How to grow a Cio-Cio-san tomato in open ground or a greenhouse: step-by-step guide and advice from experienced summer residents
The Cio-Cio-san tomato is a unique work of art among tomatoes. He has become a favorite of many gardeners. The culture is unique with decorative compact shrubs that can decorate any garden plot.
In addition to the charming green massif, unusual plum tomatoes, which when ripe, acquire a deep pink hue, also serve as decoration. But this is not the main advantage of tomatoes: they have an amazing taste, loved by both adults and children.
Description of the variety
The Chio-Chio-san variety was obtained as a result of the hard work of breeders of the Gavrish agricultural company. Entered into the State Register in 1999. Recommended for breeding in open and protected conditions.
Reference. The Gavrish company was founded in 1993. In recent years, the agricultural company has grown into a large enterprise with its own experimental base.
Distinctive features
The variety is indeterminate, the bush can reach 2 m in height. One brush forms 50-60 ovaries. The first inflorescence is laid above the ninth leaf, the subsequent ones - every three leaves.
Mid-season species, from the moment of sowing the seeds until full ripening, 110-120 days pass. The tomato is well adapted to sudden changes in weather conditions.
Productivity is high, 4.5-5 kg of fruits are collected from one seedling, provided that 3-4 plants are planted per 1 square meter. m.
The culture is characterized by increased resistance to dangerous diseases the nightshade family, such as late blight and tobacco mosaic virus.
Tall plants require staking not only the stem, but also the fruit-bearing branches. Pruning is carried out regularly, otherwise there is a risk of thickening of plantings and a decrease in yield.
Fruit characteristics
The average weight of a tomato is 35-40 g. The fruit has a plum-shaped, slightly elongated shape and a bright red color (see photo). Tomatoes taste sweet, with dense, juicy and fleshy pulp. There are two seed chambers, few seeds.
The peel is strong, which allows you to use ripe tomatoes for whole-fruit canning, pickles and marinades. Vegetables make excellent juices and sauces. In addition to tomato products, ripe tomatoes are used to prepare a variety of dishes. Thanks to their durable skin, they are dried and frozen.
Tomatoes are subject to long-term storage and withstand long-term transportation without loss of presentation.
How to grow seedlings
Sowing seeds for seedlings begins two months before planting in the ground.. Before sowing, preparatory measures are carried out to improve the quality and quantity of seedlings.
Seed preparation
First, the seed is carefully inspected, disposing of seeds that are dark in color, small and with visible damage.. Then they are placed in a saline solution to determine emptiness: those that float to the surface are unsuitable for landing. After this, the seeds are disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes, washed with running water and dried.
Reference. Saline solution is prepared from 1 tsp. salt dissolved in a glass of water.
Seed hardening is of particular importance when growing crops in cold areas.The seed is placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for a day. Then the grains are heated for another day at a temperature of 25°C.
Reference. Hardening is recommended only for experienced gardeners. This is a complex procedure that can destroy all seed material.
To improve germination, seeds are soaked for 11 hours in a growth stimulator. The most popular drug is “Epin”; many gardeners use it.
Container and soil
The soil is prepared from garden soil, humus and peat in equal quantities. For ease, add washed river sand. After thoroughly mixing all the components, the soil mixture is poured with a hot solution of potassium permanganate or steamed in the oven at a temperature of 60°C for 10 minutes. Disinfection of prepared soil is necessary, since the soil contains a large number of pathogenic microorganisms that can cause irreparable harm to seedlings.
After the soil has cooled, it is laid out in planting containers, at the bottom of which drainage holes are made in advance. You can plant in a common wooden box or in separate containers, at the bottom of which you place some small pebbles or sawdust.
About other varieties of tomatoes:
Pepper tomatoes for salads and canning
Will give a late harvest, but will live up to expectations “Andreevsky Surprise”
Sowing
Seeds are sown to a depth of 1 cm with a distance of 3-4 cm from each other. Sprinkle soil on top, lightly compact and moisten with warm, settled water using a spray bottle. The seeded containers are covered with film to create a greenhouse effect and left in a warm and bright room at a temperature of 25°C. After a week, you can notice the appearance of the first shoots.
Seedling care
When shoots appear, the film is removed and the containers are moved to the windowsill, but not in direct sunlight. The duration of daylight for seedlings is 12 hours. If there is a lack of natural light, add phytolamps.
Water from a shallow watering can with warm, settled water along the edge of the nursery.without flooding the sprouts. Overmoistening the soil will negatively affect young roots, which can rot. Therefore, they moisten only when the top soil layer dries out. After watering, the soil is loosened superficially, ensuring better oxygen penetration.
Reference. For loosening, use a regular fork or wooden stick.
When two true leaves appear, the seedlings are picked, seating in separate containers. If the seedlings are left in a common container, then the distance between them is increased to 10-13 cm. After picking, the lateral roots grow intensively and the seedlings develop more intensively.
Three weeks before planting in the ground, the seedlings are hardened outdoors for 45 minutes. In subsequent days, the time spent outside is gradually increased to 11 hours. Simultaneously with daytime hardening, the night temperature in the room is reduced to 12°C.
How to grow tomatoes
After two months, the seedlings are ready for planting in the ground. Transplantation is carried out when the threat of spring frosts has passed.
Landing
Planting scheme: 45 cm – distance between seedlings, 70 cm – row spacing. For 1 sq. m place no more than four plants.
The beds are chosen in a sunny place, protected from drafts. When planted in a checkerboard pattern, the seedlings do not shade each other and each bush receives a sufficient amount of sunlight.
Wells 20 cm deep are prepared in advance, a little sawdust or ash is placed at their bottom and filled with water. After transplantation, water again with warm, settled water and leave for adaptation for 8-10 days.
Tomato care
Regular watering is established as the top layer of soil dries out, but not more than twice a week. Water with settled water strictly at the root, without getting on the leaves. The optimal time for watering is morning or evening hours, when the sun is not heating at full strength.
After watering, the soil must be loosened and remove weeds. Loosening ensures soil breathability and eliminates ground-borne pests.
To retain moisture in the beds for longer, they are mulched with straw.. Peat can also be used as mulch, which additionally enriches the root system with useful substances.
Fertilizers are applied once every two weeks. Fertilize with a full complex of minerals alternately with organic matter. During flowering, they are fertilized mainly with phosphorus substances, and during fruiting, potassium preparations are added to speed up the filling of vegetables.
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Features and possible difficulties
When planting indeterminate types of plants, it is necessary to remember their high growth, requiring mandatory garter. Growing the Cio-Cio-san tomato variety is no exception. Immediately upon transplantation, a wooden or metal support is installed, to which the stem and fruitful branches are fixed as they grow.
Another option for fixing indeterminate plants – garter on a horizontal trellis. Metal supports are installed on different sides of the beds, and wire is pulled between them.The plant is fixed to the wire with soft fabric tapes.
Don’t forget about regular removal of stepchildren. The bush is formed into one, two or three stems. For more frequent plantings, it is better to plant them in one stem to avoid crowding of plants. When planted in two and three stems, the quantitative indicator of fruiting is close to the maximum.
Diseases and pests
Judging by the characteristics of the tomato and the reviews of those who planted it, we can say with confidence that the culture is immune to late blight (as far as possible) and tobacco mosaic. But this does not mean a complete exclusion of preventive measures.
By following the rules of crop rotation and agrotechnical practices, you can strengthen the immunity of plants and achieve higher fruiting rates. Such methods include:
- systematic loosening;
- weed removal;
- moderate watering;
- control of humidity in the beds;
- ventilation of closed structures.
Don’t forget about insects that can cause damage to plantings.. These include aphids, Colorado potato beetles, whiteflies and slugs. Planting sharp-smelling herbs next to tomatoes protects the crop from many parasites. Installed pheromone traps and a thorough inspection of plantings also save you from pest invasion. When there is a large concentration of parasitic insects, insecticidal preparations are used.
Reference. Pests can spoil up to 70% of the total number of seedlings.
Nuances for open ground and greenhouse conditions
Tomatoes grow taller in a greenhousethan in open ground, so the crown of greenhouse bushes is pinched. It is important to carry out this procedure before fruiting begins, so that nutrients are spent on formed ovaries, and not on the growth of unnecessary inflorescences.
The soil in the greenhouse is treated with copper sulfate before planting tomatoes., pre-spill with a hot solution of manganese. In this way, it is disinfected from fungal spores. In the spring, the top layer of soil is replaced with a new one, since the old layer is depleted after last year's plantings. If it is not possible to replace the soil, then it is carefully fertilized with a full range of minerals.
Features of greenhouse plants the fact that they produce a larger harvest than street bushes. But in this case, the taste of the fruit suffers. Timely pinching prevents unnecessary fruitful branches from forming.
Harvesting and application
Harvest begins in July. You can’t delay it: it’s better to remove slightly unripe fruits than to leave overripe ones on the bushes. They will ripen well at home, but if you do not remove the tomatoes in time, they may crack.
Universal use of tomatoes: they are not only suitable for preparing a variety of fresh dishes, but also do not lose their taste in winter preparations. They are used to make hot and vegetable dishes, snacks, cut into sandwiches, and baked with meat and vegetables. The thick skin allows you to pickle, salt and preserve tomatoes. Tomatoes of this variety make delicious seasonings and sauces.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Cio-Cio-san variety has many positive qualities:
- adaptation to a sharp drop in temperature;
- high fruiting rate;
- strong immunity to dangerous diseases;
- simple agricultural technology;
- excellent taste of fruits;
- unusual appearance;
- universal use in cooking;
- long storage;
- possibility of long-term transportation.
The negative aspects include the obligatory garter and regular stepsoning. However, these are simple procedures that do not take much time and effort.
Farmer reviews
Reviews of the Chio-Chio-san tomato most often refer to ornamental and compact shrubs and, of course, magnificent plum tomatoes with excellent taste.
Mikhail, Rostov-on-Don: “For me, resistance to many diseases is the main advantage when choosing a crop for planting. As practice shows, fighting diseases takes a long time and is tedious, and sometimes to no avail. This tomato pleased with its immunity to diseases and resistance to pests. And the taste of tomatoes is simply amazing. I advise everyone to plant it in their dachas.".
Elena, Stavropol: “Looking at the reviews and photos, I really wanted to plant the tomato variety Cio-Cio-san! I didn’t regret my choice for a second. There were a lot of fruits, very tasty, enough for both summer dishes and winter preparations. In a word, I'm happy with everything. I will definitely plant more".
Conclusion
Of all the plum tomatoes, the Chio-Chio-san variety fascinates with its sweet taste. Growing it on your own plot is not difficult.
The culture is not only unpretentious in care, but is also characterized by increased resistance to diseases and good adaptation to a sharp decrease in air temperature. But the most important advantage is the high yield of excellent vegetables, which is why this tomato is loved by summer residents from all over the country.