Tomato 'Gigantomo'
Solanum lycopersicum 'Gigantomo'
Full Sun
Easy care
Moderate watering
Tender
H1a
RHS hardiness
15°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
2m | Max | 1m |
1.5m | Min | 30cm |
Fruiting
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
-
winter
Tomatoes will be ready to harvest within 65 - 80 days of sowing. Allow tomatoes to ripen on the vine and pick regularly.
Tomato 'Gigantomo' Overview
Solanum lycopersicum 'Gigantomo' is the largest of the cultivated beefsteak tomato varieties. It produces fruit that can weigh up to 1.36kg each. They are very popular among home growers and a signature ingredient in many salads and dishes. Skin colour can range from pink-red to red. This cultivar has earnt a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.
Common problems with Tomato 'Gigantomo'
Common pests: Stink bugs, cutworms, tomato hornworms and tobacco hornworms, aphids, cabbage loopers, whiteflies, tomato fruitworms, flea beetles, red spider mite, slugs, and Colorado potato beetles. Common diseases: Mildew and blight, Tobacco mosaic virus, curly top
Tomato 'Gigantomo' Companion Plants
Interplanting your tomatoes with other strong scented plants can help to mask the tomato plant from unwanted pests. Examples of these are the onion family (Chives, Garlic) and the mints (Spearmint, Oregano and Basil). The best known and most commonly used is Tagetes patula (French marigold), although some believe it can subtly change the flavour of the fruit. Grow Borage, Queens Anne Lace, Parsley and Dill to protect against Tomato Hornworm. These flowers will attract adult parasitic wasps and other predatory flies that feed on their umbellifer flowers. The larvae of these wasps feed on the Tomato hornworm, while the flies will feed ob various tomato pests. Asparagus produces Asparagus acid. When grown near tomato plants, this acid will repel nematodes that are known to attack. Tomato plants also protect Asparagus as they contain Solanine, a type of poison that kills the Asparagus beetle. Ground cover plants, including mints, stabilize moisture loss round tomato plants and other Solanaceae, which come from very humid climates, these can help prevent moisture-related problems like blossom end rot.
How to propagate Tomato 'Gigantomo'
Seed
Sow during Spring and Summer, spacing them 50-60 cm apart and 6-8mm deep. Germination takes 4-7 days. Transplant seedlings to a final spacing of 60-90 cm and add support structures (stake or trellis).
Special features of Tomato 'Gigantomo'
Crop rotation
Tomatoes are heavy feeders and require well-fertilized soil. Rotate annually to prevent nutrient depletion of the soil.
Pot plant
Only suitable for a large pot (20 liters) and very tall sturdy support. This indeterminate variety will continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season. Prune for best results.
Indoor plant
Give high light conditions and warmth to thrive.
Other uses of Tomato 'Gigantomo'
Medicinal
Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant. It contains Vit A, B, C and K as well as minerals like potassium and Calsium.
Edible
The 'Beefsteak' tomato fruit is an excellent choice for slicing, soups, and sauces.