Gardeners have long known: in order to get a constant high yield, several different varieties of tomatoes should be grown simultaneously in a greenhouse. If you tried more than one type of tomato, but did not find one that would meet all your requirements, be sure to try planting a grapefruit tomato. You will see: a vegetable with an exotic name will certainly become your favorite!
Description
Just look at the description of the grapefruit tomato to understand that it can safely claim the first place in terms of popularity among unusual counterparts. It has become popular due to the large size of the fruit and its excellent taste. Bushes of "grapefruit" grow up to 2.5 meters, usually they consist of one stem, on which several tomatoes are tied. A distinctive feature of the variety is summer residents called leaves, more reminiscent of potato.
Fruit
Tomatoes of this variety are rounded, slightly flattened. On average, the weight of one mature fruit reaches 300-500 grams, but quite often gardeners grow real giants, whose weight is about one kilogram! Ripe tomatoes are characterized by a yellow tint with a light pink tone. In the context of vegetables resemble grapefruit. That is why the variety was named the famous citrus. Juicy and sweet tomatoes are best consumed fresh, but juice from them is unlikely to succeed: it contains a large amount of dry matter, due to which the tomatoes are dense and fleshy. Grapefruit is also not very good for canning, because the fruits are very large. Another distinguishing feature of this variety of tomatoes is the reduced seed content.
Tomato "grapefruit": characteristics of the variety
"Grapefruit" relatively recently brought breeders from Russia. They created this variety so that it could be grown throughout the year. The standard plant, large-fruited, belong to the category of indeterminate. With proper care and timely preventive measures, the variety is resistant to diseases and pests. Tomatoes are late ripe, from the time of planting seeds to ripeness, about 180 days pass. If you grow tomatoes in the soil in mid-latitudes, you can enjoy the harvest at the end of September. Growing bushes in a closed greenhouse, aromatic fruits can be obtained throughout the year. The variety belongs to medium-yielding, in the season from the bush you can collect about 15 tomatoes.
Pros and cons of the variety
Experts say that the grapefruit tomato is quite profitable for growing, because it has much more advantages than disadvantages. First of all, the variety is characterized by large fruits that have a unique appearance: a yellow tint with light pink tan marks and a bright flesh. In this case, the taste of tomatoes is saturated, in addition, the plants are resistant to disease. Gardeners also note that in greenhouse conditions ripe tomatoes can be obtained more than once a year. In the reviews of tomato “grapefruit”, experienced breeders say: the only drawback is the late harvest.
Growing Secrets
To grow a tomato “grapefruit can be absolutely in any region of Russia. True, for successful ripening in some parts of the country it is necessary to use a greenhouse. It is better to start preparing seeds for seedlings in the first half of spring, for this you need to soak them in water for a day. By the way, a small amount of growth stimulant can be added to water. After that, they can be sown in prepared containers, “grapefruit” is not demanding on the soil. When the first seeds sprout, they begin to shoot, a third leaf forms on them, it is time to pick. In order for the plants to quickly adapt to climatic conditions, it is recommended to harden them.
If you plan to plant a grapefruit tomato in a shelter, you should do it already in mid-May. But in the open ground tomato of this variety should be planted only at the end of June, when the weather is warm. As soon as you notice that the tomatoes have taken root, you can start feeding them. Complex mineral fertilizers are suitable for this, organic matter will not be superfluous. Each time after fertilizing, the soil around the tomato bushes must be loosened, mulched.
Gardeners also recommend stepsoning every 10 days. It is necessary to pinch tomatoes until August. Please note: stepsons who have grown by more than four centimeters should not be removed, otherwise the plant may simply die.
Due to the fact that the stems are very long and the fruits are large, the bushes can break. To avoid this, plants should be tied. Both trellis and large stakes at each bush will do. These designs will ensure the integrity of plants - up to the time of harvest.
Diseases and Pests
One of the most common problems experienced by both experienced and novice gardeners is pests. Tomatoes "grapefruit" is no exception. Despite the fact that they are quite resistant to diseases and insects, you should not give up preventive measures.
The first thing you should pay attention to is the fight against late blight. The disease is characterized by the appearance on the leaves and fruits of brown spots, which have a different shape. The inner part of the leaves at the same time is covered with a light white coating. In order for the “grapefruit” not to become infected with late blight, it should be planted as far as possible from the potato, and top dressing, which includes phosphorus and potassium, should be applied. 20 days after planting the plants in open ground or in the greenhouse, they must be sprayed with the “Barrier” preparation. A week later, it’s worth using the “Barrier”. After, throughout the summer, you can use the eco-solution, which is prepared from water, milk and a few drops of iodine. In order to fight the bear, which eats up the roots of vegetables, the drug "Thunder" is suitable. If we talk about folk remedies, then you can use tincture of bitter pepper or a solution of vinegar for “grapefruit”.
Reviews
First of all, gardeners note the magnificent appearance of tomatoes of this variety. They also talk about amazing taste - sweet, with subtle sourness. The bushes are very powerful. On the upper brushes, tomatoes are slightly larger than on the lower. By the way, summer residents say that “grapefruit” does not tolerate shading: in a shady place, both yield and fruit size are reduced.