Beefsteak Tomato Giant - Costoluto Genovese

Lycopersicon esculentum - Costoluto Genovese

Belongs to the nightshade family. Originates from Central and South America. Plants grow up to 2m tall, covered with fine hairs. Leaves are deeply serrated, pinnate. The inflorescence is a cyme with three to twenty bisexual flowers that are yellow in colour. The fruit is a berry, or tomato. Both staking and bush varieties of tomatoes are grown, producing red, yellow, orange, pink and white fruits.

Besides being very healthy, they also have their specific taste. Their use in culinary preparations is manifold. They contain vitamins C, E, A, potassium, iron, carotene and large amounts of fibre. They support blood formation and benefit skin, hair and nails. They strengthen the organism. Plants can, besides traditional cultivation in the garden, also be grown in containers, for example on a terrace or balcony!

How to Grow Tomatoes

• They require a sunny and sheltered location. Ideal temperature conditions for cultivation are between 21 and 24 °C. Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse or polytunnel is also a possible option, however we take into account that at temperatures above 27 degrees Celsius tomatoes do not grow. Higher temperatures even cause them to dry out. Abundant watering is also necessary. We avoid watering the leaves, as plants could be attacked by mould. We regularly pinch out side shoots to support fruit growth. For staking tomatoes and tomatoes that grow to larger sizes, it is essential to place support and tie them up so the plants don't break.

• Tomatoes are sown at the earliest in mid-February, but better at the beginning of March into substrate for sowing and propagation. After 1 – 2 weeks we must prick out the plants into seed trays - the substrate is the same. After 3 – 4 weeks we transplant the plants into pots of at least 8×8cm dimensions with horticultural substrate. Low temperature and weaker watering are suitable for growing tomatoes. For plants in pots, a temperature up to 15°C is sufficient. We harden the plants very early - ventilate or place them outside during the day. We plant them in polytunnels in April, then in open soil in May after the frosts.

• Plants are demanding on organic matter and nutrients, therefore it is necessary to additionally mix manure into the growing substrate. It is suitable to use granulated manure - we add 300 – 400 g per plant to the substrate.

  Tomatoes grown in beds require soil preparation before planting. On good and humus-rich soils it is not necessary to apply manure or compost. On poor soils we incorporate 2-4 kg per m2 of matured compost or manure into the soil already in autumn.

• We regularly fertilize the plants. Application in the form of fertilizer irrigation with Kristalon Start or Plod a Květ fertilizers is suitable. We fertilize with Kristalon START mainly at the beginning of plant growth, once plants start to flower, we can start using Kristalon PLOD a KVĚT. We prepare doses according to the instructions on the product packaging.

• The most common disease in tomatoes is tomato blight (potato blight). It is recognized by characteristic brown spots on leaves, stems and fruits. This disease needs to be tackled preventively. If we expect rainy weather, we treat plants with preparations like Acrobat, Alliete, Ridomil, Kuprikol etc.

  Blossom end rot in tomatoes is a disorder in plant nutrition - calcium deficiency. It affects fruits which are then deformed and a black spot appears on the tip of the fruit. We regularly fertilize plants. If the disorder appears, we treat plants with preparations for calcium nutrition, such as InCa.

  Sucking pests such as aphids or spider mites attack tomatoes very often. It is suitable to use Agro NATURA Symfonie 3 in 1 preparation also against fungal diseases and sucking pests.

  For tomato blight, DITHANE preparation is suitable. For organic farming, Bioton and Bioan preparations are suitable.

• Bush varieties of tomatoes are harvested approximately 8 weeks from planting. Staking types are harvested from the 10th to 12th week. We always follow the appearance of the harvested fruit. Tomatoes should be red, firm, not overripe.