Tomatoes are one of the most common vegetables among domestic gardeners. It is rare to meet a summer resident who does not grow this crop on his plot.
Description of tomato variety Giraffe
The tomato variety Giraffe is a tall, interdeterminate variety. The maximum height of the plant trunk can reach up to 2 meters. As you might guess, this is why this variety is called Giraffe. The plant also needs staking and removal of side shoots. It is recommended to form a tomato into 1 stem. This way the harvest will be plentiful.
Description of the variety cannot do without indicating the timing of fruit ripening. Tomatoes of this variety are late varieties. Mass ripening of the crop begins in the second half of August. The tomato is intended for cultivation in open ground in the south of Russia, and in greenhouses and greenhouses in the northern and central regions. The main characteristic of this variety is to grow seedlings preferably on light, fertile soils.
Characteristics of tomato fruits
Description of the characteristics of the Giraffe tomato fruit:
- The shape of the fruit is oval;
- The weight of one ripe tomato can reach from 55 to 150 grams;
- The pulp and skin are yellow in color, with a small number of seeds inside;
- The tomatoes are quite dense inside;
- After harvesting, the fruits can be stored for a long time, until December;
- The taste of the fruit is ordinary, mediocre;
- Tomatoes are not suitable for fresh consumption; they are best used for processed products.
Description of advantages and disadvantages
Like any other variety, the Giraffe tomato has not only advantages, but also disadvantages.
Advantages of tomato:
- After harvesting, vegetables can be stored for a very long time (more than 2 months);
- Unpretentious in care;
- Can be grown in open ground, in greenhouses and greenhouse shelters;
- Suitable for preservation in its entirety.
Flaws:
- The fruits begin to ripen quite late;
- The bushes are tall and require staking to a vertical support;
- The fruits do not have a good taste and are not suitable for fresh consumption or for preparing summer salads.
Features of cultivating Giraffe tomatoes in a greenhouse
Most gardeners prefer to cultivate crops in open ground.But sometimes you have to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse, and, therefore, caring for the bushes in such conditions will be more thorough. First of all, you need to think about how pollination will occur indoors. To do this, you can install several hives. When the flowering and growing season ends, the hives will have to be removed.
It is also important to observe the temperature regime. If the temperature is too low (below +15), the ovaries will not form, and if it exceeds +30 degrees, they will become sterile. The optimal temperature is +16-+19 degrees. To increase yield, you can tap the bushes with a light wooden stick. Movements should be smooth, not sharp and fast. If you hit the trunk too hard, all the pollen may fall off too quickly and there will be no ovaries at all. When the first brush with ovaries appears on the plant, stop tapping.
Another effective method is hilling the bushes. The first hilling is carried out two weeks after planting the seedlings in a permanent place. The second hilling is after 16 days. This way the root system will be more powerful and the plant itself will grow better.
Periodically, mineral and organic fertilizers must be added to the soil. After planting the seedlings in a permanent place, they are fed with fertilizers containing nitrogen. This will promote active growth of bushes. During the growing season - phosphorus-containing and potassium fertilizers. Phosphorus and potassium have a positive effect on the formation of ovaries in tomatoes. Plants can also be fed with mullein, wood ash or manure.
