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Breeders of tomato varieties have bred so many that each vegetable grower can choose a crop with a certain color, shape and other parameters of the fruit. Now we will talk about one of these tomatoes. The Eagle’s Beak Tomato got its name because of the unusual shape of the fruit, resembling the head of a bird. The popularity of the variety is due to its good yield, universal use of the vegetable, as well as its excellent taste.
Getting to know the variety
We begin to consider the description and characteristics of the Eagle Beak tomato variety by determining the place of its birth. The vegetable was grown by domestic breeders in Siberia. The tomato is able to bear fruit in the open air and in the greenhouse. According to the ripening time, the variety is determined as a mid-ripening tomato. The plant is indeterminate, spreading, but the stems are rather thin.
A positive feature of the variety is resistance to cold. A short summer and spring night frosts will not interfere with the development of the plant and the formation of the ovary. The fruits ripen fully in autumn. The maximum yield of a tomato is up to 8 kg per bush. The average height of the bush is 1,5 m. The shape of the leaves is ordinary, as is inherent in most tomatoes. The size is large. The color of the foliage is bright green. The formation of inflorescences is most often observed above the tenth leaf.
The length of the stems depends on where the tomato grows. On the street, bushes usually grow 1,2 m high. Under good care conditions, they reach 1,5 m. In greenhouse conditions, intensive growth of the tomato is observed. Bushes are able to stretch out from 1,8 to 2 m high. Regardless of growth, tomato stalks are tied to a support. The plant cannot be left to its own devices because of the fragility of the branches. From the weight of the fruit, they simply break.
Eagle Beak tomatoes are tied all summer until autumn, so the harvest takes place in several stages. Usually there are 2-3 phases.
The video provides an overview of tomato varieties, among which there is Eagle Beak:
Description of fruits
Continuing to consider the photo and description of the Eagle Beak tomato variety, it is worth paying special attention to the fruit. After all, it was his form that gave rise to such a name. The elongated fruit has a narrowing towards the top. The nose of the tomato is slightly elongated and curved, like an eagle’s beak. At the initial stage of ripening, the fruit acquires a pink color of the pulp and skin. A fully ripe tomato takes on a deep crimson color.
About the Eagle Beak tomato photo, reviews of vegetable growers say that the variety is able to bring rather large fruits. Typically, these tomatoes are typical for the first phase of harvesting. The mass of the largest fruits can reach 0,8–1 kg. In subsequent phases, the weight of the vegetable is limited to 400 g. It is customary to take the weight of the fruit as an average – 500 g. In terms of taste, the tomato is characterized as a juicy vegetable with fleshy sweet pulp. A plucked ripe fruit can be stored for more than a week.
A large tomato is used most often for processing and fresh consumption. Tomato is delicious in salads, beautiful in the design of dishes. Sweet pulp allows you to get delicious juice, thick ketchup and paste. For whole preservation, the Eagle’s Beak is not used.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
In summing up the reviewed description of the Eagle’s Beak tomato variety, it is worth clearly defining all the good and bad qualities of the vegetable. Let’s start with the benefits:
- the taste of a tomato on a five-point scale receives the highest rating;
- the shape and color of the fruit is quite attractive;
- the variety is characterized by high yield;
- as for large-fruited tomatoes, the keeping quality of fruits is normal;
- The variety is resistant to common fungal and viral diseases.
I don’t want to pay attention to the shortcomings at all, but it needs to be done. Timely identified vulnerabilities of the variety will help the vegetable grower to avoid mistakes when growing tomatoes. So, cons of a tomato:
- like all large-fruited tomatoes, Eagle Beak loves top dressing and regular watering;
- stepchildren tend to grow quickly, so the bush will have to be shaped all season;
- the obligatory garter of tomato stems takes a lot of time, plus you will have to build reliable trellises.
Considering how tasty tomatoes can be grown, the disadvantages just seem insignificant. With other varieties of tomatoes, there will be no less worries.
Cultivation of tomatoes
To grow a good crop of tomatoes with large fruits, you need to follow agricultural practices. The process is quite long and consists of many stages: from seed preparation to harvest.
Calibration of tomato seeds and their preparation for sowing
You can grow tomatoes from purchased seedlings, but experienced vegetable growers rarely resort to this method. Firstly, it is not known what variety of tomatoes will be slipped into the market. Secondly, it is not known what seeds were used in growing seedlings. One of the important conditions for obtaining healthy tomato seedlings is the selection of high-quality grains. Whether they are bought in a store or collected independently from the fruit, the seeds need to be sized.
The process involves manual sorting of tomato seeds, during which small, broken and rotten specimens are discarded. The next stage of testing involves immersing the tomato seeds in saline for 15 minutes. During this time, all the pacifiers will float and should be discarded. Next, there is a process of etching in a 1% solution of manganese, hardening and germination on a saucer under a damp cloth.
Sowing seeds and caring for seedlings
The time for sowing seeds of tomatoes Eagle’s Beak falls on the month of March. By this time, the grains should go through all stages of processing and be sprouted. It is necessary to calculate so that the finished seedlings will be planted in the garden in 60 days. By this time, constant heat should be established on the street. Tomato seeds are sown in boxes. The soil will come from the garden. It is only necessary to calcine it in the oven, and then mix it with humus.
The prepared soil is poured into boxes and slightly moistened. Grooves are cut on the surface with a finger or any twig in 2–3 cm increments. The depth of the grooves is from 1 to 1,5 cm. The boxes are covered with foil on top. In this state, they stand until the germination of the tomato. After that, the film is removed, and the boxes with seedlings are placed in a bright place. Lamps are used for additional illumination.
When two full-fledged leaves grow on tomatoes, the plants dive into cups. Here the tomatoes will grow until planting in the garden. Immediately after picking, the tomatoes are placed in a shaded place. When they get stronger, you can bring them back into the light. A week before planting in the ground, the tomatoes are hardened by taking them outside.
Landing in the garden
Eagle Beak tomatoes are planted in the garden when the weather is warm and the soil has warmed up. Usually the procedure falls on the last days of May or the beginning of June. By this time, the soil in the garden should be pickled, loosened and humus added. For tomatoes, holes are made at a distance of at least 50 cm from each other. In the soil of each hole contribute 1 tbsp. l. phosphate and potassium fertilizers. The roots of tomatoes are sprinkled with loose soil to the level of the cotyledon leaves. After planting, each tomato is watered with warm water.
Care of plantings of tomatoes
Variety Eagle Beak loves abundant watering. Frequency depends on weather conditions, but at least once a week. At least three times per season, tomatoes are fed with fertilizers containing minerals. Well suited: “Plantafol”, “Kemiru” or just ammonium sulfate. Organics can be added more often. Tomatoes treat such top dressing favorably. Any vegetable waste, eggshells, straw will do. But feeding a tomato with bird droppings must be done carefully. If you overdo it, the plants can burn.
The formation of tomato bushes involves the removal of all unnecessary stepchildren. Usually one or two stems are left. Leaves from the lower tier are also cut off. If the bush is thickened with green mass, the leaves are partially removed on each tier. Thinning frees the fruit to be exposed to the sun. The formation of tomato bushes begins in July. The frequency of the procedure is a maximum of 10 days. The garter is carried out to the trellis. To make this easier to do, tomatoes are planted in rows. Poles are driven in along the edges, and ropes or wire are pulled from them.
Of all the troubles that can happen to the Eagle’s Beak variety, an outbreak of late blight can be distinguished. This disease is best prevented by preventive spraying with a solution of Bordeaux mixture. In the event of the appearance of a fungus, plantings are treated with Fitosporin. With harmful insects, a soap solution or a decoction of celandine will help fight.
Reviews
About the Eagle Beak tomato, the reviews of vegetable growers have always been only good. Even a beginner can grow a variety. You just need to follow the slightest rules of agricultural technology. As proof, let’s find out what gardeners think about this tomato.