The stereotype of "round tomatoes" every year is diluted with a new development of breeders in the form of unusual shapes and colors. Gigalo is a fairly new variety, interesting, first of all, for its unusual appearance for tomatoes.

Features of the variety

Tomato Gigolo variety characteristics and description - mid-season, determinant, multi-fruited plant, technical maturity occurs 98-115 days after germination.

The plant is compact, undersized, up to 45-50 cm, with thick and strong stems. The brush is simple, consisting of 5-7 fruits. Moderately leafy. Leaves are medium in size, fleshy, strong, light green in color.

Fruits of the Zhigalo tomato description - medium, up to 100-130 g, elongated rectangular shape with a rounded base (15-16 cm long, 3-4 cm in diameter), resemble bell peppers or sausages. Orange or muted red with a greenish border around the stalk. The pulp is not juicy, fleshy, loose, with few seeds. The rind is firm. The taste is pleasant, sweetish, with a distant sourness.

Tomato Zhigalo

Application - used fresh, for making salads, tomato juice, conservation.

Note. The hostesses noticed that the "light" made from Zhigalo tomatoes is not divided as usual into "thick and water", it keeps the same consistency for a long time. It is very convenient to cook stuffed tomatoes from them.

The yield is high - up to 3 kg per bush. The fruits of Zhigalo ripen together.

The tomato is self-pollinated. For better pollination, it is recommended to lightly shake the branches on which the inflorescences are located.

Agricultural technology of cultivation

The Zhigalo tomato is grown in a seedling and non-seedling way, in greenhouse conditions and in the open field. The latter is preferable for the variety.

Seedless tomato

The Gigolo tomato loves light, soft, fertile soil. A prerequisite for healthy fruits is the presence of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper in the soil. Like all tomatoes, it does not tolerate an acidic environment.

Getting a high yield largely depends on quality and timely planting.

Seeds for seedlings are sown in late February - early March. For the prevention of diseases, seeds are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a solution of "Fitosporin". Then washed with clean water, dried. Treatment of seeds with a growth stimulator ("Epin", "Novosil") will not be superfluous.

Tomato Zhigalo in the garden

Seedlings are grown in shallow boxes or special containers. You can buy a ready-made soil mixture or prepare the soil yourself. To do this, sod land, peat and coarse sand are mixed in equal proportions.

In moistened soil, holes are made, up to 2 cm deep, and seeds are laid in them. It is recommended to sprinkle them with clean peat and pour over with warm water immediately after. The container with the seedlings is covered with a film and removed to a warm place before the first shoots appear.

The film is removed, the seedlings are placed in a brighter place. The optimum temperature range is 22-25 ° C.

When watering, you must use a watering can with small holes or a spray bottle. The soil must be treated carefully, to prevent the appearance of mold and moisture stagnation.

The picking process is carried out not earlier than the formation of two leaves on the sprouts.

Attention! Gardeners advise to harden tomato seedlings Zhigalo. To do this, you can take out boxes with seedlings outside for two hours, or create a lower temperature (+ 7-10 ° C) indoors.

Growing a tomato Zhigalo is most recommended outdoors.Depending on climatic conditions, the landing time is selected, usually after the disappearance of night frosts.

In regions of the country with a temperate climate, landing is possible already in late May - early June (Moscow, Vladivostok), but in the north, the landing date comes much later. The "garden" period of most of the Russian Federation can be described as a short summer with constant temperature drops, and Zhigalo easily adapts to them.

Tomato Gigalo from the garden to the table

The area for planting tomatoes should be sufficiently lit, away from tall, dense trees and bushes. The best predecessors: cucumbers, zucchini, cabbage, onions. Growing after potatoes, peppers and eggplant is undesirable.

Seedlings are planted in well-dug and fertilized soil. Digging the ground up to 25 cm deep. You can use humus or complex fertilizers. The distance between plants is at least 30-35 cm, between rows - 45-50 cm. On one square. It is recommended to plant up to 5 seedlings per meter. Immediately after planting, it is necessary to water the seedlings and mulch the holes with sawdust; for this, hay, freshly cut grass is suitable.

Top dressing

The first is carried out 10 days after the transplant. Seedlings must be fed with nitrogen, potash fertilizers, iron, boron.

The second subcortex is at the beginning of flowering. Boric acid spraying is used. It has a beneficial effect on the formation of the ovary, strengthens the bushes and increases the amount of sugar in the fruit. Boric solution is suitable - 1 g of boric acid powder per 1 liter of hot water.

Attention! Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers contributes to the enhanced growth of the bush and the abundant growth of green mass.

Gigolo tomatoes do not require special care, the main thing is:

  • Water the plants systematically. Do not overmoisten and do not dry out the earth. Only warm settled water is used. Watering basal, do not allow it to fall on stems and leaves;
  • Weed weeds on time;
  • Loosen the soil periodically;
  • Carry out preventive measures to prevent diseases;
  • Tie up if necessary. The branches may not be able to withstand abundant fruiting.

Tomato Gigalo harvest

Gigalo is a rare variety of tomatoes that does not require the removal of shoots and foliage.

Diseases and pests

Zhigalo has no persistent immunity.

A particular danger for tomatoes is late blight, which affects both fruits and leaves. It is favored by low temperatures and high humidity. To do this, in poor weather conditions, it is recommended to spray tomatoes with fungicides: Quadris, Ridomil gold.

In addition, it is necessary to inspect the plant. It is necessary to remove old, yellow and dry leaves in a timely manner. Spoiled tomatoes must also be removed so that neighboring fruits do not spoil.

Late blight

Advantages and disadvantages

Florida tomato

Gigalo tomatoes are not an ideal variety, they, like everyone else, have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of the variety:

  • Can be preserved with whole fruits;
  • A large number of tomatoes on one bush, respectively, high yield;
  • Does not require pinning;
  • Growing versatility (greenhouse, open ground);
  • Unpretentious care;
  • The compactness of the bush, which allows you to economically use the territory of the garden.

Cons of tomato:

  • Susceptible to diseases and pests;
  • Thick peel, most noticeable when eaten fresh;
  • Not juicy pulp;
  • Low seed content. When collecting seeds, you will need to spend about a kilogram of two fruits, depending on your needs.

The Zhigalo tomato is definitely a good variety. It has both good taste and yield. Suitable for those who like to experiment. Plants will certainly make the garden unusual - such bizarre forms certainly do not grow in every garden.