Description of the hybrid tomato Zhirdyai and the specifics of its cultivation in a private garden

The Zhirdyai tomato is a first-generation hybrid variety. It can be grown in private gardens. This tomato variety is undemanding of growing conditions. Developed by Russian breeders, the Russian State Register of Vegetable Crops recommends growing this tomato variety in all climate zones of the country. In the south, tomatoes can be planted in open ground, while in central Russia, plastic greenhouses are recommended. In the northern regions, well-heated greenhouse blocks and hotbeds are recommended.

Technical characteristics of the plant and its fruits

The description of the hybrid is as follows:

1. Tomato bushes grow to a height of 0.6–0.7 m. They have a medium number of leaves, colored in dark shades of green.
2. After planting the seedlings, the harvest can be obtained in 105-110 days.
3. The hybrid has simple inflorescences.
4. The peduncle has several articulations. The first flower cluster develops above the fifth leaf, and all subsequent clusters appear after one or two leaves.
5. Three to four clusters develop on the plant stem. Five to six fruit clusters appear on these clusters.
6. The fruit is spherical, flattened at the top and bottom. The berries weigh between 0.2 and 0.3 kg. Ripe fruits are red. If two or three ovaries are left on the cluster, the resulting fruits weigh between 0.4 and 0.5 kg.
7. The tomato pulp contains numerous seed chambers, but they contain few seeds. The tomato skin is smooth and dense.
8. This hybrid is resistant to diseases such as rot of various etiologies and verticillium wilt.

Reviews from gardeners growing this variety indicate that the plant produces high-quality, marketable berries. Yields reach 7-8 kg per square meter. The tomatoes can be stored for a long time in cold storage. They do not crack, making them easy to transport over long distances.

These tomatoes are eaten fresh and added to salads. They can also be preserved for the winter. Many farmers confuse the Zhirdyai hybrid with the similar Tolstyak variety. These plants were developed by the same company, but Tolstyak requires more care.

How to grow tomatoes in your own backyard?

Seeds are purchased from specialty stores or seed farms. They are sown in miniature greenhouses approximately two months before transplanting into permanent soil. The germination rate of Zhirdyai seeds reaches 98-100%. The seedlings are transplanted to their permanent location in the first week of May.

This variety requires side shoot removal and partial pruning. To prevent plants from shading each other, it is recommended to plant no more than 3-4 plants per square meter of bed.

When forming a hybrid with two stems, plant no more than three bushes per square meter of garden bed. When the bushes begin to set fruit, it is recommended to feed them with potassium-containing fertilizers, such as potassium nitrate.

To increase the variety's yield, gardeners use wood ash, which they incorporate into the row spacing. The soil beneath the bushes is watered with a solution made from a mixture of water (8-10 liters), 2 tablespoons of wood ash, and 1 tablespoon of superphosphate. During the active growing season, the plants require mineral nutrients. Nitrophoska or nitroammophosphate is used for fertilizing the bushes.

If insect larvae, caterpillars or other garden pests appear on the leaves, it is recommended to spray the bushes with toxic chemicals.

If signs of fungal or viral diseases are detected, protection is applied in the form of medicinal preparations, which are sold in specialized agricultural stores.

After harvesting, tomatoes are stored in a well-ventilated area. Green, firm tomatoes should be left on the vine until fully ripe. When stored at temperatures below 7°C (44°F), the plump tomato retains its marketable appearance for 4-6 months. If stored on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, the berries will keep for 7-14 days.