Characteristics and description of the tomato variety Sugar Elephant
Any gardener wants to find the most productive and “delicious” tomato variety. All these qualities are combined in the Tomato Sugar Elephant. With minimal care, you can get a rich harvest.
Description of the tomato Sugar Elephant
Tomatoes of this variety were created in 2009. Listed in the state register as a tomato intended for open field cultivation in the southern and central regions, and in greenhouse conditions when grown in northern latitudes.
In addition to the Sugar Elephant variety, several more "elephants" have been bred. Basically, their characteristics are quite similar. Most often tomatoes differ in the shade of ripe fruits.
Sugar Elephant Tomatoes are interdeterminate, the height of the bush is not limited. The main stem can grow from 1.5 to 1.8 meters. A garter to the support and constant removal of lateral shoots are required. To obtain the most abundant harvest, the plant is formed into 1 or 2 stems.
The variety is mid-season. It takes up to 115 days from sowing seeds in the soil to the appearance of red fruits on the beds.
The leaves of the plant are of normal shape. Sometimes there are varieties with leaves that are more like potato tops in shape. Reviews of some gardeners say that the different shape of the leaves depends on the seed manufacturer.
One of the main advantages of the Sugar Elephant tomato is immunity to almost all diseases of tomatoes. The exception is apical rot. You can avoid its appearance if you timely apply potash fertilizers to the soil.
Characteristics of tomato fruits
If the description of the bush itself is practically no different from many other varieties of the "Elephant" series, then the characteristics of the fruits will be completely different.
Characteristics and description of the variety and fruits:
- Dessert variety;
- Ripe fruits taste sweet, without sourness;
- The mass of one ripe vegetable can reach from 200 to 600 grams. With regular application of mineral and organic fertilizers, the weight of tomatoes can be increased to 800 grams.
- More than 4 kg of tomatoes can be harvested from one bush;
- The shape of tomatoes is oval, slightly flattened above and below;
- The skin is thin, glossy;
- Universal use in cooking;
- After harvesting, the fruits are not stored for a long time. They must be consumed or recycled immediately;
- Overripe tomatoes can be used to make tomato juices and lecho;
- Fruit may crack during transportation.
Advantages and disadvantages of the sugar elephant tomato variety
The reviews for this variety are mostly positive. There are practically no significant drawbacks that would negatively affect the amount of the crop.
Description of advantages:
- Large-fruited;
- Stable fruiting throughout the season;
- Disease resistance;
- Tomatoes ripen early;
- Dessert appointment;
- The fruits are sweet, fleshy, intended to be eaten fresh as a whole.
Description of disadvantages:
- Side shoots will have to be removed throughout the growing season;
- Seedlings are demanding on the composition of the soil;
- Not suitable for whole pickling;
- Are susceptible to apical rot disease.
Growing and caring for Sugar Elephant tomatoes
Outdoor tomato care is pretty simple. It is necessary to follow the minimum list of care recommendations in order to get a rich harvest. First of all, once a week, the soil where the tomatoes grow must be loosened. This will allow the root system to be oxygenated.
It is also important to avoid overgrowing weeds in the beds. If you run the site, the plants will begin to grow poorly, since all the nutrients will "take" the weeds.
To increase yields, it is important to pick tomatoes from bushes as often as possible. This promotes active development of stems and foliage, as well as the formation of more ovaries. The more often the harvest takes place, the larger and tastier the fruits will be.
You can also make a "warm" bed in your summer cottage. This requires boxes and boards up to 50 cm high. Dig a hole, then put branches, straw and old foliage on the bottom. Put compost on top and cover with earth. Pour warm water over the soil and cover with a cloth.
Before planting seedlings, the film can be removed, water the garden bed again with warm water and the seedlings can be planted. Thanks to this method, the seedlings grow faster. The main thing to remember is that the soil in such a bed can be watered with exceptionally warm water.
Do not forget that you should regularly apply mineral and organic fertilizers. A week after planting seedlings in open ground, they should begin to feed. In 10 liters of warm water, you need to dilute 1 kg of mullein and 1.5 tablespoons of nitrophoska. Mix the solution thoroughly and pour over the seedlings at the root.
After the first flower cluster blooms, it is recommended to make a second top dressing. In 10 liters of warm water, it is necessary to dilute 500 grams of poultry droppings, 20 grams of superphosphate and 10 grams of potassium sulfate. Pour half a liter of fertilizer under one bush.
Further, you can make top dressing based on the appearance of the bushes. If they do not grow well, then fertilization must be continued.
