If you think that collecting tomatoes from a tree is possible only in fairy tales and fantasies, then you are deeply mistaken. Breeders have provided this opportunity to all lovers of tomatoes. And the new hybrid Sprut f1 amazes with the amount of crop and its size. This is a tomato giant with a marvelous name tomarillo or tsifomandra. Further in the article we will tell about the peculiarities of this long-term miracle and the secrets of its cultivation in the open field.
Characteristics of the tomato giant
Despite the fact that today the tomato tree for many vegetable growers remains a strange mystery, it is already more than half a century. The fruits of the unique plant first managed to try the New Zealand scientists. A commercial name was given to him from the consonant Spanish Tomato, which translated means "yellow superiority." 
Did you know? Tomato tree has become popular thanks to New Zealand entrepreneurs. This happened in the period after the Second World War, when citrus fruits, pineapples and bananas brought from Europe disappeared from the markets of New Zealand. In those days, crop production in the country required significant investments, so local traders offered consumers a little-known unique fruit, which was distinguished by its richness and versatility.
Botanists refer to the family of Solanaceae Solanaceae, and its fruits are called berries. Some experts consider culture as fruit, and others as a vegetable.
According to the external characteristics and description of the variety, the Octopus tomato is a small evergreen perennial that can develop in the form of a medium-growth tree or shrub. It is characterized by thick elastic shoots up to 3 m high, large oval-shaped leaves with a glossy surface and white-scarlet inflorescences. On average, 12 small fruits grow from each bunch of flowers. They have a shiny skin of yellow, red, purple and pink-golden juicy flesh. Inside the tomatoes there are seed chambers in which thin, rounded grains ripen. Each fruit is no more than 10 cm long.
Learn more about such types of tomatoes as: pink tomatoes, novice, cherry, as well as about such varieties - "Kate", "Bobkat" and "Aelita Sanka".
They are suitable for consumption in raw and canned form. In addition, pulp minced in a blender is added to cocktails and smoothies. Tamarillo is not stored for a long time and deteriorates during transportation. 
Important! The peculiarity of the fruits of tomato tree is inedible peel. Before eating or canning it must be removed. For this, the berry is poured with boiling water for half an hour or cut it in half and the inside is chosen with a spoon.
Digomandra is very unpretentious in care, does not hibernate and is famous for its good yield. With proper farming practices, up to 10 kg of fruits can be harvested from one stem. Some gardeners grow a hybrid seasonally, while others dig up roots for the winter. As an alternative, you can consider planting seedlings in a barrel. 
Growing seedlings
In order to get a full-fledged bush, experts advise using a rassadny method. Let us analyze in more detail how to grow tomato seedlings Sprut for further transplantation in open ground.
Seed selection
Perhaps this is the key point on which the success of the work done in the future depends. If you think that you are going to gather planting material from fruits purchased on the market and grow tamarillo out of them, then immediately get ready for disappointments.
Octopus is a hybrid and its seeds need to be bought in specialized stores. Remember that this is a rather rare instance, and you will not find it on the street shops. When buying, carefully examine the packaging, check the availability of branded holograms. These nuances will save you from fakes.
Did you know? Vitamins are found in the fruit composition of cyphomandry: C, PP, A, E, B2, B6, B9. And also there are iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and calcium. 100 grams of berries only 50 kilocalories.
Terms for sowing
It is better to buy tomato tree kernels in winter, because in the second decade of February, the period of their sowing is already approaching. Agronomists advise not to delay this process, since before the transplantation the seedlings should reach a meter height.
Capacity and soil
Planting seeds of cyphomandry largely resembles ordinary tomatoes and peppers. The only difference is the packaging. It must be chosen taking into account the maximum height of shoots. It is advisable to make crops in deep wooden boxes that will not turn over from the gravity of the stems. Before planting, they will definitely need to be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. 
Modern vegetable growers prefer peat tablets, which are soaked in plastic cups before sowing. This is a great way to grow seedlings, because it does not require picks and provides a culture with nutrients before planting in a permanent place. In addition, the root system is not damaged during the operation. For tomato tree, this option is acceptable, because in the future the crops will not need to dive. Only place the tablets should be immediately in suitable pots.
Important! Experienced gardeners advise you to soak its grains in a growth stimulator solution for several hours before planting cyphomandry. To do this, use the drugs: "Emistim", "Kornevin", "Acrobat MC", "Ekosil".
The substrate for tamarillo is prepared in the autumn from equal parts of peat, humus, river sand, sod and garden soil. This classic version is suitable for many vegetable crops. Mixing all the ingredients, place the container with the soil mixture in a warm place. By the time of planting it forms the microflora necessary for seed germination. If before the frost you did not have time to prepare the ground, you will have to use the purchase. 
Sowing seeds
When the boxes with the wet ground are ready for planting, the seeds of cyphomandry are sown in small furrows to a depth of 1-1.5 cm, leaving spaces between them within 2 cm. Then the crops are sprinkled with a moist crumbly substrate, then covered with plastic wrap.
If you want to work with peat tablets, pre-fill them with water until fully disintegrated. Then press a grain into each container. Cover the top of the pot with a plastic cup or tie it with a transparent cellophane bag.
Important! If ever on sale you will find tamarillo, buy berries with a uniform uniform color and a tight stem. These are the first signs of their quality. In these fruits, when pressed, the dent formed is quickly restored, there are no spots on the skin. Today, New Zealand is considered to be the largest supplier and guarantee of the quality of these amazing tomatoes.
Sprouting conditions
Regardless of whether grains were planted in wooden boxes or peat pots, in both cases, containers with a “bed” should be sent to a warm and bright place. For the immediate emergence of shoots the optimum temperature should be between 28 - 30 ° C. It is best to put the container on the battery. If there is no such possibility, and the only suitable place is a window sill, be sure to place a stand or a small piece of extruder under the container.
In the future, it is desirable to place the seedlings on the south side, where ultraviolet will heat it for 5-8 hours. Otherwise, you will have to use the additional illumination of day lamps. Their effectiveness can be enhanced by using a reflective screen installed in front of the window.
Seedling care
After the first sprouts sprout from the kernels, the temperature in the room can be reduced to 20 ° C. Weekly shoots can already be maintained under normal apartment conditions. Such temperature drops will allow the plant to strengthen and adapt to the pending conditions of the street.
Did you know? Digomandra begins to bear fruit at the age of two and lives about 15 years. In addition, do not forget to periodically open the "bed" for quenching and in time to moisten the soil. Do not pour it, it is bad for tamarillo. Culture prefers abundant but infrequent watering.
Picks
This procedure is needed only for seedlings that are germinated in wooden or plastic boxes. It is necessary to get to work when there are 2-3 leaves on the stalks. Do not delay with a picking, because in the future a strongly expanded root system will not allow you to carry out your plans. 
To begin with, pour plenty of your “bed” and prepare separate pots. When reusing containers, be sure to process it from the inside with a solution of potassium permanganate. When the shoots will be easily pulled out, together with a lump of earth, place them in new containers. Take care not to damage the thin root processes.
Transplanting seedlings in open ground or barrel
When grown in open ground, the tomato tree the Octopus f1 does not cause much trouble and is not much different from its solanaceous counterparts. This becomes obvious already from the moment of transplanting seedlings to a permanent place. Consider the whole process in detail.
Important! The annual cultivation of tomatoes in the same area contributes to the oxidation of the soil. You can correct the situation with the help of dolomite flour or a well-known fuzz. Depending on the pH of the reaction, per square meter of area must be made in the range of 150-300 g of the substance.
Timing
In favorable conditions, the seedlings of tsifomandry very quickly grow. In the last weeks of May, it needs to be transplanted into the street.
Selection and preparation of the site
Further cultivation of the crop should take place in an illuminated sunny area where no water is collected during the rains. If the plant is in the penumbra, its shoots will stretch and become brittle. Also, this factor will affect the amount of harvest. Do not forget that in conditions of high humidity increase the risk of infection of the culture of late blight and other fungal diseases.
When planning the transplantation of grown sprouting tsifomandra, it is important to take into account the predecessors at a particular site. In this role can not act eggplant, Bulgarian pepper, tomatoes, potatoes. After all, after them, microscopic organisms remain in the soil, provoking diseases and rot typical of nightshade.
Agronomists advise to plant the plant on light fertile substrates with neutral acidity. As neighbors for the tree are suitable: cabbage, all legumes, garlic and onions. 
In the process of preparing the site for planting, remove weeds from it and loosen the soil.
Did you know? Every year, people from the fields of the globe collect more than 60 million tons of tomatoes.
Process and scheme
For tamarillo, dig a hole corresponding to the root system. Experts advise to make it about 30 cm wide and 50 cm deep. Be sure to pour out a bucket of nutrient mixture at the bottom of the pit. It is prepared from equal portions of sod, peat, humus, sawdust, ash. On depleted lands, it does not hurt to bring in 1 tablespoonful of superphosphate, urea, and potassium sulfate.
A wooden peg with a burnt finish is driven into the center of the recess. If you are planning to tie razloie tree branches to the trellis, this is not necessary.
In a plentifully watered hole, the plant is rolled out of the pot together with the earthy clod, leveled and sprinkled with fresh soil. For mass plantings of culture, keep the distance between plants within 2 m. If the size of the site does not allow such a range, it is recommended to increase the width of the row spacing in thickened plantings.
Some growers practice the cultivation of tomato tree in barrels. In such cases, you need a bulk vessel without a bottom. For aeration of the root system in its walls, it will be necessary to pierce the holes according to the scheme 25 X 20 cm. After the manipulations done, the barrel is placed on the warmest and the sunniest place, and then covered with special soil mixture and planted only one sprout.
Important! Tomatoes Sprut have a high resistance to attacks of aphids, tsikadok, earwigs and other harmful insects.
Cultivation and care tips
Many people think that tamarillo should not be tied up with the thermophilic overseas because of the complexity of its cultivation. But in fact, everything is not so difficult. The main thing is to provide the tree with the necessary moisture and fertilizing, timely clean the planting area from weed crops and carry out preventive measures against infection with pathogenic microbes. We will understand all these subtleties in order.
Support
When growing tomato tree, it is important to take care of its support immediately when transplanting seedlings. To do this, you can use the usual thick pegs made of wood or plastic. You can also tie up the bush to the hanging crossbeams or use the trellis.
It is recommended to tie tamarillo branches to the support with fabric tape. Wire, fishing line and other hard materials that can damage the stems are completely unsuitable for these purposes. 
The transplanted seedlings need to be tied up immediately to the peg, otherwise the stem may not sustain its own weight and break.
Important! Experts advise to mulch pristvolnye holes around the bushes of tsifomandry mowed grass. This mulch enriches the nutritional composition of the soil and contributes to its looseness, without affecting the acidity.
Watering
Like all solanaceous crops, digital tempere need enough moisture for juiciness of the fruit. But its excess contributes to the appearance of fungal spores and bacteria, which lead to diseases. Therefore, you need to water the plant often, but in small quantities. 
Some gardeners are advised to make a shallow pristvolnuyu hole and pour water not at the root, but in the resulting furrow. All such procedures are preferably carried out in the evening, which will allow the plant to more easily transfer the heat of the day.
Weeding weeds
Pulling out unnecessary vegetation is not a fad of aesthetes, but a necessity. Only in a clean area does a cultivated plant receive vital nutrients without a struggle for them. Otherwise, he has to direct his strength and resources not to growth and development, but to get the right nutrition.
Did you know? Myths about the toxicity of tomatoes in 1820 managed to dispel the American Colonel Robert Gibbon. It happened in New Jersey, right on the steps of the Salem Court. In protest against the court decision in front of a crowd of many thousands, the military ate a bucket of red fruit. However, some ladies lost consciousness, while others, in the expectations of the terrible death of Gibbon, called him doctors prematurely.
In addition, weeds are a favorable habitat for harmful insects and pathogens. That is why agronomists advise to remove all unwanted plants and loosen the soil. Only wipe sapka should be careful not to damage the superficial processes of the roots.
Most often, weed control chemicals are used (herbicides) such as: Ground, Lontrel-300, Roundup, Lazurit.
Top dressing
Experts advise during the season to fertilize tamarillo every two weeks, alternating organic and mineral substances. But it is important to take into account the general condition of the plant.
At the beginning of development, it is important to introduce nitrogen-containing substances under the roots. For this ideal solution from half a liter of mullein infusion (can be replaced with chicken droppings), 10 liters of water and 30 g of nitrophoska.
In the future, tsifomandra will need phosphorus-potassium fertilizer. Some housewives add wood ash and chicken dung to the liquid. A classic solution is prepared from 10 liters of water and taken 1 tbsp. l superphosphate or potassium humate and nitrophoska. This complex will not allow fruits to accumulate nitrates.
To improve budding, and in order to preserve the ovary prematurely from the stems, the plant should be sprayed twice with a solution of boric acid prepared in a ratio of 1 g: 1 l.
Be careful, because with a shortage of nitrogen the same signs are observed as in growing a culture in cold conditions.
Important! Some gardeners when planting a tomato tree are advised immediately after planting a new seedling on a new place, put a five-liter plastic bottle on the stalks without a neck and bottom. She is covered with earth. This allows the trunk to grow additional roots from the stem, which increases productivity.
Disease prevention
Octopus perfectly resists the misfortunes of pests, but, unfortunately, it must be protected from fungal and bacterial diseases. Their development is facilitated by heat, dampness and poor ventilation. In such conditions, one does not have to wait for signs of late blight, fusarium, and various kinds of rot.
In addition, the plant must be rescued from Colorado beetles, which adapt to many agrochemical preparations and are very fond of the nightshade.
To save a hybrid from attacks of microbes and bugs is quite real. To do this, you need to control the level of moisture, do not overfill the tree and periodically process toxic chemicals. Безупречную репутацию у огородников заработали фунгициды: "Максим", "Фундазол", "Скор". 
Harvesting
The period of fruiting in tsifomandry lasts until the fall. Therefore, the harvesting of berries will have to do periodically, as in the case of the classic varieties of tomato. If the tree was grown seasonally, its branches are cut at a height of 20 centimeters and only after that the fruits are removed from them. They dig up the roots and plant in a flower pot for the winter, and then return it to the garden bed in the spring.
If tamarillo grows in a barrel, the berries should be carefully removed so as not to damage the branches. In hard-to-reach places, use special tools. By the way, it is easy to make them independently from a long stick and a cut plastic bottle. Remember that these tomatoes badly deteriorate when falling and pressing. And do not forget when you use to remove them from the skin.
Opinions about the tomato tree are different. Some complain about the difficulty of growing a giant. Others talk about his prohibitively large crop, which does not know what to do. And still others are pleased that they covered their family and all their relatives with useful berries. It is interesting to know your opinion. 
