Content
The Giraffe tomato will fill the body with vitamins even in winter, as it has a shelf life of up to six months. Fresh fruits can be enjoyed until spring. Due to its high frost resistance, the crop can be harvested before the first frost.
History of selection
The tomato variety Giraffe was bred at the experimental seed station of the ANSR in Saratov. Under the supervision of V. A. Stepanov, the following breeders participated in the project: S. F. Gavrish, V. V. Morev, E. V. Amcheslavskaya, O. A. Volok, S. L. Nazina. The Giraffe tomato has been included in the State Register since 2006. The originators are the Research Institute of Protected Soil Vegetable Growing LLC, Breeding Company Gavrish LLC, Gisok-Agro LLC.
Thanks to the efforts of breeders, a unique variety with long shelf life was obtained.
Description of the tomato variety Giraffe
The late-ripening tomato Giraffe belongs to the indeterminate tall type of bush. The height of the trunk can reach up to 2 m, which explains the name of the crop.
The Giraffe tomato is a natural variety and is not a hybrid. If you save seeds for the next year, you can expect the formation of seedlings with full preservation of the qualities of the mother bush.
The stem of the plant is strong and resistant to precipitation and wind. The bushes are covered with a medium density of leaves, not scattered to the sides. Stepchildren are available in small quantities. The leaves are dark green, large in size, and without pubescence.
The tomato inflorescence is simple and begins to form after 7-9 leaves. 5-7 ovaries are formed on the articulated stalks. The bush can contain about 10 brushes.
A medium-sized fruit weighs about 50-100 g. In rare cases, the weight reaches 150 g. The tomato skin is dense, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the fruit during transportation. Thanks to their thick shell, tomatoes are stored for a long time and do not burst.
The vegetable has a round or oblong shape. The surface is smooth, with ribbing at the base.
The color changes depending on the ripening period and duration of storage. The tomato has a light green hue at the ripening stage. The ripe fruit of the Giraffe variety acquires a yellow-orange color.
When cut, the tomato reveals an orange-pink color.
The pulp of the Giraffe tomato is dense and has a sweet and sour taste. During long-term storage, a slight bitterness may appear. The number of chambers in one fruit is 3-4 pieces. with copious seeds in each.
Characteristics of tomato Giraffe
The tomato has good characteristics, which allows even inexperienced gardeners to grow it. The crop does not require complex care to achieve abundant fruiting.
Ripening and fruiting
The period from sowing to ripening of the fruits of the Giraffe variety is about 123-126 days. The color change should be observed. Green tomatoes gradually turn yellow and at the ripe stage reach an orange color. Unlike other varieties, Giraffe tomatoes can be harvested unripe, and this will not affect the taste in any way.
The constant growth of the plant leads to abundant fruiting, which lasts about 1-1.5 months.
Tomato yield Giraffe
Uniform ripening allows harvesting at the same time. From one bush you can harvest 4-4.5 kg of tomatoes, and from 1 sq. m. – up to 10 kg. For high yields, it is important to follow plant care techniques.
Resistance to adverse factors
Tomato Giraffe has high immunity and is not predisposed to the following viruses:
- tobacco mosaic;
- brown spot;
- brown rot;
- cladosporiosis;
- Fusarium
To prevent the plant from being exposed to diseases, it is necessary to prepare the seeds before sowing: soak them in hydrogen peroxide, soda or potassium permanganate.
Thanks to the thick skin, the fruits do not attract the attention of insects. The trunk and leaves are more susceptible to attack by aphids, whiteflies, mites, etc.
If all rules of agricultural technology are followed, there is no risk of pest attack
Growing regions
The variety is suitable for growing in the southern regions in open ground and in the middle zone in greenhouses. The most favorable areas for planting a bush:
- Volgo-Vyatka;
- Srednevolzhskaya;
- Northern;
- Northwestern;
- North Caucasus;
- Central;
- Central Black Earth.
How and where to use it
The Giraffe variety is not particularly juicy, so it is not often consumed fresh. The tomato is ideal for canning as a whole, as the thick skin does not crack and retains the attractive appearance of the tomatoes. The fruits can be frozen, used to make sauces, added to soups and main courses. The unusual shade of the vegetable will serve as a decoration for appetizers and salads.
Advantages and disadvantages
Tomatoes of the Giraffe variety can be harvested even when they are green; they do not spoil when ripe.
You can enjoy brightly colored tomatoes all winter long if they are stored in a cool place.
Pros:
- high yield from one bush;
- stable immunity to many diseases;
- the high content of beta-carotene makes the fruit practically non-allergenic;
- the seeds can be used for the next sowing;
- maintains integrity during transportation.
Minuses:
- sour taste;
- Regular gartering of the bush and pruning of side shoots is required;
- dense skin and pulp.
Features of planting and care
Giraffe tomato seeds are sown 60-65 days (mid-to-late March) before planting in the ground. The size of the container for seedlings should correspond to the free growth of roots. The seeds are placed to a depth of about 1 cm. Shoots appear in about 5-15 days. Sowing time depends on the region, soil heating and climatic conditions. In cold areas, seed placement should be done later.
In order to get strong plants as a result, you need to carry out the following activities and comply with certain conditions:
- After laying the seeds, it is necessary to moisten the soil with a spray bottle and cover with film.
- Watering is carried out with warm water as the soil dries out.
- Ventilate regularly by removing the film.
- The room temperature must be at least 22 ⁰C.
- After the first shoots appear, the film is removed.
- Picking is carried out when 1-2 leaves appear.
- Fertilizers must be applied two weeks after sowing and thereafter at intervals of every 20 days.
Two weeks before planting seedlings in open ground, hardening must be carried out - they must be kept outside for about three hours
As soon as the soil warms up to 15 ⁰C to a depth of 15 cm, you should proceed to replanting. Only one seedling can be placed in one hole, per 1 square meter. m. there are no more than three bushes. The plant is deepened into the ground up to the first leaf. Before planting, the soil must be dug up and fertilizer applied. Finally, you need to water each bush generously.
Subsequent watering is carried out as the soil dries out about three times a week. Each bush requires about 2 liters of warm, settled water.
Feeding Giraffe tomato bushes is carried out in three stages:
- Two weeks after planting - nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers.
- During the flowering period, boric acid is used to irrigate the bush.
- When the ovaries are formed, potassium supplements are applied.
The plant is tall and requires obligatory garter. To do this, you need to install a support and use a synthetic thread to tie the bush as it grows. The garter is organized after the bush reaches a height of 30 cm.
The formation of a bush is carried out in one or two stems. Stepping should be done once a week and preferably in cloudy weather. On the days of the procedure, no watering should be done.
Pest and disease control
To prevent the plant from being exposed to diseases and pest attacks, preventive measures should be taken:
- Remove weeds regularly.
- Follow the watering schedule. Do not overdry or over-moisten the soil around the bush.
- The place intended for planting tomatoes should not be near potatoes. The plant should not be planted in areas where nightshade crops previously grew.
- To protect against fungal diseases, treatments are carried out with copper sulfate, a solution of potassium permanganate or Bordeaux mixture. Pests are repelled by spraying the bushes with a soap solution and infusion of celandine.
It is important to regularly inspect the bushes in order to notice signs of pest attacks or symptoms of diseases in time.
Conclusion
If agricultural practices are followed, the Giraffe tomato will delight you with fresh fruits until winter. The culture is unpretentious and produces abundant harvests even in unfavorable conditions.
Reviews from gardeners about the Giraffe tomato
