The unusual “Giraffe” tomato, so named for its tallness

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:

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, soaking 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:

1. Solution potassium permanganate. Take 1 g of potassium permanganate per 100 ml of water. The seeds are soaked for half an hour, then washed with clean water.
2. Hydrogen peroxide. The planting material is soaked for a quarter of an hour and then washed.
3. 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:

1. 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.
2. Plastic pots. They are also easy to use, as they have ready-made drainage holes.
3. Available materials - any containers with a volume of 300 ml: cut-off bottles, disposable cups, etc. It is imperative 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 tomatoes seedlings buy in the store or prepare it yourself. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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:

1. After sowing seeds It is important to maintain optimal soil moisture. When dry, water it with warm water from a spray bottle.
2. The warmer the room, the faster the seeds will germinate. Sunlight is not necessary at this stage.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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. For 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:

1. 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.
2. After all the ovaries have formed on the brush, the leaves under it are removed. This speeds up the ripening of fruits.
3. 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. His resistance to fungal diseases is lower, and sometimes he is affected late blight.

To avoid infection of tomatoes, follow the basic rules of prevention:

1. Disinfection. Seeds, soil, seedling containers and garden tools are treated with disinfecting solutions.
2. Weeding. The beds are regularly cleared of weeds and plant debris.
3. Compliance with watering rules. Tomato beds should not dry out, but they should not be over-watered.Such conditions promote the development of bacteria.
4. 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.
5. Preventive treatment. To prevent fungal diseases, bushes are sprayed with copper sulfate, a solution of potassium permanganate or Bordeaux mixture. To protect against insects, plants are treated with a soap solution and infusion of celandine.
6. Preventive examinations. Tomato bushes are inspected every week. Large insects are removed. Sick plants are treated or removed from the beds.

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.

Harvesting and application

In mid-August, the first fruits of the Giraffe ripen. They are collected individually, preserving the stalk.

To ensure maximum shelf life for the crop, it is better to harvest it at the stage of technical ripeness. The fruits, ready for harvest, are large and have shiny skin. They ripen well in boxes.

Giraffe is suitable for preservation whole or in pieces. Not everyone likes it fresh, as it lacks juiciness.

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits of seeds:

• unique keeping quality;
• immunity to fungal diseases;
• ease of care;
• high beta-carotene content.

Disadvantages of Giraffe:

• mediocre taste;
• hard pulp;
• bred using genetic engineering;
• needs to be pinched and tied up.

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 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.”

Conclusion

The Giraffe tomato is one of the longest-lasting varieties. Its fruits remain fresh until March 8th. Therefore, despite not the highest taste and origin, gardeners in our country continue to cultivate it.