An exotic variety with a unique appearance - the Gargamel tomato and the intricacies of its cultivation
Red and pink tomatoes are classics of the tomato culture. They are sold in abundance in stores and markets. Therefore, gardeners often purchase varieties that feature more exotic fruits.
Many novice gardeners mistakenly believe that the more unusual the tomato fruits look, the more difficult it is to grow the plant. But breeders strive to produce varieties that not only have an interesting appearance, but also good immunity to diseases and ease of care. The Gargamel tomato meets all these requirements.
Description of the variety
The Gargamel tomato has unusual fruits. Their color is uneven, the main color is red-orange or dark yellow, there are brown and purple spots and stripes.
Indeterminate plant. The tomato reaches a height of two meters.
Due to the unusual appearance of the fruit, the tomato is also interesting for beginners, and for experienced gardeners. Convince yourself of the exoticism of this variety by looking at the photo.
Features of the Gargamel tomato
The main feature of the Gargamel tomato is its unusual type of fruit. Outwardly, they resemble a large plum or nectarine. The tomatoes are elongated and flattened at the base.
The taste of tomatoes is also unusual - sweet, with a light fruity aftertaste. The texture is jelly and sugary at the same time. Gargamel contains many useful substances, especially antacids. The number of such compounds increases if the tomato received a lot of sunny color.
The variety has resistance to many tomato diseases. He is relatively immune even to late blight.
It is grown in a greenhouse and in open ground. The second method is more suitable for the southern regions of our country.
Gargamel fruits are mainly consumed fresh, but they are also used for preservation.
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Characteristics
In addition to its unusual appearance, the Gargamel variety has other characteristics that make it increasingly popular among gardeners.
Description of the Gargamel tomato variety:
| Parameter | Indicators |
| Bush type | stems are powerful. There is a lot of greenery, but the leaves are small and light green, the flowers are simple |
| Growing method | in greenhouses and unprotected soil. In central Russia it is better to give preference to greenhouses |
| Productivity | high - up to 4 kg of harvest is obtained from one bush. On average from 1 sq. m harvest 9 kg of tomatoes |
| Fruit | the outside color is orange or golden, with a purple base, brown and purple stripes. The inside of the fruit is red. The shape is elongated, slightly flattened at the base. The pulp is jelly and juicy, dense and sugary at the break. There is no wateriness. The taste is sweet, with a slight fruity aftertaste. Each fruit has 5 compartments with a small number of seeds. The skin is strong but not tough |
| Transportability | high, are not damaged during transportation due to the durable skin. Can be stored for up to a month |
| Ripening time | mid-season, 110 days pass from seed germination to ripening |
| Disease resistance | rarely susceptible to late blight, rot, stem damage |
Growing seedlings
The seedling method of growing tomatoes is optimal for all regions of our country. Seeds are sown 2-2.5 months before planting the plants in a permanent place. Usually preparations begin in early March.
Working with planting material
Before planting, seeds must be prepared to increase germination.
To do this, soak the planting material in salt water for half an hour. Remove the floating seeds, as they will not sprout, and rinse and dry those that have sunk to the bottom.
Disinfection of planting material is also necessary. Soak the seeds for twenty minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate diluted in a ratio of 1:100.
Stimulating seed growth accelerates their germination. To do this, place the seeds in pieces of gauze soaked in liquid and cover with film.
Composition options for stimulating seed growth:
- Purchased funds - “Zircon”, “Epin”, “Heteroauxin”, “Bud”. Use medications according to instructions.
- Aloe juice. This folk remedy is suitable not only for stimulating growth, but also for disinfecting seeds. Soak the seeds in the juice for half an hour.
- Honey. Add a teaspoon of honey to a glass of water at room temperature. Soak the seeds in the liquid for half an hour.
Options for containers and soil
Any containers for seedlings are suitable. Seeds are usually sown in a common container. Then the grown plants are planted. All pots must be disinfected in advance with a solution of potassium permanganate.
The soil can be purchased at the store or prepared independently. Options for soil compositions for growing tomatoes:
- Mix 4 kg of peat, 1 kg of turf and 250 g of mullein. To the resulting composition add 1.5 kg of sand, 5 g of ammonium nitrate and 1 g of potassium chloride and phosphate.
- Take 3 kg of peat, 1 kg of sawdust, 0.5 kg of mullein, 1 kg of sand, 1 glass of ash, 1 g of potassium chloride, 2 g of superphosphate. Mix everything thoroughly.
- Take 2 kg of humus, turf soil and peat. Add 2/3 cup of ash, 1.5 tbsp. spoons of superphosphate, 0.5 potassium sulfate and 0.5 teaspoons of urea.
Both purchased and homemade soil need disinfection. To disinfect the soil, pour it with a solution of potassium permanganate, boiling water, or bake it in the oven.
Sowing seeds
Make grooves 1 cm deep in the prepared soil. The distance between them should be about 3 cm.
Place the seeds in the grooves at a distance of 2 cm from each other. The greater the distance, the later the pick is made.
Sprinkle the seeds on top with a layer of soil without compacting them.. Apply from a spray bottle. Cover the container with glass or film and place in a warm place. It doesn't have to be well lit. Already sprouted seeds need a lot of light.
Moisten the soil regularly. However, you should not fill it, as this can lead to mold damage to the soil.
Seedling care
Healthy and viable seedlings will grow only if the rules of care are followed.:
- Temperature. After sowing, place the container in a warm place with a temperature of 24-26 degrees. After seed germination, experienced gardeners advise taking the plants to a well-lit place with a temperature of 12-16 degrees for one day to prevent them from stretching. Then bring the tomatoes indoors again.
- Watering. The seedlings are watered with settled water at room temperature. Wetting the soil with cold liquid will cause tomatoes to become diseased.
- Picking. After the first leaves appear, transplant the plants into individual containers.When replanting tomatoes, cut off one third of the central part of the root.
- Feeding. A week after picking, feed the seedlings. To do this, use a composition prepared from 5 liters of water, 6 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of superphosphate and 5 g of potassium salt. After two weeks, make a second feeding. 3 days before transplanting tomatoes to a permanent place - the third.
How to grow Gargamel tomatoes
Caring for Gargamel tomatoes will not cause any particular difficulties.. This variety is resistant to many diseases. It can be grown in protected and open ground.
Tomatoes are planted in open ground in late May or early June.. In greenhouses - in the last month of spring.
Rules for planting crops
Before planting tomatoes, you need to prepare the soil in the fall. Keep the beds free of weeds and plant debris. Dig up the soil and add lime, superphosphate and organic fertilizers.
Dig up the soil again in the spring. Dig holes in a checkerboard pattern. There should be a distance of 60 cm between the rows, and 50 cm between the bushes. Just for 1 sq. It is recommended to plant no more than three plants per meter.
Pour 1 tablespoon of ash into the prepared holes and fill with water. Place the plants removed from the pots along with a lump of pre-moistened soil.
Place the root of the plants so that it is in the center of the hole. Fill the holes with soil without compacting them.
About other varieties of tomatoes:
Tomato care
To get a rich tomato harvest, care for your plants regularly..
Rules for caring for tomatoes:
- Tomatoes are watered for the first time 10 days after planting in the ground.. Only settled water can be used. Moisten the soil in the evening. The frequency of moistening the soil varies from 1 to 3 times a week, depending on the outside temperature.
- After each watering, loosen the soil around the tomato. This improves air exchange in the root system of tomatoes and promotes better plant growth. The depth of soil loosening is 4-8 cm.
- 21 days after planting tomatoes in the ground, make the first fertilizing. Then the plants are fertilized every two weeks. To do this, use purchased or complex fertilizers. Chicken manure is recognized as an excellent remedy.
- Gargamel needs a garter. Already when planting the plant, a special support or trellis is installed near each tomato.
- Seedling is also necessary for the Gargamel tomato.. This variety is recommended to be formed into three stems. It is necessary to remove not only excess shoots, but also wilted leaves.
Mistakes when growing tomatoes
Try not to make mistakes when growing tomatoesto keep plants healthy and strong:
- Refusal to hill up. Many gardeners believe that hilling is not necessary. However, if you notice additional roots on the stem, you should cover them with soil. This sign indicates that the plant needs additional nutrition.
- Late planting of seedlings in open ground. If you keep tomatoes in pots longer than expected, this will negatively affect the yield and lead to stunted growth.
- Growing different crops in one greenhouse. You need to understand that tomatoes and other plants have different requirements for conditions. Therefore, if the proximity is incorrect, it will not be possible to provide the required temperature and humidity to all vegetables.
- Incorrect stepsoning. A common mistake is incomplete removal of stepchildren. If you leave a stump from a removed shoot, the risk of plant infection will increase.
- Removing large amounts of green mass. Many people think that by removing the leaves, they provide better nutrition to the fruit. This error increases the wateriness of the tomatoes and causes them to crack.
Diseases and pests
Tomato Gargamel is resistant to many diseases. It is resistant to fungi and late blight. For this reason, it is not necessary to spray it with chemicals for preventive purposes. It is enough to follow the rules of care, avoiding waterlogging and drying out of the soil.
Regular weeding will protect plants from pests and root diseases. Mulching also helps with this.
By treating the bushes with a soap solution, you will prevent them from being damaged by mucus and aphids. Collect other pests by hand.
To protect the plant from diseases and pests, use mulching. Line the beds with hay, burlap or straw.
What is the difference between growing Gargamel in open ground and in a greenhouse?
When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, gardeners face the least amount of difficulties. All that is required is to ventilate the structure daily.
There are more worries in the open ground. The first two weeks after planting plants in open ground, they must be covered with film. On hot days, shade tomatoes if possible. Hilling up in open ground is an important stage in plant care. If additional roots appear on the tomato stems, they need to be sprinkled with soil.
Otherwise, there are no differences between growing Gargamel tomatoes in protected and open ground.
Harvesting and application
By the end of July you will receive your first harvest of Gargamel tomatoes.Pick the fruits with your hands or cut them with a knife along with the stalk.
Harvest as it ripens. remember, that Overripe tomatoes are an ideal place for the development of bacteria and harmful insects.
Tomatoes that touch the ground are best picked while still green. Otherwise, there is a possibility of plants becoming infected with late blight.
Gargamel tomatoes Suitable for long distance transportation. They are stored for a month.
Tomatoes of this variety are mainly consumed fresh, but they are also suitable for canning.
Advantages and disadvantages of Gargamel tomatoes
Benefits of Gargamel Tomato:
- high productivity;
- resistance to fungal diseases;
- possibility of growing in open and protected ground;
- ease of care;
- unusual appearance of the fruit.
The disadvantages include the need for pinching and gartering of tomatoes.
Farmer reviews
The described variety of tomatoes amazes with its excellent taste and unusual appearance.. Gardeners' opinions about this variety are extremely positive.
Elena Muruzhenko, Tula: “This year I planted a Gargamel tomato. I grew it in a greenhouse and planted it into 3 stems. The fruits are amazing, sweet, and look like plums. I didn’t encounter any particular difficulties in caring for her. I recommended this variety to my neighbors.”.
Sergey Voronov, Krasnodar: “For two years I have been growing Gargamel in open ground for myself and for sale. Tomatoes have an unusual appearance and great taste. They grow tall and produce a good harvest. From 1 sq. I get 8 kg of fruits".
Conclusion
The Gargamel tomato honeycomb is very unusual. It is distinguished by fruits that are uncharacteristically orange and golden in color with purple and brown stripes.
Despite its exotic appearance, Gargamel is easy to care for. The only difficulty that gardeners face is the need for pinching. Therefore, even novice gardeners can cope with growing such tomatoes.