1: reviews from gardeners

As already mentioned, gardeners have a wonderful opinion about these tomatoes. Of course, only rare exotic lovers grow tomato trees on their plots. Basically, gardeners plant tomatoes of this variety in ordinary unheated greenhouses or in open ground. At the same time, many gardeners believe that in this case, you can get an excellent harvest from the bushes. One plant usually ripens up to 10 kg of fruit per season. This variety is popular among owners of summer cottages in almost all regions of our country.

In addition to productivity and relative ease of care, the good tomato variety Sprut F1 has earned reviews from gardeners for its resistance to disease. For example, these tomatoes are practically not afraid of aphids and cicadas. In addition, the variety is resistant to such common tomato diseases as tobacco mosaic and verticillium wilt.

Harvesting

The fruits ripen after 3 months. The first ones appear after 2 years of life and bear fruit annually. They are picked when they just start to turn red. You can miss the moment of full ripening and lose most of the tomatoes if you delay picking.

Fruits appear on the Sprut tomato variety 60-90 days after planting the seedlings, as with most conventional varieties, but fruiting in a heated greenhouse continues for several years.

Greenish fruits can ripen at home on a windowsill, depending on ripeness - this will take from 1 to 2 weeks. It is advisable to store Octopus in a warm place; in the cold they deteriorate faster.

What pests can affect

Sprut F1 tomatoes are practically insensitive to diseases. However, sometimes bacteria, fungi or common insect pests can still attack these plants. Like most other tomatoes, this variety is afraid of infections such as root, white and gray rot, mosaic, late blight, fomoz, etc. Therefore, when growing the Sprut F1 tomato, a number of preventive measures should be taken to prevent infection. In addition to fungi and bacteria, insects such as spider mites, cutworms or whiteflies can cause damage to them.

Problems during cultivation

With the onset of autumn, tomatoes are in danger of rotting. This scourge comes with wet weather, damaging the fruit and plant from the inside. It appears as brown spots and progresses very quickly. In open ground conditions it is less common than in a greenhouse.

The crop absorbs water unevenly. The best prevention is timely and moderate watering, after which the soil is loosened. Mulch can prevent the development of rot: in the greenhouse you need to ensure that the temperature does not rise above normal. Excess fertilizer can also be a problem. In the fight against blossom end rot, a solution of calcium nitrate is used.

Pests

When growing Octopus tomatoes, gardeners often encounter the appearance of a caterpillar. It devours not only the leaves, but also the fruits of the tree from the inside. As a fight, you can turn to folk remedies.

1. Wormwood decoction. Pour 0.5 kg of wormwood into 1 bucket of water and boil for half an hour. Leave for 2 days, strain and dilute with water 1:10 and add 1/3 of the soap. Spray twice a month.
2. Tobacco infusion. Boil 1 bucket of water and add 0.3 kg of fine tobacco. Leave for 24 hours and add soap. Spray until the pest disappears.

If you want to really exterminate pests, use real products - insecticides. Many gardeners are afraid to use them, resorting to “folk remedies” that no longer “work”. The main thing is to use chemical insecticides in the most vulnerable phase of life for these insects, then you won’t have to spray a lot and often. The caterpillars of the cotton bollworm (it is the one that “makes holes” in the tomatoes) have the most vulnerable phase – the caterpillars that have just hatched from the eggs. Clutches of these eggs can be found on the surface of the fruit. When a brown dot appears in these white eggs, this means that in 1-1.5 days a caterpillar will emerge from the eggs. It is at this time that the plants need to be treated. Otherwise, the emerging caterpillars gnaw through the fruit and penetrate into it, making further processing pointless.

Aphids may appear; sprinkling the foliage with cold water or a solution of 0.3 cayenne pepper, 1/3 laundry soap and 10 liters of water helps.

Diseases

Those who have already planted this variety say that it has quite strong immunity to various kinds of diseases, but in some cases it can be affected by late blight. Its symptoms are similar to rot, but it is more difficult to get rid of because... it's a fungus. It spreads quickly and affects the fruits and trunk of the tree, gradually reaching the root.

Turn to traditional methods: a decoction of wormwood is considered effective. If the disease progresses, you should resort to the following drugs: Alyette or Quadris. Aliette is sprayed up to 5 times a year, and the crop is harvested no earlier than 5 weeks after treatment. To do this, use a 0.5% solution at a rate of 3 kg/ha.

Tomatoes Octopus F1 - an excellent choice for a summer cottage

Well, we hope now you more or less understand what the Octopus F1 tomato is. Photos, reviews discussed in the article - all this serves as unconditional proof of its unusualness and high yield. Sprut F1 tomatoes have earned their popularity among summer cottage owners for good reason. The variety is not only productive, but also very powerful and hardy. At the same time, it has unusually tasty and shelf-stable fruits. However, in any case, it is, of course, possible to grow a tomato tree or even just a few dozen healthy bushes on your plot only by strictly following all the required plant care technologies.

Agrotechnics of cultivation and care

Growing the Octopus tomato requires strict adherence to the rules of agricultural technology. If they are violated, it is impossible to obtain a high yield, and the plant will not make the proper impression, and will not live up to its name - a tomato tree. In industrial cultivation, the crop grows hydroponically. But this method is not applicable for home cultivation in your garden or apartment due to its complexity, so it is not of interest to amateurs. Hydroponic growing technology is used in industrial crop cultivation.

In the greenhouse

In a greenhouse, if it is not heated, the fruiting period will be longer than in open ground, but still the plant will not be able to fully develop and produce 14,000 fruits. Such greenhouse cultivation of a hybrid is seasonal, but even though the bush does not reach its peak, it is justified due to the high yield of the crop.

In order for the plant to have high-quality support, strong, tall stakes are driven in near each bush, to which the shoots are tied as they develop. If the greenhouse is not high, then you can tie it directly to the roof crossbars, from which a crown will begin to form, albeit a small one.

The Sprut tomato tree is planted in a permanent place only when the threat that the temperature in the greenhouse will drop below +15o C has completely passed. In a normal spring in the Middle Zone, such conditions are observed in mid-May.

Before planting the seedlings, the soil is dug up to a depth of 1 spade and then the holes are prepared. Planting is carried out according to a 70x70 cm pattern. Pour 2 handfuls of wood ash into each hole and pour in 1 glass of a solution of rotted chicken droppings. After this, the seedlings are carefully removed from the pots and planted, being careful not to damage the earthen ball on the roots.

After filling the hole and compacting the soil around the tomato stem, the plant needs to be watered well. The water should not be cold; it is better if it has stood in a barrel and warmed up in the sun. Next, the soil must be mulched to prevent it from drying out too quickly and forming a hard crust that will interfere with the normal respiration of the crop.

Watering is carried out as necessary, but at least once every 3 days. During hot periods, it is necessary to water the plants early in the morning or late in the evening. This will prevent the soil from becoming too dry, and the tomato will not get burned. The abundance of water for the plant is very important.

Bushes grow efficiently only if they are provided with proper care.

In the open ground

It is not necessary to grow a tomato tree in a greenhouse; you can cultivate the plant by planting tomatoes in open ground. In this case, seeds for seedlings are planted quite early, from about mid-February, if it is planned to plant seedlings in the garden bed rather than adult plants; or from the beginning of December, if it is possible to keep large plants in the house, and plant larger bushes in open ground. For high-quality plant growth, it is necessary to provide tomatoes with additional lighting. It is more convenient to use phytolamps for this. They will stimulate the growth of bushes and prevent them from stretching.

Plant seedlings after the threat of frost has passed. In order for adventitious roots to develop more actively, the main root is pinched a little. The optimal crop planting scheme is 40x60x140. At the same time, the bush will develop as fully as possible. You should only choose areas with good lighting for planting, since the plant is very demanding of the sun.

Step-sonning should not be carried out. This applies to any type of tomato tree cultivation. The more shoots it produces, the more abundant the fruiting will be. During seasonal cultivation, this is especially important, as it allows you to get quite a lot of fruits even in a short time.

When grown in open ground under conditions in the middle zone, which are not comfortable for the hybrid and significantly weaken it, there is a risk of the tomato being affected by diseases and pests, despite its resistance to them. Because of this, it is recommended to carry out timely treatments of bushes for preventive purposes. You should only choose products that are intended for vegetable crops.

It is important not to leave the wilting leaves that appear at the bottom of the bush on the plant. They only contribute to its weakening and the appearance of pests.

At home

A number of amateurs know how to grow tomato trees in apartment conditions. This situation has its own peculiarities of growing crops. A very nutritious, loose soil is required, which can be purchased at gardening stores. The first time, picking is carried out in the phase of 3 true leaves, and after that - once every 3 months as the plant outgrows the pot.

The seeds of the Octopus tomato tree germinate for a long time - up to 20 days, and at the entire initial stage of development the crop is not characterized by rapid growth. When grown at home, the root system of bushes is superficial, and therefore it is necessary to select wide and not very deep containers for them.

When grown indoors, fruiting begins quite late - only a year after germination. It is not possible to get a bountiful harvest, but regularly picking fresh fruits for salad is quite possible. Due to the limited area of ​​land, the application of nutrients must be especially active.

We recommend reading

The benefits and harms of tomatoes for the human body

How can you feed tomatoes after planting in the ground?

Symptoms and measures to combat major tomato diseases

How to properly plant tomatoes in a greenhouse and open ground

Fertilizer application

Fertilizers are applied at the root. For this purpose, complex mineral and organic compounds are used. You can also use a solution of bird droppings. Feeding is carried out at least once a month. It is good if, before planting seedlings, the holes under them are filled with very nutritious soil. Tomato Octopus f1, when grown in open ground, needs feeding no less than in a greenhouse.