What will pleasantly surprise you with the unusual-looking tomato “Zhigalo”: reviews, photos and descriptions of agricultural technology

Gigolo is a universal tomato variety that is suitable for both outdoor cultivation and greenhouse cultivation. The advantages of the variety include the compactness of the bush, the interesting shape of the fruits and their wonderful taste. In addition, Gigolo is suitable for growing for commercial purposes - the tomatoes tolerate transportation well and have a presentable appearance.

Description of the variety

A determinate bush of standard type has a compact root system, thanks to which the plant does not require a large area in the garden bed for its nutrition. The multiple-fruited stem is stable and can withstand fruit-laden clusters.

The bush grows up to 50-60 cm, and under favorable conditions up to 80 cm. The plant has an average amount of foliage, which has a dense structure and a rich light green hue. The brushes are formed at a distance of 10 cm and bear 5-6 flowers. With the appearance of the third leaf, the first ovaries begin to form, and the next peduncles are formed through two leaves.

Distinctive features

The Gigolo variety is distinguished by its universal use of fruits. Tomatoes tolerate transportation well, which makes them suitable for growing for sale. Tomatoes are often picked brown; they ripen well outside the garden and are stored for a long time.

Fruit characteristics and yield

Tomatoes are oblong in shape, like a cylinder with bulges. Their length varies from 8-9 to 12-15 cm, and diameter from 3 to 4 cm.The weight of one fruit is 100-130 g. Tomatoes have a dense red skin, do not crack, and the fleshy pulp contains few seeds. The texture of the fruits is not too juicy, sometimes even dry, but the taste is pleasant, sweetish, with a slight sourness.

Tomatoes of the Gigolo variety ripen in an average time. The crop begins to bear fruit 95-106 days from the beginning of sprout development. Growing tomatoes in heated greenhouses gives an earlier harvest. One bush of this variety produces on average up to 2-3 kg of tomatoes, and in greenhouse conditions even 5 kg. From 1 sq. m, vegetable growers harvest 8-15 kg of fruit.

On a note. The fruits of the Gigolo variety ripen at the same time.

How to grow seedlings

From the moment of sowing the seeds for seedlings until the plant is planted in open ground, two months pass. If planting is planned in May, then the grains are sown in mid-March. At this time, daylight hours increase and the plants will receive sufficient heat and light.

For your information. Vitamin C is found most in the jelly-like liquid that surrounds the seeds.

Seed preparation

First of all, pay attention to the presence of a stamp on the packaging, on which the manufacturer indicates whether the seeds have been pre-treated. Sometimes unprocessed seed material is sold. In this case, the grains are prepared independently.

To do this, you will need to prepare a special solution, which includes the following ingredients:

• phytosporin;
• aloe juice;
• potassium permanganate.

The seeds are kept in this composition for 5-8 minutes, after which they are thoroughly rinsed under running water. Planting wet seeds is not recommended. They need to be dried well and only then will they be ready for planting.

Container and soil

Store-bought seedling boxes will last a long time, but you can also use what you have at home: cut-off plastic bottles, disposable cups, pre-assembled and washed juice or milk boxes.

Another good option is peat tablets. They will need to be moistened and the seeds placed in the swollen soil. The seedling store also sells containers with cells and a lid.

Tomato seedlings need loose and light soil. The best option would be to purchase a ready-made mixture with a specially developed composition, but you can prepare it yourself. To do this, you will need to mix two parts of garden soil and one part each of peat and sand in a large container. A day before sowing, the soil mixture is disinfected with boiling water.

Sowing

Before planting, the soil is moistened and holes 2 cm deep are made in it. Seeds are placed in them and sprinkled with earth or clean peat. After sowing, watering is carried out with warm, settled water. Moisten with a sieve or spray bottle so as not to wash the seeds out of the soil, then cover the container with film and place in a warm place with an air temperature of at least 21˚C.

Important! Seedlings should not be over-watered. Even if the top layer of soil has dried out, the soil inside the container remains quite moist for some time.

Growing and care

When the first shoots appear, the seedlings are placed on a well-lit windowsill. But in cloudy weather, when there is practically no sun, artificial lighting is used. The correct development of sprouts and the fertility of the plant depend on the amount of ultraviolet radiation.

After 30-40 days, the tomato seedlings are hardened off. The containers are taken outside for an hour or two, then this time is increased.

How to grow tomatoes

When the seedlings grow to 20 cm, the plant is ready to be transplanted into open ground. Landing dates depend on the region, but not earlier than mid-May. They are also planted in the greenhouse in the early days.

Landing

When planting seedlings in a permanent place of growth, it is important to remember that the bushes should not be planted too close to each other. The distance between them should be approximately 50-60 cm. If you do not adhere to this rule, the yield will decrease.

Care

The Gigolo tomato variety does not require special attention and care. Avoid excessive soil moisture, since the root system of the crop is located close to the soil surface. After glaze Be sure to loosen so that the roots receive more oxygen. Moistening is carried out as the soil dries.

Important! The stems and trunk of the plant are not watered.

The fewer branches there are on the stem, the larger the tomatoes will be, so pinching is carried out at will. The lateral shoots are carefully trimmed, retreating 1–2 cm from the stem.

The first fertilizing is applied 2-3 days after thinning the rows. Fertilize with ammonium nitrate (15 g per 10 liters of water). You will need to pour a liter of solution under each bush. After fertilizing, the soil is mulched.

The second feeding of tomatoes is carried out as soon as fruits begin to set on the bushes. For fertilizer, use a mineral mixture (10 g of potassium chloride and 20 g of superphosphate per 1 sq. m). Fertilizer is buried and the soil is moistened. To do this, shallow grooves (5-6 cm) are made along the rows at a distance of 15-20 cm from the plants.

When fertilizing the soil, nitrogen fertilizers are used carefully. Their excessive use will lead to increased growth of the bush and abundant growth of green mass.If there are no ready-made mineral fertilizers, then organic fertilizer is perfect.

To prepare a mullein infusion, stir a quarter of a bucket of manure into 10 liters of water and let it steep for 10-12 days. Before fertilizing, dilute the solution again (a liter of fertilizer per bucket of water). Feeding consumption: per 1 sq. m pour 10 liters of diluted infusion.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Growing Gigolo tomatoes is no different from cultivating other varieties of tomatoes, that is, using seedlings. This means that seeds are sown in special boxes in March-April, two months before the seedlings are supposed to be planted in open ground or a greenhouse.

Attention! The Gigolo variety is grown in all regions of the Russian Federation.

Diseases and pests

Gigolo has average resistance to disease. To prevent fungal diseases, the following measures are taken:

• mulch soil;
• remove diseased and yellow leaves in a timely manner;
• disinfect planting material;
• remove weeds.

To prevent plants from being affected by diseases, the crop is maintained by applying complex mineral fertilizers. When the air temperature drops, plants are treated with agents that prevent late blight infection. Tomatoes are sprayed with a solution of fungicides and Bordeaux mixture.

Mole crickets, slugs and aphids are often found in a tomato garden. Sprinkling hot red pepper, mustard, and granules of the drug “Thunderstorm” helps against pests that move along the ground.

Aphids and other insects are destroyed with the drug “Fitoverm”. Garlic infusion also helps against pests. To prepare, add 200 g of grated garlic or onion to 10 liters of water, and let it brew for a day.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

Since the variety is low-growing and has a strong stem, it is believed that the crop does not need staking. However, when a large amount of crop ripens, the bush may fall over in a strong gust of wind.

To avoid this, supports for tomatoes are placed during the preparation of the holes. In areas with warm climates they do without them. The bushes are laid on the ground, protecting the soil from drying out. The soil is pre-mulched.

On a note. In regions with cool climates, a garter is required. If the fruits fall to the ground under such conditions, the plant may become sick.

Harvesting and application

Harvesting takes place in July-August. Tomatoes picked with the stem are stored longer. The Gigolo tomato variety is used for fresh consumption and is added to salads and hot dishes. Since the fruits contain a high concentration of dry matter, they make a good sauce. Tomatoes are also dried, dried and canned.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The Gigolo tomato has a number of advantages that set it apart from other varieties. The advantages include:

1. Easy to care for. There are no special soil requirements, which greatly facilitates the cultivation process.
2. Immunity to many diseases.
3. In warm regions, the crop does not require garter.
4. The fruits tolerate transportation well and are stored for a long time.

There are also disadvantages:

1. Light fruit weight. Most varieties have a more impressive weight, so selling fruits in bulk is more profitable. This is a disadvantage in the commercial cultivation of the Gigolo variety.
2. A small amount of seeds. When growing a variety, you need to be prepared that you will have to collect a lot of grains, given that there are very few of them in the fruits themselves.
3. Tomato pulp is not juicy enough.Gigolo tomatoes are not suitable for making juice.

Farmer reviews

Gardeners respond mostly positively to the Gigolo tomato. These tomatoes have advantages and disadvantages. Let's consider some of the opinions of gardeners.

Natalya, Voronezh: “That year I grew the Gigolo tomato variety. The small plants grew no more than 50 cm. I didn’t do any pinching or shaping at all. Therefore, the bushes had several trunks. The number of fruits simply amazed me and my neighbors. I was especially surprised by the length of the tomatoes - the largest was 15 cm, as in the photo of the packaging. The taste is not particularly memorable, but the adjika turned out great. I will plant this variety next year.”

Yulia, Orel: “The bush is strong, compact, no more than 80 cm high, all covered with tomatoes. The tomatoes taste a little dry, I didn’t like them, in my opinion, they are well suited for canning. The manufacturer states that the fruits grow up to 15 cm in length. Actually 6-9 cm.”

Irina, Mtsensk: “The variety is interesting; compared to ordinary round tomatoes, Gigolo fruits have an unusual shape. Tomatoes are very tasty and last a long time. Also, this vegetable does not wrinkle in your hands when cutting. I really liked the fresh tomatoes; they are well suited for canning, and this is confirmed on the seed packaging. But for preparing salads, I give preference to larger and meatier varieties.”

Read also:

Champion in beta-carotene content: Klondike tomato.

Early ripening hybrid tomato "Aurora".

The most effective methods for treating fusarium wilt of tomatoes.

Conclusion

The Gigolo variety is a real find for lovers of original vegetables. It is easy to care for and produces a bountiful harvest in well-fertilized soil. The fruits have a long shelf life.Tomatoes are able to ripen if they are picked brown from the bunch. A varietal crop can be grown from seeds collected from your own tomatoes.

You will learn more about growing the Gigolo variety in the following video: