With the onset of winter, farmers begin to prepare for the opening of the summer season, and first of all they choose tomato varieties. Tomato Giant Red is perfect for those who prefer to grow large red tomatoes.
Description of the tomato Giant Red
Currently, a large number of different hybrids of nightshade crops have been created. Each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages; sometimes it can be very difficult to make a choice in favor of one hybrid or another. In order not to make a mistake, before purchasing planting material or seedlings, you need to study the description of the variety.
Red Giant tomatoes were created in the 80s in the USSR through the process of amateur selection. In 1989, the tomato was included in the State Register as a variety suitable for cultivation in closed and open ground.
A plant with early fruit ripening. The first red tomatoes appear 100–105 days after sowing the planting material. After about 130 days, the fruits begin to ripen en masse.
The Red Giant tomato is an indeterminate tomato, characterized by unlimited growth of the main stem. It can reach a height of up to 5 m when grown in open ground. The average height of the plant is 1.8 - 2.5 m. The bushes themselves are very branched, the brushes can be either simple or complex. The plant is not standard.
It is advisable to grow the variety in garden beds in the southern and central regions. In northern latitudes, it is preferable to plant tomato bushes in greenhouses or greenhouses. The plant gives a good harvest regardless of the planting location.
They are distinguished by good resistance to most diseases of nightshade crops.
Characteristics of the fruits of the Giant Red variety
The characteristics and description of the variety will be incomplete without studying the tomato fruits in detail. You need to pay special attention to this.
Ripe tomatoes are very large, the maximum weight can reach up to 650 g, the average fruit is about 350 - 450 g. The pulp of the Giant tomato is red, juicy and sweet. The skin is raspberry-red, dense. The shape of the fruit is oval, slightly flattened on the sides. There is no green spot near the stalk.
From 4 to 6 vegetables can be formed on one bush. Inside a tomato there are 6-7 chambers with seeds. Dry matter content 5%. The main disadvantage of this hybrid is that ripe vegetables do not last long. After collection, they must be immediately sent for processing.
When fresh, the fruits are very tasty and sweet, perfect for making salads. You can also use them to make tomato juices, ketchups and various sauces. Due to the fact that the fruits grow too large, the variety is not suitable for canning in its entirety.
Advantages and disadvantages of tomato
Reviews from those farmers who grew Red Giant are only positive. The variety is loved for its good yield and high taste characteristics of ripe tomatoes. But, despite all the advantages, the tomato also has disadvantages.
Advantages:
- High yield, more than 9 kg of ripe vegetables can be harvested from one bush;
- Long fruiting period;
- Early ripening;
- Unpretentiousness;
- High taste of tomatoes;
- Large fruit;
- They tolerate lack of moisture well.
Flaws:
- Whole tomatoes are not suitable for canning;
- The bushes are not limited in growth and branch very strongly;
- Can produce a stable harvest only on fertile soils;
- Requires pinching of bushes and tying to support.
Features of growing Giant Red seedlings
To obtain a stable harvest, it is necessary to pay special attention to seedlings. It is not recommended to buy ready-made seedlings, since not all bushes may be healthy. Therefore, it is recommended to grow seedlings yourself.
First of all, you need to decide on the timing of sowing the seeds. Red Giant tomatoes are sown in late February - mid-March.
The Slivka Gigant tomato variety gives maximum yield when planting no more than 3 bushes per 1 square meter. m.
How to sow seeds correctly:
- First, the planting material must be disinfected. To do this, the seeds should be soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes.Then rinse under running water and dry.
- To increase germination, planting material can be germinated. Cover the seeds with a damp cloth or gauze and leave in a warm place for several days. After the sprout appears, the seeds can be planted in the ground.
- It is recommended to prepare the soil for sowing in advance. You can buy the ready-made mixture in the store. Pour drainage and then soil into the bottom of the container.
- Before sowing, you need to water the soil, make small furrows, and plant the seeds.
- Cover the boxes with glass, remove the glass every 3 days and water the seeds.
- When the first sprouts sprout, the glass can be removed and the containers themselves can be placed in a sunny place.
If not properly cared for, this tomato variety can be susceptible to fungal diseases. If plants grow in a greenhouse, then it should be regularly ventilated, and the watering and lighting regime should be observed.
For planting in a permanent place, it is best to choose soils with neutral acidity.
Among the insects on plant bushes, you can often find aphids, thrips, whiteflies, wireworms or spider mites. You can get rid of these pests using the drug “Bison”. “Confidor maxi” and “Proteus” have also proven themselves well; these drugs are especially effective against aphids.
Almost all insects lay their larvae in the soil in the fall, so in order not to fight pests in the spring, it is necessary to dig up the soil after harvesting.
