Characteristics of Tomato Orange Elephant
Tomato with an unusual name got it for a reason: the size of the fruit is really impressive, as well as the rich yellow-orange color. Fleshy and juicy, these tomatoes have an excellent taste, so they are used with pleasure both for eating raw and for preservation. Tomato Orange Elephant can also be used to prepare juices, sauces and various dishes in which it will go well with other ingredients.
Characteristics of Tomato Orange Elephant
Characteristics of the variety
This type of tomato is characterized by limited growth, therefore it is called determinant. It is grown both under the open ground and under the film. Blooming, with dense foliage, tomato bushes tend to reach 70 cm, and under the film they become meter high. Large fruits can weigh from 150 to 300 grams and have a pleasant sweetish taste.
At the stage of ripening, the fruits usually acquire a dark green, and then a greenish-yellow hue, which later takes on the same famous, rich orange color. Fleshy roundish fruits are most often located in 6-7 pieces on one bush, so if we talk about the yield, then, according to reviews, it is average. Nevertheless, long-term fruiting makes this species desirable in any garden, and the tomatoes themselves are a favorite dish on any table. The variety of these large tomatoes is great with other types of tomatoes, so it can be not only tasty, but also an aesthetically pleasing ingredient that decorates any salad or dish.
Benefits of the variety
The main advantage of the tomato can be considered its versatility, because the fruits of this plant can be used anywhere. Its juiciness and meatiness, as well as its excellent taste, allow it to be used for cooking various dishes and fresh. Its size is also an obvious advantage, as well as its unusual color.
Gardeners also note the fact that a tomato of the color of the summer sun contains a huge amount of carotene and vitamins, which have a beneficial effect on the state of the human body. It is its beneficial composition that makes the Orange Elephant tomato so popular.
disadvantages
But as for the cons, they are insignificant. First of all, this is a low yield, which forces gardeners to plant more bushes if they want to get a tangible amount of this "orange miracle".
In addition, their sweet taste can disappear if the rules of care and cultivation of this variety are neglected. According to gardeners, "Elephant" does not require any special wisdom, but you still need to know some tricks in order to get really juicy and tasty tomatoes.
Secrets of planting this variety of tomatoes
If you want to become the owner of tasty and juicy tomatoes, it is best to plant seedlings in specially prepared soil. The seeds are usually renewed every year, since the seeds from the fruits themselves are not suitable for seedlings.
Before you start planting tomatoes, you need to prepare the ground, and this should be a container with really good soil. It takes three months from planting a seed to ripening tomatoes, although if there is enough sun and the area has a warm climate, the fruits can ripen much earlier. It is worth sowing seedlings at the end of March or at the beginning of April, so that at the end of May it will be possible to transplant the plants into the prepared soil.
The soil for seedlings must first be prepared
The planting scheme is of great importance, so you need to remember that the best option is 40x60 cm. The seedlings must be laid in grooves, the depth of which is at least 5 cm. Well-watered soil rich in chernozem and fertilizers is an ideal “home” for a tomato that will “thank »A caring owner with a generous harvest. If the soil is acidic and hard, then it must be diluted with sand and manure, otherwise the harvest will be very poor.
How to care for the Orange Elephant variety
Despite the fact that this type of tomato is not whimsical, it still requires some care. Growing Tomato varieties Orange Elephant, you need to remember about such nuances as:
- watering;
- weeding;
- fertilizing with fertilizers;
- the presence of light;
- lack of drafts.
In addition, it is worth remembering about airing if the tomatoes are grown in greenhouse conditions. To do this, it is enough to open windows and doors so that the air necessary for the seedlings flows into the room. In addition, airing helps to remove excess moisture, which will also have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of fruits.
Tomatoes should be watered at least twice a week, although they should not be poured too abundantly, as they will begin to rot. The best option is to water at the very root in such a way that the liquid does not overflow too much. The leaves need to be sprayed with water, so you need to use a special bottle with a spray bottle. At the same time, it is important to understand that the water should be clean, without any additives, and the temperature should not be too low. You can pour the liquid into the barrel in advance and let it settle before spraying.
For top dressing, it is important to have high-quality fertilizer, which contains manure, chicken droppings, humus, as well as the addition of saltpeter, potassium sulfate, minerals and much more. You can feed tomatoes under the root or outside the root, and the optimal time of day is in the evening or in the morning.
Since the bushes grow tall enough, they need to be tied up. For this purpose, special stakes are suitable, for which you need to tie the growing plants, preventing them from bending under the weight of their own weight.
Disease and pest control
The description of growing tomatoes is not limited to feeding or watering. Treatment of diseases and prevention of diseases are of great importance for the quality and quantity of the crop. Like all living things, tomatoes can get sick, so it is important to prevent the problem before it spreads and ruins the entire crop. Spraying the leaves with soapy water and potassium permanganate and garlic is usually an important part of preventive measures. This helps to fight the invasion of not only diseases, but also parasites - beetles, caterpillars and other insects.
If you notice that tomatoes are stained, it is best to simply get rid of the spoiled leaves and purchase remedies for diseases at the store. However, this variety of tomatoes does not get sick so often, so it is not afraid of diseases. It is only important to feed the plants on time and create the necessary conditions.
Considering these simple tips, you can count on the fact that the harvest of such exotic tomatoes will certainly delight you with its quantity, and the tomatoes themselves - with their quality. A detailed description allows us to conclude that this variety is worthy of the attention of breeders.