Why Farmers Love Orange Elephant Tomato So Much

Orange elephant - tomatoes with an original orange color, sweet and fleshy pulp. The variety fell in love with gardeners for its unpretentious care, long-term fruiting and the ability to ripen outside the bushes. In the article we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the variety, the features of agricultural technology in a greenhouse and a vegetable garden.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The mid-early tomato variety Orange Elephant is a selective product of the Gavrish seed company. It was included in the State Register of Russia in 2011. The culture was created for growing in film-type greenhouses in all regions of the country. Suitable for cultivation in the south in unprotected soil.

The bushes are determinate: in the closed ground they reach 1 m, in the open - 70 cm. The plant does not need frequent pinching. As they grow, young shoots are removed and a bush of 1-2 stems is formed. Stems with heavy fruits are tied to stakes or trellises.

The photo shows Orange elephant tomatoes.

The table contains the features of the culture:

Growing seedlings

The preparation of seeds for seedlings begins 50–65 days before transfer to the ground:

• in the northern regions - in early April;
• in the regions of the middle zone - in mid-March;
• in the south, at the beginning of March.

Seed preparation

Experienced farmers advise to renew the planting material annually and not to use seeds from previously grown tomatoes. Before sowing, the grains are pre-disinfected in a pink solution of potassium permanganate (30 minutes) or in a 2% peroxide solution (10 minutes).

To stimulate germination, seeds are soaked in special preparations. The most popular are "Epin", "Zircon", "Immunocytofit", "Baikal".

The soil

The soil for tomato seedlings should be light and nutritious. A mixture of sod land, peat and river sand in equal parts is suitable. As fertilizers, 40 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium are added to 10 liters of water.

Instead of self-made soil, a ready-made, balanced substrate for tomatoes is used.

Both mixtures need to be disinfected in the oven or microwave. In practice, a quick and effective method of disinfection is often used - watering with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

Sowing

Containers for seedlings with a height of not more than 7 cm are filled with a moist substrate and the seeds are placed in it to a depth of 1.5 cm with an interval of 2 cm. Sprinkle on top with a layer of earth (1 cm) and cover with glass or plastic wrap. Future seedlings are carried away to a dark place. Seedlings appear at a temperature of +23 ° С in 4–6 days.

Seedling care

After the appearance of the first leaves, the film or glass is removed, the containers are taken out on the windowsill from the south side. Seedlings like moderate watering no more than once a week.

Seedlings are fed 1 time in 15 days with ready-made fertilizers according to the instructions on the package: Agricola, BioMaster, Biohumus.The complexes contain a large amount of nitrogen, which is necessary for the rapid growth of the culture and the gain of green mass. It is important not to overdo it, otherwise the root system will "burn out".

Advice... After watering, "powder" the soil with wood ash for additional nutrition of the greenery.

With the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, the seedlings dive into individual plastic or peat containers.

A week before transferring to a permanent place, the plants are taken out to fresh air for hardening. Starting from 1 hour on the street, the time is gradually increased to a whole daylight hours.

Agricultural principles

Tomatoes Orange elephant are unpretentious in care. For active fruiting during cultivation in the garden and greenhouse, it is enough to adhere to the correct watering regime, top dressing, loosening the soil or mulching.

Landing

After 50-65 days after emergence of seedlings, the matured seedlings are transferred:

• to the garden - in the last decade of May or the first decade of June;
• to the greenhouse - in 1-2 decades of May.

Young plants should have a strong stem and a strong rhizome, one flower ovary, a height of at least 30 cm.

Planting scheme - 40x60 cm, no more than 2-3 bushes per 1 m².

For landing, they choose a cloudy, windless day or wait for the evening. Saplings moisturize abundantly, cut off the lower and yellow leaves.

The soil is loosened and fertilized with compost or humus mixed with ash (1 bucket per 1 m²). Wells are dug at a depth of 20 cm and poured with boiling water or a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate.

Seedlings are carefully moved along with an earthen clod, the soil is compacted and covered with mulch. Bushes are immediately tied to wooden stakes in the garden or trellises in the greenhouse.

Care

The fruiting of the Orange Elephant depends on proper watering. Plants are watered infrequently, but abundantly, after waiting for the soil to dry completely.

Water is poured strictly at the root, and the ground part is irrigated with a spray bottle in the evening. This reduces the risk of contracting the fungus. At the initial stage of growth, about 5 liters of water per 1 m² are used. Flowering and fruiting bushes require at least 10 liters per 1 m².

Despite their short stature, tomatoes need to form bushes into 2 stems. For this, young shoots are removed, leaving only one stepson growing from the leaf sinus at the very bottom. This allows for higher yields.

Mulching the soil with sawdust, needles, agrofibre, hay, straw eliminates routine loosening and weeding after each watering.

After transferring the seedlings to a permanent place, fertilizers are applied every 14-15 days:

• infusion of chicken manure in a ratio of 1:20 - 2 weeks after disembarkation;
• nitrophoska solution (60 g of substance per 10 l of water) - for subsequent dressings.

Plants respond well to ready-made fertilizers: "Red Giant", "Biohumus", "Agricola", "Effecton-O".

Diseases and pests

The Orange Elephant variety cannot boast of strong immunity: plants are often attacked by a fungus if not properly cared for. At the genetic level, the culture is protected from verticillium and fusarium.

Tomatoes are especially dangerous late blight, powdery mildew, cladosporiosis.

Signs of late blight:

• brown-gray spots on leaves and stems;
• whitish bloom on the back of the leaves;
• spots on fruits and their deformation.

Powdery Mildew Signs:

• white-yellow bloom on leaves and stems;
• small dots (spores) brown;
• dew drops on greenery;
• leaves twisted upwards.

Signs of cladosporia, or brown spot:

• yellow spots on the leaves;
• brown bloom on their underside.

For prevention, the bushes are treated with fungicides ("Ridomil Gold", "Oxyhom", "HOM") before flowering and the formation of ovaries, once every 20 days.

The drugs "Fitosporin", "Fitoflavin", "Bravo" are safe and effective in the fight against fungi. Bushes are processed once every 2 weeks.

Preventive measures are no less effective:

• disinfection of greenhouses with sulfur checkers;
• soil treatment with copper sulfate;
• removal of the lower leaves of plants;
• timely feeding with phosphorus and potassium;
• soil mulching;
• normalization of humidity in the room by airing.

Fitoverm, Flumite, Thunder, Strela, Confidor, Aktara, Borneo will help to fight against aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and the Colorado potato beetle.

The nuances of growing in open and closed ground

The crop grows and bears fruit better in soil with neutral acidity (pH = 7). To determine the indicator, use litmus strips or a special device with a probe. Wood ash will help balance acidity:

• at higher values, 400-500 g are added per 1 m²;
• with average - 200-300 g 1 m²;
• at low - 200 g per 1 m².

To maintain an optimal level of humidity after spraying the bushes, the windows and doors in the greenhouse are kept open.

Tomatoes ripen faster at daytime room temperature + 18 ... + 25 ° С, night temperature - + 15 ... + 18 ° С.

Harvesting and application of the crop

The fruiting period of the Orange Elephant is extended, which allows you to enjoy the excellent taste of the fruit for longer. To increase productivity, tomatoes are harvested at the stage of milk ripeness and left to ripen in boxes.

The fruits are used to prepare seasonal vegetable salads and snacks. They make delicious tomato juice of the original color. Fully ripe tomatoes are suitable for adjika, sauces, vegetable caviar. Small fruits are entirely suitable for canning.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The virtues of culture:

• sweet pleasant taste of the fruit;
• juicy fleshy pulp;
• unpretentious care;
• the possibility of growing in open and closed ground;
• long-term fruiting;
• excellent transportability;
• a large amount of vitamins A, C, beta-carotene in the pulp;
• the possibility of ripening outside the bush.

Disadvantages:

• low yield compared to other varieties of the variety;
• the need for pinching and garter;
• predisposition to fungal diseases.

Other varieties of varieties

In addition to the Orange Elephant, there are several types of this tomato variety.

Yellow elephant

An early ripe variety for greenhouse cultivation.

Red elephant

An early ripening variety for film greenhouses.

Crimson elephant

Early ripe variety for closed ground.

Pink Elephant

Mid-season variety for closed ground.

Black elephant

Mid-season variety for protected and unprotected ground.

Sugar elephant

The variety was bred by Russian breeders in 1989 for greenhouses in the northern regions and open ground in the south.

Farmers reviews

Those who tried to grow the Orange Elephant variety on their plots were pleased with the harvest and the taste of the fruits:

Olga, village Olkhovatka, Voronezh region: «I planted a variety in the garden last year. Before that, I read the reviews of summer residents. It was hot outside, but the plants survived the drought. I collected about 5 kg of selected tomatoes from each bush. The color turned out to be not bright orange, as in the picture, but yellow. The taste is excellent sweet without sourness. "

Victor, Krasnaya Yaruga village, Belgorod region: “I prefer to plant tomatoes Orange elephant in a film greenhouse. I grow it for myself, everyone at home likes their rich taste and bright color. We eat only fresh. The yield is low, but it bears fruit stably until the end of August. "

Conclusion

Even a gardener without experience can cope with the agricultural technology of tomatoes Orange elephant. The culture is easy to care for, needs only moderate watering and timely feeding. Feels great indoors and outdoors, in arid and cool climates.

The disadvantages include a weak level of protection against fungal infections, which can be dealt with by spraying with fungicides (Ridomil Gold, Oxykhom, HOM) and preventive measures.