Orange giant tomato. Description of the variety, photos, reviews

Characteristics of the variety

The orange giant is classified as indeterminate, that is, tall. When grown in a greenhouse, the plant can reach up to 2 m, in open ground - up to 1.5 m. It has erect, but not strong shoots that need garter and support. The leaves of the plant have a standard shape and are painted in dark green tones. Flower clusters are formed every 3 leaves, starting from the 7th-9th.

The variety belongs to the average ripening period. And the first tomatoes ripen 110-115 days after emergence (approximately at the beginning - mid-July). At the same time, the fruiting of the crop is extended. You can collect fruits from the bushes for 1-2 months. The yield of the variety is above average. With proper agricultural technology, up to 5 kg of fruit can be collected from each plant bush.

Tomatoes of the Orange Giant variety are large in size. On average, they reach a weight of 300-350 g, but there are also specimens weighing up to 650 g. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly flattened, slightly ribbed. Tomatoes are initially green, but as they ripen they turn orange. The pulp of the fruit is juicy, dense, fleshy. It includes up to 4 seed chambers and has a pleasant, sugary taste and rich aroma.

The Orange Giant tomato (the description of the variety and photos confirm its productivity) has a strong immune system and, with proper care, never gets sick. But if you plant tomatoes in one place for several years in a row and do not follow the rules of crop rotation, then it can be affected by alterniosis and late blight.

The frost resistance of the plant is low. The tomato can withstand a short drop in temperature to +5...+6 °C, but then it takes a long time to recover. If there is a risk of return frosts, do not rush to plant the crop in open ground.

The Orange Giant tomato variety belongs to the salad varieties. It should be consumed fresh. You can also use the fruits for juicing and canning. But it will not be possible to pickle them entirely in jars due to their large size.

Agricultural technology

Regardless of whether the crop is to grow in open or protected ground, you first need to grow seedlings. The time for sowing seeds can be easily calculated independently, taking into account the climatic characteristics of the region. Picked and hardened seedlings at the age of 55 - 60 days are suitable for transplantation. The recommended planting density is no more than 4 pieces per 1 square meter. It can be planted according to the following scheme: 50x40 cm. When cultivating Big Beef in closed ground, it is recommended to tie the bushes to a trellis; in an open garden bed, the variety can be grown as a stake crop. After gartering, the plant is formed into one, less often 2, stems. To do this, the stepsons that have grown to 5 centimeters in length are removed 2 times a week. Maintenance is easy. Watering begins immediately after planting the seedlings. The soil should be kept moderately moist. In a greenhouse, it is imperative to control the total humidity. The crop is demanding on the application of mineral fertilizers. The greatest consumption of nutrients begins during the fruiting period. At this time, the plant needs phosphorus-potassium compounds more, and the application of nitrogen is reduced. Harvesting is carried out 2 times a week, preventing the tomatoes from overripening.

The Big Beef hybrid is valued for its large extra-quality fruits, which have a pleasant delicate taste and excellent pulp structure. Many vegetable growers were satisfied with the yield and resistance of the crop to diseases and cold snaps. But still, before growing this tomato, beginners need to thoroughly study the needs of the plant, since without proper care the variety will not be able to show its best qualities. The big disadvantage of this variety is the inability to collect seeds yourself and the high price of seed.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Orange Giant tomato is in demand among gardeners, because this variety has the following advantages:

• large fruit size;
• productivity is above average;
• drought resistance;
• immunity to most diseases characteristic of tomatoes;
• attractive appearance and pleasant taste of the fruit;
• resistance to adverse weather conditions.

The Orange Giant tomato is not called that for nothing, as it is large in size and heavy in weight.
The disadvantages of the variety include the need for frequent fertilizing, without which the crop yield drops significantly. The downside is that the plant needs pruning and staking.

Tomato care

When choosing a place in the garden for tomatoes, keep in mind that the area where carrots, onions, cabbage and legumes were previously grown is best suited for these purposes. The best time to plant sprouts under film is May, in open soil - early June. To prevent plants from interfering with each other in the future, follow a certain pattern of their arrangement - 50 by 60 cm. You should not plant more than 3 plants per 1 m2 of land.

Take the time to form the bushes into one stem and also tie them up. This must be done in the first half of summer, when the plant’s stepsons are most actively forming. Otherwise, caring for the orange Giant is no different from caring for any other vegetable crops.

Carefully monitor the cleanliness of the garden bed and get rid of weeds in a timely manner. In addition, this variety of tomatoes loves when the soil is constantly loosened. Use fertilizer actively to feed the plant. This must be done at least three times throughout the season.

If you decide to grow vegetables in a greenhouse, remember that it is necessary to maintain moderate humidity in the greenhouse - this is important, otherwise the fruits may begin to rot

Sowing seeds

The Orange Giant tomato (the variety description and photo confirm the large size of the fruit) must be grown in seedlings. You should start sowing 60-70 days before planting the plant in the garden (approximately in the middle - end of March). If the tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse, then the event can be held at the beginning of the month.

Preparation

Tomatoes need to be sown in a small, shared container, as crops develop better when picked. It is advisable to use special containers designed for growing seedlings. But you can sow tomatoes in any food containers with a height of up to 10 cm. But you will need to make drainage holes in them. To sow tomatoes, it is better to purchase a universal soil mixture marked “For growing seedlings.”

You can make the substrate yourself by mixing the following components in equal parts:

• turf land;
• sand;
• high peat;
• humus or compost.

Often in the home substrate there are pests and pathogens that can infect seedlings.

It is important to pre-sterilize the substrate using any of the following methods:

• Spread the soil over a baking sheet in an even layer up to 5 cm thick. Pour hot water over the substrate and place in an oven preheated to +90 °C. Sterilize the mixture for 35-45 minutes.
• Pour the soil onto a sieve, having previously covered it with gauze or cloth. Place the structure on a container of boiling water. Cover with a lid and sterilize the substrate for 80-90 minutes. Stir the mixture every 10-15 minutes for uniform processing.
• Dilute potassium permanganate crystals in warm water, using 3 g per 10 liters. Sprinkle the solution generously on the substrate until it becomes completely wet. Leave for 30 minutes, place on a sieve lined with gauze to drain excess liquid.

Sterilization not only destroys pathogens and pest larvae, but also harms beneficial microorganisms. To restore the microflora, it is advisable to spill the substrate with a solution of biofungicides (Alirin-B, Fitosporin-M). Tomatoes can be sown in treated soil only after 2-3 weeks.

You will also need to prepare the seeds. To do this, you need to soak them for 8-10 hours in a solution of any growth stimulator (Zircon, Epin). If they were collected from a previous harvest, then they should be additionally kept in a solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide (Fitosporin, Maxim, Vitaros) for 30 minutes. Store-bought seeds are usually already processed. But if this is not indicated on the package, then the grains should be soaked in a disinfecting solution.

How to sow tomatoes

The Orange Giant tomato (the description of the variety and photos indicate its unpretentious nature) should be sown according to the following instructions:

1. Place a drainage layer of expanded clay, sand or crushed polystyrene at the bottom of the container. Fill the container with the prepared substrate, leaving a gap of 1.5-2 cm.

2. Using a pencil, make depressions in the soil with a height of 1-1.5 cm. Maintain an interval of 3-4 cm between them.
3. Plant the seeds in the holes one at a time and lightly cover them with soil. Using a fine spray bottle, gently spray the substrate with warm water.

The planting will need to be covered with glass or transparent film and moved to a place with a temperature of +23…+25 °C.

Similar hybrids

Several tomatoes are very similar to Big Beef:

• Steak. Developed by Russian breeders. The tomato is the same round, productive, tasty, red in color. When looking at photos, even experienced vegetable growers cannot always guess who is who. However, Beefsteak is not a hybrid, but a variety. You can select seeds from it and grow your own seedlings from year to year;
• Beef Bang. Developed by French breeders. The hybrid is very young (introduced to the register in 2018), but promising. Vegetable growers have not yet had time to get acquainted with this tomato and compare the yield and taste;
• Semko 25. The tomato is very similar to Big, but has a dark green leaf. Huge yield (up to 22 kg. sq. m.) can put the hybrid in first place. It is also characterized by increased resistance to diseases.

Growing seedlings

The first shoots will appear in 5-8 days. As soon as this happens, remove the cover from the container and move it to a lighted place. But it is important to prevent direct rays from hitting the plants. It is important to maintain the temperature near the seedlings within +19…+20 °C.

It is advisable to provide tomatoes with 12-14 hours of daylight. It is better to install a phytolamp near the planting and turn it on in cloudy weather, as well as in the morning and evening.

Picking

When the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, approximately 14-16 days after emergence, the seedlings should be planted in individual pots. The substrate must be used with the same composition as for growing seedlings. It’s better to plant plants in peat pots. This will make it easier for them to be transplanted into the beds later. But you can also use plastic glasses with a volume of 0.5-0.7 liters, making drainage holes in them.

Caring for seedlings consists of moderate but regular watering. Immediately, it is enough to moisten the seedlings once a week. As the plant grows, watering should be increased to once every 3-5 days, depending on the room temperature. For irrigation, it is important to use settled, filtered water. It should be poured at the root. And 1-2 hours after watering, the soil must be carefully loosened to improve oxygen access to the roots.

10-14 days after picking, the seedlings need to be fed. It is advisable to use liquid solutions of complex fertilizers, for example, Yellow Crystallon, Nitroammofoski, Krepysha. The procedure should be repeated after 10-14 days.

1-2 weeks after picking, it is advisable to lightly sprinkle the seedlings with wood ash. This technique will prevent the development of blackleg and also nourish the plants with useful elements.

Seedlings should be planted in a greenhouse from the first ten days of May; they should be transplanted into open ground at the end of spring, when the soil has warmed to a depth of 10 cm to +12 °C. Before the event, the seedlings need to be hardened off. To do this, the seedlings will need to be exposed to air for 15-30 minutes, then for 1-2 hours, increasing the duration of the sessions daily. On average, such procedures should be carried out for 2 weeks.

Landing in the ground

The Orange Giant tomato, the photo of which clearly demonstrates the unusual color of the fruit, should be planted in an unshaded, open place. According to the description of the variety, lowlands and wetlands are not suitable for it. When choosing a location, it is worth remembering the rules of crop rotation.

You cannot grow tomatoes after eggplants, peppers, and potatoes. It is not advisable to plant them in one place for 2 years in a row. It is better to choose areas for them after zucchini, legumes, onions, garlic, and carrots. You should start preparing the bed for tomatoes at the end of autumn.

You will need:

1. Dig the soil to a depth of 25-30 cm. In the process, remove the remains of previous plants, weeds, and debris.
2. Add humus (10 l), superphosphate (1 tbsp), and wood ash to the soil. The dosage is indicated for 1 sq. m. After applying the fertilizer, dig up the soil with a pitchfork and leave it lying in large clods. Then snow will accumulate in them, which after thawing will improve the soil structure.
3. At the beginning of spring, dig up the soil and add ammonium sulfate (25 g) and compost (5 kg).

You can plant tomatoes in the garden bed 3 weeks after preparing it.

Landing algorithm:

1. 1-2 hours before the event, water the seedlings well. Dig holes with dimensions of 30*30 cm. Keep an interval of 50 cm between them, the distance between rows is 60 cm. Place supports or equip a trellis near the bed.
2. Remove seedlings from containers. In the process, it is advisable not to destroy the earthen lump, so as not to damage the roots. Seedlings planted in peat pots should be planted directly into them.

3. Pour 5-7 liters of water into the planting holes. After waiting until the moisture is completely absorbed, plant the seedlings in the recesses.
4. Gradually fill the voids with earth. As a result, the stems must be buried down to the cotyledon leaves. It is better to place elongated seedlings at an angle. You will need to first tear off the cotyledon leaves and deepen the stems to the first true ones.
5. After compacting the surface of the bed, it is advisable to mulch it with peat, straw or sawdust.

If there is a risk of night frosts, it is worth stretching a regular film, lutrasil or spunbond over the garden bed. Instead of these materials, you can put a plastic bottle with a cut bottom on each bush. But you can’t screw the lid on them, otherwise the plants will smear. You can remove the shelter when the seedlings take root in a new place.

Watering, fertilizing

It is not advisable to touch tomatoes for the first 5-7 days after planting. During this period, the plants take root in a new place and any manipulation will become additional stress for them. But you can spray the bushes with growth stimulants (Epin, Kornevin) if they look very drooping.

In the future, watering should be carried out when the top layer of soil dries out, approximately once every 3-4 days. For each bush you should use 4-5 liters of water, preheating it to room temperature. To do this, you can pour it into a barrel and leave it in the sun for several hours.

You need to water the garden bed after sunset, otherwise the moisture will quickly evaporate and the roots will overheat. It is necessary to pour water strictly at the root, without getting on the stems and leaves, so as not to provoke the development of fungal diseases.

To get a good harvest of tomatoes, it is important to feed them regularly. It is advisable to apply fertilizers to crops 2-3 times per season. For feeding, it is worth using mineral complexes with a predominance of phosphorus and potassium. They must first be dissolved in warm water. The feeding itself needs to be done in the morning, after sunset or on a cloudy day. Before applying fertilizer, it is important to water the garden bed thoroughly.

Stepsoning

The Orange Giant tomato (the variety description and photo confirm the unusual color of the fruit) needs pinching. This procedure should be carried out every 1.5-2 weeks, removing excess shoots. And in early - mid-August, it is also worth pinching the top of the main stem, leaving 2 leaves above the last flower cluster.

Otherwise, not all the fruits will have time to ripen before the cold weather arrives.

Tying up

The stems of the Orange Giant tomato should be tied to a support or trellis. Otherwise, they will break under the weight of their own harvest or from sudden gusts of wind. You need to tie up the shoots with pieces of fabric or garden twine, being careful not to squeeze them too much. You cannot use wire for this, as it will cause the stems to rot.

Bush formation

It is recommended to form tomatoes of the Orange Giant variety into 1 stem. This pruning helps to avoid overcrowding, simplifies crop care and increases productivity. You need to start the procedure 1-2 weeks after planting the tomatoes. In the process, it is necessary to remove all lateral shoots whose length exceeds 5 cm. Shorter shoots can be confused with a fruiting brush, so it is best not to cut them off. It is advisable to repeat this once every 10-14 days.

Basic Rules:

• Pruning should be done after sunset. From exposure to the sun, wounds will heal for a long time and may rot.
• During the process, you must use a sharp, sterilized instrument. It is better to treat it with a solution of potassium permanganate after each cut lash. Then it will be possible to prevent the spread of fungal diseases and pests if they have affected some part of the plants.
• The stepsons need to be cut so that a stump with a length of 1-3 cm remains. Then a new shoot will not grow from this place.

You can pull out the stepsons with your fingers. But you should wear gloves before the event. They need to be treated with potassium permanganate or fungicides after each bush.

Pest and disease control

The variety has good resistance to most diseases typical of tomatoes.

But with incorrect agricultural practices, the plant’s immunity weakens, and then it can be affected by the following diseases and pests:

Tips and tricks for growing

After watering and rains, you need to loosen the bed with tomatoes. Otherwise, its surface will become compacted, which will impair air access to the roots. And this will lead to a weakening of the crop and a decrease in yield. The soil should be loosened carefully, going 3-4 cm deep, so as not to damage the roots. While loosening, you also need to weed out the weeds. They not only take nutrients from the soil, but also transmit pathogens and pests.

It is recommended to mulch a bed with tomatoes. This procedure greatly facilitates planting care. Mulch prevents the rapid evaporation of moisture by holding it near the roots. It also prevents the soil from compacting and slows down the growth of weeds. Accordingly, the bed will need to be watered, loosened and weeded less often. You can mulch tomatoes with sawdust, straw or compost.

Tomato bushes should be hilled periodically. To do this, you need to rake the soil closer to the main stem. This procedure will provoke the growth of lateral roots and increase productivity. And it is enough to carry it out 2-3 times during the summer.

The orange giant will be an excellent choice for gardeners who want to grow a salad variety of tomatoes in their garden. This tomato has a pleasant taste, large size and unusual color, which is confirmed by the photo. And according to the description, the culture is not too whimsical, and caring for it does not take much time.

Care

To harvest consistently from July to September, you should follow some recommendations.

• Watering is recommended to be done in the evening. It is better to use warm and settled water. Watering is carried out under the bush, you need to make sure that water does not get on the leaves and branches. A balance should be maintained between dry and waterlogged soil. This variety prefers moderate to medium humidity.
• Loosening should be carried out regularly. It is important to work carefully so as not to damage the integrity of the root system.
• Removal of weeds on the site is carried out as necessary.
• It is recommended to mulch the soil between the rows of plants, which will help maintain the necessary moisture and weeds will grow less frequently.
• Tomatoes are fertilized three times during the growing season. You should not use fertilizer more often.
• The tops are pinched approximately in the middle of the first summer month, and also as a certain growth is achieved. By limiting development in height, the plant will direct all its forces into the formation of fruits.
• It is necessary to remove excess lateral processes in a timely manner. If necessary, the stepsons take root.
• You should leave no more than 3 ovaries on one cyst.