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Tomato Octopus in appearance fully justifies its name. Looking at him, one can only wonder what outlandish results breeders can get. Many gardeners argued about it for a very long time: is there or not. However, the creators assure that this is not the fruit of computer graphics. In addition, some have already been able to get these unusual tomatoes in their garden plots. The creators of the Octopus claim that its cultivation is possible even in the northern parts of our country.
The tomato tree has always grown in the tropical climate of South America. True, the Indians bypassed it - it was considered poisonous. When the "toxicity" was removed from ripe fruits, they began to cultivate it and receive huge yields. In temperate climates, the tomato tree could only grow in greenhouses and botanical gardens.
Everything changed in 1985. A Japanese breeder presented a hybrid based on a South American tree. From that moment on, the Octopus, becoming more frost-resistant, began to appear in the more northern regions of our planet. However, his main place of residence in our latitudes is a greenhouse.
Tomato Octopus: characteristics and description of the variety
The Octopus tomato is a hybrid. By the growing period, the plant is perennial. In nature, where its growth is not organic, it can reach a height of 5 m. This variety is extremely popular for cultivation in industrial conditions. Up to 1500 kg of excellent quality fruits are harvested from each tree per season. Gardeners can grow Octopus tomatoes in a greenhouse. The harvest will, of course, be smaller, but also very rich.
Tomato Octopus
The crown of the formed tree forms a surface area of up to 50 m². The fruits are formed by tassels. Up to 6 tomatoes can be placed on the brush. Each fruit weighs 150 g.
The leaves are oval, green. The flowers are pinkish white. The shape of the fruit is elongated. The fruits themselves are very fleshy, with a rich "tomato" aroma, and have an excellent taste. The color of the fruit is different:
- classic red;
- yellow;
- exotic orange.
Tomatoes of all colors are suitable for canning and making tomato juices. Subject to the rules of transportation and storage, the fruits can lie until the New Year and Christmas holidays.
In addition, there are several varieties of Octopus. Here are some of them:
- tomato tree cream F1;
- tomato raspberry cream F1;
- cherry tomato octopus F1,
- and a few more varieties.
Agrotechnics
Landing procedure
To obtain high-quality seedlings, it is recommended to use only seed that is sold in specialized stores. You can buy healthy seeds only there. The planting system of the Octopus is not very different from the planting of seeds of other varieties of tomatoes.
First you need to prepare containers for planting. The ideal shape is boxes or barrel. To remove excess moisture, the bottom of the barrel is removed. Holes are made in the walls for ventilation. This is vital for the roots of the plant - in this way room air will flow to them. The tanks are installed in a well-lit, sunny space.The following mixture should be used as the soil: one part of fertile land, one part of biofertilizers and one part of turf. Each of the parts is covered with a layer of 10 cm.
Next, you should prepare the seeds for planting. To do this, they are soaked in a weakly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate, and then washed with clean water. Then the earth is spilled well and grooves are made, about 2 cm deep. Seeds are placed in them and sprinkled with soil. Sowing is recommended in late January - early February.
Tomato seeds
The containers must be covered with a film that transmits light. This will create a "greenhouse" effect: the soil does not dry out, and the climate for seed germination is favorable. For seed germination, a constant temperature of +25 ° C is required. The first shoots should be expected in 10-12 days. The film is removed at this moment. The sprouted seedlings are very demanding for watering and care: loosening the ground, removing weeds, and applying fertilizers.
The next stage is landing in open ground. This happens at the end of May, beginning of June. By this time, the seedlings should already reach 30 cm in height and form up to 7 leaves.
For outdoor planting, it is recommended to use a barrel or plastic box. The technology is as follows: a small hill of fertile land is arranged in the tank. Seedlings are transplanted into it.
Planting tomato seedlings
Before transplanting, it is necessary to remove the excess processes - stepchildren and lower leaves of the plant. Then the next layer of fertile soil is filled up to the lower leaves. From above it is necessary to cover the seedling with polyethylene. When the bush grows 10 cm, it is again covered with fertile soil to the lower leaves. This process lasts until the barrel is completely filled.
Octopus tomatoes how they grow
By July, the tomato tree needs to be supported, otherwise it will break. The plant is tied to this support and monitored so that it does not deviate. The soil must be maintained at 60% moisture. For this, mulching and loosening are performed. Watering is required at least 3 times a week and always with warm settled water.
At the same time, you need to add fertilizers to the soil. They are brought in the same way, 3 times a week using a talker. In this case, the talker is made from bio-compost and fertile soil. Also, one should not forget about mineral and organic fertilizers. Their delivery to the tree is usually combined with watering.
Tomato Octopus
From the moment the first tomatoes ripen, the process of removing excess foliage begins. The process must be repeated at the start of maturation of the next brush. Dying leaves on the tree must be removed during the entire fruiting period of the crop. If this condition is met, the tree will bear fruit for a long time. Sometimes, for prevention, the plant is watered with a weak iodine solution.
Disease prevention
Variety "Sprut F1" resists almost all major tomato diseases. However, preventive procedures for processing the late blight of the tree will not be superfluous. The plant is protected from the appearance of late blight by processing with special solutions. This treatment should be carried out at the very beginning of summer.
Advantages and disadvantages
This tomato variety has a lot of advantages. Here are some of them:
- aesthetic beauty of fruits;
- the ability to use, both for canning and for juices;
- very high yield, which makes it possible to grow this variety for processing in industrial conditions;
- not the most difficult culture care;
- fairly fast maturation process;
- long fruiting time;
- resistance to major diseases, including late blight;
- no need to do pinch.
The weak points of the Octopus include:
- mandatory human participation in the formation of a plant;
- serious requirements for the soil in which the tree grows;
- frequent and constant soil fertilization.
The Octopus tomato is considered a miracle produced by Japanese breeders.Every gardener who dares to take on the labor of growing a tomato tree will have a serious reason to be proud: if the rules of cultivation and care are followed, neighbors will surely appreciate the beauty and yield. In the event of any failure, the tree will still please with the harvest, albeit not so abundant. Therefore, experienced and courageous gardeners should be advised to try their hand at growing this variety.
