One of the oldest varieties of tomatoes is "Grandfather's Cockerel", it is more than a hundred years old. It is grown not only in the former Soviet Union, but also in America. Unusually shaped fruits attract everyone's attention; lovers of non-standard tomatoes should definitely try it.
Content
Characteristic
Bushes indeterminate, tall, reach 180 centimeters. Belongs to mid-ripening varieties, if you sow seeds in March, you can enjoy tomatoes in July. The stems of plants are quite thin in appearance, the tomatoes are arranged in brushes in one of about 6 pieces each. The mass of one tomato can be from 150 to 350 grams. The fruits are elongated, resembling a heart in shape, bright raspberry color. The pulp is fleshy dense, little seed, peel of medium density. Those who cultivated this variety note the high palatability of tomatoes.
Tomatoes can be eaten fresh, they are also suitable for any preservation: juices, sauces, pasta, various salads and salting. The variety is distinguished by excellent keeping quality, tomatoes picked in September can be stored until the new year. It is possible to grow "Grandfather's cock feather" both in the greenhouse and in the garden, the yield of the variety is very high.
Advantages
- Great taste and aroma.
- Universality of application.
- Attractive presentation.
- Productivity
- Long-term storage.
- Possibility of transportation.
disadvantages
- Labor intensive care.
- Susceptibility to late blight.
Growing seedlings
Tomatoes love heat and light, plants can die at low temperatures. For tomatoes, fertile, loose and water-intensive soil with an acidity of about 4.5 is suitable. The optimum temperature for the emergence of seedlings is considered to be 20-25 degrees. After the sprouts hatch, the temperature is reduced to 16-18 degrees during the day, and to 10-12 at night, this temperature regime is maintained for a week, then increased to 20-23 degrees. The first time you need to water daily, with warm, standing water, when seedlings appear on the surface of the earth, you can switch to weekly watering.
After the appearance of 2-3 leaves, the plants must be transplanted into a separate container, with a capacity of at least 500 ml, this is necessary so that there is room for the development of the root system. 2 weeks after the pick, you can feed young seedlings with liquid mineral fertilizers, this will certainly benefit them. You can loosen the ground with a plastic fork, this procedure will help saturate the soil with oxygen. All seedlings need hardening, for this it is taken out into the air, for the first time by 10-15 minutes every day increasing the time spent on the street.
Transplant and care
The seedlings are transferred to a permanent place at two months of age, placing no more than four plants on one square meter. It is better to plant seedlings where legumes, cucumbers or greens grew last season. Fertilize the soil in autumn or early spring, introducing organic fertilizing into it, for example, overripe manure is suitable.
A place for tomatoes should be chosen sunny, protected from drafts. Wells are placed at a distance of 50 centimeters, a meter is left between the rows. "Grandfather's cock feather" is a tall variety and requires garters to support, when planting, you can install stakes or build a trellis.Shrubs are recommended to form in 1 or 2 stems, this significantly increases productivity. Also throughout the summer, be sure to break off stepsons, it is advisable to do this every week.
Plant care consists in systematic watering, loosening the soil and timely disposal of weed grass, which feeds on nutrients from the soil and can be a carrier of diseases. Of course, do not forget about preventive measures that will help prevent the appearance of diseases and pests.
Harvesting and storage
This variety is perfectly preserved for a long time. For storage, it is necessary to pluck the tomatoes brown, and put them in boxes, shifting the layers with wood sawdust. The optimum room temperature is 12-13 degrees, and tomatoes should also be protected from direct sunlight.
Conclusion
This old variety is grown by many gardeners, and everyone only admires the taste and quality of the fruit. Of course, time and effort will be required to care for the tomatoes, but they are worth it. Following all the recommendations, you can provide yourself with extraordinary tomatoes, not only for the season, but also until the winter.
Reviews
Antonina 49 years old
Tomato Grandfather's cock feather is one of the best varieties I have grown. Everything in it is beautiful, and the taste and aroma, and the amount of the crop. The only thing that the bushes in the garden hit the late blight, for some reason I forgot to process the plants on time, but in the greenhouse they remained unharmed. And the yield in the garden is less, although I live in a warm region. Next year I will correct the mistake and I will plant this variety only in the greenhouse.
Matvey 67 years old
I’ve tried many varieties during my life, and for some reason I’ve never heard of Grandfather’s Cockerel, and it’s a pity that I spent so much time processing not very successful tomatoes. Tomatoes of amazing taste, both fresh and salted. Tomato juice from them is also excellent, thick and saturated. I will definitely grow in the future.
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