During the winter season, fresh tomatoes are considered a luxury. They are found on store shelves, but at a high price and with dubious taste. Therefore, gardeners began to more often plant late varieties on their plots, which are characterized by high shelf life.
Among the varieties for long-term storage, the Giraffe tomato stands out. Its yellow fruits cope well with vitamin deficiency and can remain fresh until the beginning of spring. How to grow a variety on your plot that is distinguished by exceptional keeping quality, and whether its harvest is worth your attention - read on.
general description
Giraffe is a varietal tomato. It received this name for the height of the bushes, which reaches 2 m. The seeds of the fruits of this tomato are suitable for planting.
Relatively recently, this variety was at the peak of popularity, which is due to the unusual origin of the Giraffe. When creating it, breeders used the flounder gene. This was done to increase the frost resistance of the plant, but the experiment gave an unexpected result - the variety received exceptional keeping quality.
Attention! The Giraffe variety belongs to genetically modified plants. It is not yet known how dangerous GMO tomatoes are. Some scientists believe that such products can cause infertility, mutations in offspring, etc. Others claim that GMOs are absolutely safe.
Distinctive features of the variety
The main feature of Giraffe tomatoes is their high keeping quality. The fruits of this variety are stored in boxes all winter, until March 8.
Giraffe fruits are dark yellow. Lighter spots may be present. The pulp is different from the shell and has an orange-pink color.
This shade of berries is ensured by the high content of beta-carotene. This substance has a positive effect on visual acuity, skin and hair condition, and the immune system. Doctors note the fact that yellow-fruited tomatoes are less likely to cause an allergic reaction than red-fruited ones. They contain less purines.
General characteristics
Now the popularity of the Giraffe tomato has subsided somewhat, because the process of its creation causes mixed reactions among people. But this variety still has fans, which is explained by its unique characteristics.
Characteristics and description of the variety:
| Parameter | Indicators |
| Bush type | Indeterminate. It reaches a height of 2 m. The stems are strong and powerful. The bushes are covered with an average number of leaves, are not spreading and do not form very many stepsons. The leaves are simple, light green, without pubescence, and medium in size. The inflorescences are also simple. The first is formed at the level of 7-9 leaves, the next ones - after 2 leaves. The fruits are formed in clusters of 5-7 pieces. on each one. Up to 10 brushes are formed on one bush. |
| Growing method | Tomato is resistant to negative environmental factors. Suitable for growing in greenhouses and open ground. |
| Productivity | High. 5 kg of berries are harvested from 1 bush per season. From 1 sq. m yield about 15 kg of fruit. |
| Fruit | Medium size. The average weight of one berry is 80-100 g. Specimens weighing 150 g are rare. The color of the shell is dark yellow. There may be light yellow spots. The inside of the fruit is orange-pink, with lighter spots possible. The shape of the berries is round, sometimes slightly elongated. There is pronounced ribbing at the base. The pulp is dense, not very juicy, tough. The fruit tastes sweet and sour. Inside each berry there are 3-4 chambers with a large number of seeds. |
| Transportability | The fruits have a thick skin, which protects them from damage during transportation. Tomatoes collected at the stage of technical maturity are stored in boxes for up to 6 months. |
| Ripening time | Late ripening variety. The fruits ripen in mid-August. Fruiting continues for 1.5 months. |
| Disease resistance | It is immune to viral diseases: tobacco mosaic, brown spot and brown rot. There is no resistance to late blight. |
Errors during cultivation
One of the main mistakes is a complete refusal to grow a crop due to the first unsuccessful experience. The fact is that the seeds of each manufacturer will produce a harvest that differs in taste.
So, for example, seeds from the Gavrish company may be more sour than from Aelita.
Other growing mistakes include:
- No garter. The bushes of this variety are powerful and heavy, up to 2 m high. They can break from their own weight.
- Excessive storage of fruits. The longer tomatoes sit, the worse their taste becomes.
- Excessive sealing of greenhouses. The variety does not have the ability to self-pollinate, so bees and bumblebees must have access to it.
- Bringing fruits to maturity on a bush branch. One of the features of the variety is that tomatoes must be picked from the bush at milky ripeness. Ripening is carried out in the place where the fruit is stored.
- Leaving stepchildren. With extra side stems, the yield of the bush is significantly reduced.
How to grow seedlings
For seedlings, Giraffe tomato seeds are sown 2 months before planting the plants in a permanent place. The lower the temperature in the region, the later they begin to grow seedlings.
Before sowing seeds, gardeners recommend familiarizing yourself with the lunar calendar. Experience in growing tomatoes shows that plants planted on the correct lunar day grow healthier and produce a bountiful harvest.
Processing of planting material
Tomato seeds need to be prepared before planting.
This will prevent future infection of plants, increase their resistance to adverse environmental factors and accelerate the germination of planting material. Before starting to process the seeds, they are checked for germination by soaking them in a salt solution for half an hour (take 1 teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water). Copies that have surfaced are considered damaged. Those that have sunk to the bottom are washed and used for planting.
Next, the seeds are disinfected by soaking in one of the following compounds:
- solution . Take 1 g of potassium permanganate per 100 ml of water. The seeds are soaked for half an hour, then washed with clean water.
- Hydrogen peroxide. The planting material is soaked for a quarter of an hour and then washed.
- Soda solution. In 1 tbsp. water dissolve 1 tsp. soda Planting material is soaked for 12 hours.
After this, the seeds are treated with growth stimulants. They use purchased drugs, for example, sodium humate, or homemade products.
Containers and soil mixtures for growing tomatoes
Wooden boxes or plastic trays are usually used for sowing seeds. Any wide, but not deep containers will do.
There are three options for containers for picking seedlings:
- Peat pots. They are considered the most convenient option, since there is no need to remove tomatoes from them when transplanting them to a permanent place.
- Plastic pots. They are also easy to use, as they have ready-made drainage holes.
- Available materials - any 300 ml containers: cut-off bottles, disposable cups, etc. Be sure to make drainage holes.
Peat tablets and special cassettes are used for sowing seeds. Another option is to divide the drawers into separate sections.
Soil for growing tomato seedlings can be purchased at the store or prepared independently. Most often, gardeners use the following composition options:
- a mixture of peat, humus and black soil in equal proportions;
- a mixture of garden soil and sand in a ratio of 2:1;
- a mixture of peat and ash.
The soil for tomatoes and containers are disinfected with a strong solution of potassium permanganate or at high temperatures.
Methods of sowing seeds
There are many ways to sow seeds for seedlings. The list contains the most popular:
- Sowing seeds in a common container. Soil is poured into the boxes so that there is a free space of 3 cm to the edge. It is watered with warm water. The seeds are laid out in rows at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other, sprinkled with a centimeter layer of soil on top. The boxes are covered with film and put in a warm place.
- Peat tablets. The tablets are soaked in boiling water, placed in one deep container. When they swell and increase in size, turn them over. One seed is planted in each preparation, buried 1 cm. Containers with tablets are covered with film and placed in a warm place.
- Without land. Place 2-3 layers of napkins at the bottom of a deep container and moisten them with warm water. The seeds are laid out on paper and covered with several more layers of napkins, which are moistened with a spray bottle. The structure is covered with film and placed in a place with a temperature of 25-26 ºC. After seed germination and the appearance of cotyledon leaves, the plants are planted in individual pots.
Seedling care
To grow healthy and viable plants, seedlings require regular and proper care. How to do it:
- After sowing the seeds, it is important to maintain optimal soil moisture. When dry, water it with warm water from a spray bottle.
- The warmer the room, the faster the seeds will germinate. Sunlight is not necessary at this stage.
- After the first shoots appear, the film is removed from the boxes. The seedlings are moved to a well-lit place. Daylight hours for tomatoes at this stage are 16 hours. If there is not enough sunlight, fluorescent lamps are used.
- Plants in a common box are watered using a pipette or syringe. After the tomatoes are planted in separate containers, use a watering can to moisten the soil. This is done so that the liquid does not get on the above-ground part of the plants. Only warm water is used for irrigation.
- During the growing period, tomatoes are fed 3 times. Use complex fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium. For one plant, take half the portion indicated in the instructions.
- 2 weeks before picking for a permanent place, tomatoes begin to harden. To do this, they are taken out onto the balcony or street. Hardening begins with half an hour, the time is gradually increased to 16 hours.
Agricultural technology
Giraffe tomatoes are grown in greenhouses and in open ground. In the first case, they are planted when the soil reaches a temperature of 14-16 ºC. The soil temperature is measured at a depth of 15 cm.
Reference. Tomatoes are planted in a greenhouse 2 weeks earlier than in open ground.
In the southern regions, tomatoes are grown only in open ground. In a greenhouse, there is a possibility that the fruits will not set due to high temperatures.
Planting seedlings in a permanent place
The area of the garden where the tomatoes will grow is prepared in the fall. The soil is dug up and cleared of plant debris. Then fertilizers are added: cow manure, chicken manure or humus. To reduce soil acidity, use dry lime or ash.
In the spring, the beds are dug up. All roots that have managed to form are removed. The soil is watered with a solution of chicken manure.
Holes are dug in rows, maintaining a distance of 60 cm. Per 1 sq. m planted 3 tomatoes. 1 tbsp is poured into each hole. l ash or granular fertilizer.
5 days before picking, the seedlings are fertilized and fed. Use fertilizers containing phosphorus.
Place 1 plant in a hole. The hole is filled with soil and compacted. 1 liter of water is poured under the root.
Tomato care
The tomatoes are tied to a wooden support or trellis. As the bush grows, it is attached to the support with a synthetic thread. Natural material cannot be used, as it rots.
Giraffe bushes are formed into 2 or 1 stem. In regions with a cool climate, it is better to leave 1 stem, then the tomatoes will have time to ripen.
During the formation process, it is important to remove excess leaves. Plant tomatoes no more than once a week. The procedure is best carried out on cloudy days.
Tomatoes are watered as the soil dries (2-3 times a week). For one bush use 2-3 liters of liquid. On the days of pinching, the soil is not moistened.
After each watering, tomato beds are loosened to prevent an earthen crust that interferes with normal air exchange. It is important to clear the beds of weeds. Weeds slow down the growth of tomatoes and contribute to the development of infections.
Features of cultivation
When growing Giraffe tomatoes, it is important to consider several features of this variety:
- The Giraffe tomato is not afraid of cold weather, but is susceptible to heat. If the temperature rises above 35 ºC, the pollen will become sterile and ovaries will not form.
- After all the ovaries have formed on the brush, the leaves under it are removed. This speeds up the ripening of fruits.
- To speed up fruit set, bushes with formed inflorescences are shaken regularly. This promotes pollination.
Diseases and pests
Tomato Giraffe is immune to viral pathogens. Its resistance to fungal diseases is lower, and sometimes it is affected by late blight.
To avoid infection of tomatoes, follow the basic rules of prevention:
- Disinfection. Seeds, soil, seedling containers and garden tools are treated with disinfecting solutions.
- Weeding. The beds are regularly cleared of weeds and plant debris.
- Compliance with watering rules. Tomato beds should not dry out, but they should not be over-watered. Such conditions promote the development of bacteria.
- The right place for garden beds. Tomatoes should not be planted in a garden area where nightshade crops grew last year. Tomato beds are not placed near potatoes.
- Preventive treatment. To prevent fungal diseases, bushes are sprayed with copper sulfate, potassium permanganate solution or Bordeaux mixture. To protect against insects, plants are treated with a soap solution and infusion of celandine.
- Preventive examinations. Tomato bushes are inspected every week. Large insects are removed. Sick plants are treated or removed from the beds.
Bull's heart
A tomato with the proud name Eagle Heart occupies the bottom line of our top. Everyone who grows these giant tomatoes with an elongated tip, shaped like a heart, leaves only positive reviews about it. The variety is determinate, has a medium ripening period - in a greenhouse with nutritious soil the bushes grow up to 170 cm and require pinching and staking. In open ground they may be slightly lower. But their yield sometimes exceeds 10 kg per bush.
https://www.youtube.com/watch{q}v=E3CLyjh7RJU
The bronze “medal” and 3rd place in the ranking goes to Eagle’s Beak, popular among many tomato growers! The variety is mid-season (110-115 days), semi-determinate - the height of strong bushes reaches 120-150 cm. Proper shaping, tying to a trellis and timely pinching will help them develop harmoniously and bear fruit well. Under ideal conditions and with proper agricultural technology, the yield can be up to 8 kg per bush.
“Eagle beak is the best, I have no competition yet, the leader for today.” Olga Nesmeyanova.
“I really like Eagle Beak!!!” Nina Belevtseva.
The absolute leader in the popular rating of tomatoes, which received a record number of votes, is the generally recognized and most popular variety, Bull's Heart! A real Senor Tomato in all respects!
The variety is late-ripening - the first fruits (5 pieces in a cluster) ripen 120-130 days after emergence. In open ground, the yield ranges from 3 to 5 kg of tomatoes per bush. In a greenhouse, this figure can increase to 12 kg.
Determinate type bush - stems grow up to 1.5 m or more. To achieve record harvests, do not neglect care - timely shaping and tying to the support, preventive treatment against late blight - and the harvest will not keep you waiting!
Features of cultivation in open and closed ground
When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is important to avoid stagnation of air. Therefore, the room is regularly ventilated by opening the windows.
Before planting tomatoes, the walls of the greenhouse are treated with copper sulfate.
In open ground, for the first 10 days after planting, tomatoes are covered with film at night. This prevents them from freezing.
Farmer reviews
Reviews from gardeners about the Giraffe are contradictory. Not everyone likes the taste and origin of this variety.
Maxim, Moscow: “I’ve been planting Giraffe for several years now. I grow it in a greenhouse with one stem and have not encountered any difficulties in caring for it. The variety produces an excellent harvest. The fruits are stored all winter. The taste, of course, is not impressive, not much better than the tomatoes sold in stores in winter. That’s why I plant only 2 bushes, just so that there will be fresh tomatoes on the New Year’s table.”
Irina, Voronezh: “This year I planted a Giraffe. The fruits are shiny, yellow and beautiful, as in the photo. It doesn't taste very good. They keep for a really long time. I would continue to grow the variety to eat tomatoes in winter, but I found out that it is GMO. I won’t plant any more.”
Characteristics of tomato fruits
Description of the characteristics of the Giraffe tomato fruit:
- The shape of the fruit is oval;
- The weight of one ripe tomato can reach from 55 to 150 grams;
- The pulp and skin are yellow in color, with a small number of seeds inside;
- The tomatoes are quite dense inside;
- After harvesting, the fruits can be stored for a long time, until December;
- The taste of the fruit is ordinary, mediocre;
- Tomatoes are not suitable for fresh consumption; they are best used for processed products.
