Content
Perhaps, any person in one way or another related to gardening could not help but hear about the tomato miracle tree Octopus. For several decades now, a wide variety of rumors about this amazing tomato have been exciting the minds of gardeners. Over the years, many have already tried to grow the Octopus tomato on their plots, and sometimes they leave the most contradictory reviews about it.
Many are disappointed that they were unable to grow even something similar to the unique plant spreading in all directions from the picture, while others are quite satisfied with the growth power of their planted bushes and consider Sprut to be quite a good indeterminate hybrid, which can taste and yield compete with many other tomatoes. To some extent, both are right; the Octopus tomato itself is an ordinary hybrid, distinguished only by its enormous growth power.
The popularity of the Octopus tomato has played a good role - it has acquired several more brothers and now gardeners can choose from a whole family of octopuses:
- Octopus cream F1;
- Raspberry cream F1;
- Orange cream F1;
- Chocolate cream F1;
- Octopus cherry F1;
- Octopus raspberry cherry F1.
In the article you will be able to get acquainted with both different ways of growing the Sprut tomato hybrid, as well as with the features of its new varieties.
Description
The Octopus tomato was presumably bred by Japanese breeders in the 70-80s of the last century. At least, all the initial experiments with growing tomato trees took place in Japan, which is famous for its unexpected discoveries and inventions.
At the beginning of the 21st century, this hybrid was included in the State Register of Russia. The patent holder was the Sedek agricultural company, whose specialists developed their own technology for growing tomato trees. The Octopus tomato has the following characteristics:
- The hybrid belongs to indeterminate tomatoes and is characterized by strong growth energy of lateral shoots;
- In terms of ripening time, it can be classified as a late-ripening tomato, that is, at least 120-130 days pass from the appearance of full shoots to the ripening of tomatoes;
- The yield when grown under normal open ground conditions is about 6-8 kg of tomatoes per bush;
- The hybrid belongs to the raceme type, 5-6 fruits are formed in the raceme, the racemes themselves appear every three leaves.
- Octopus is characterized by increased heat resistance and is resistant to most common diseases. Among them are crown and root rots, tobacco mosaic virus, verticillium and powdery mildew;
- The fruits of this tomato have an excellent taste, they are dense, juicy and meaty. The average weight of one tomato is 120-130 grams;
- The shape of the tomatoes is round, slightly flattened. The color is bright, red;
- Octopus tomatoes are distinguished by their ability to be stored for a long time.
If you keep in mind only the characteristics listed above, then you are faced with only an ordinary indeterminate mid-late hybrid with good yield indicators.
Special growing technologies
In addition to the above characteristics, manufacturers indicate the possibility of growing this hybrid in the form of a tomato tree. And then absolutely incredible figures are given that will make any gardener’s head spin with delight. That the height of the tree will be up to 5 meters, that it needs to be grown for at least a year or even two, and that the area of its crown can spread up to 50 square meters. Well, the most important thing is that from one such tree you can collect up to 1500 kg of delicious tomatoes.
The most interesting thing is that all these figures are not an exaggeration, just as tomato trees themselves cannot be called a myth or fiction. They really exist, but in order to obtain such results, special conditions and compliance with special growing technology are required.
Firstly, such tomato trees cannot be grown in one summer season, even in the southernmost regions of Russia. Therefore, it is necessary to have a greenhouse that will be heated during the cold period. In addition to heating, in winter you will also need additional lighting.
Secondly, such trees cannot be grown on ordinary soils. The use of hydroponics is necessary.In Japan, they went even further and applied technology that made it possible to completely automate, using a computer, the process of supplying oxygen and nutrients to the root system of tomatoes.
Specialists of the Sedek agricultural company have developed their own technology, which allows, in principle, to obtain the same result, but all measurements and control of solutions will have to be carried out manually, which increases the labor intensity of the process. The standard hydroponic growing technology is used, which can only be carried out in industrial conditions, so it is unlikely to be of interest to the vast majority of summer residents and gardeners.
Growing in greenhouses
For most Russian gardeners, it will be more interesting to grow the Octopus tomato in ordinary polycarbonate or film greenhouses. Indeed, for the climatic conditions of open ground in central Russia, this hybrid is not suitable, like any late-ripening tomato. But in a greenhouse from one bush it is quite possible to grow about 12-15 buckets of Sprut tomatoes over the entire warm season.
To obtain such results, the seeds of this hybrid for seedlings must be sown no later than January, optimally in the second half of the month. It is good to use disinfected soil with a high content of vermiculite and vermicompost for sowing. Maintain temperature conditions from the moment of emergence within +20°+25°C. But the most important thing is the light. There must be a lot of it. Therefore, additional lighting during the entire period before planting seedlings in the greenhouse should operate 14-15 hours a day.
Three weeks after emergence, Octopus plants are planted in separate containers, the volume of which must be at least 1 liter. This is necessary for the full development of the root system.
Watering at this stage should be moderate, but once every 10 days the seedlings must be fed with vermicompost. It is possible to combine this procedure with watering.
Already in mid-April, Sprut tomato seedlings must be planted in a greenhouse in raised beds insulated with compost. Before replanting, it is advisable to remove two pairs of lower leaves and bury the plants 15 cm into the ground. A handful of humus and wood ash is added to the planting hole.
Before the onset of consistently warm weather, it is advisable to cover the planted Sprut tomato seedlings with non-woven material on the arches.
The most important secret of obtaining large yields lies in the fact that Octopus plants do not shoot at all. On the contrary, all the resulting stepsons with tassels and ovaries are tied to rows of wire stretched under the ceiling of the greenhouse. Thus, by mid-summer, a real Octopus tomato tree is formed, up to two meters high and with a crown spreading in width to approximately the same distance.
In addition, with the onset of hot weather in summer, the tomato tree needs to ensure good air flow through vents and open doors.
Fertilizing with organic matter or vermicompost is also carried out regularly, at least once a week.
If everything was done correctly, the first tomatoes will begin to ripen in mid-June. And fruiting will last until autumn, right up to frost outside.
Growth of a hybrid in open ground
In principle, for open ground all the main aspects of growing the Octopus tomato remain the same as for the greenhouse. It is only necessary to note that it is possible to identify all the possibilities of this hybrid only in the open ground of the southern regions, at a latitude south of Rostov-on-Don or at least Voronezh.
Otherwise, in the beds it is very important to build a strong and voluminous trellis for these tomatoes, to which you will regularly tie all the growing shoots. When planting early, it is necessary to provide protection for Octopus tomato seedlings from possible night cold snaps. Some attention should be paid to the prevention of diseases and pests, since in open ground the likelihood of their occurrence is usually greater than in greenhouses. Although Octopus shows high resistance to various problems and, as a rule, copes with them even without outside help.
Other Octopuses and reviews from gardeners
In recent years, other hybrids with the same name have appeared on the market and become even more popular.
The main reason for their popularity among the people is their earlier ripening. Tomato Octopus Cream F1 can be safely classified as a mid-early tomato; mature fruits appear within 100-110 days after germination. In addition, it is characterized by very beautiful fruits, almost the same shape and size, with glossy skin, which look very attractive on the bushes. Multi-colored Octopus cream retains all the same characteristics, differing only in the color of the fruit.
The Sprut Cherry F1 tomato was even included in the State Register of Russia in 2012. It is also distinguished by earlier ripening periods. In addition, it is even more productive than the usual Octopus. At least, when grown under normal greenhouse conditions, you can get up to 9 kg of tomatoes from one bush.
Since, in recent years, gardeners have apparently come to terms with the fact that it is too difficult to grow a tomato tree from Octopus, reviews of these hybrids have become more optimistic. Many people still value the yield, taste and great vigor of tomato bushes.
Conclusion
The Octopus tomato will remain a mystery for many gardeners for a long time, and its image of a tomato tree will help some of them constantly experiment and achieve unusual results. In general, this hybrid deserves attention, if only because of its productivity and resistance to diseases and pests.
