Tomato Jeff Davis: characteristics and description of the variety (photo)

Tomatoes

Many amateur gardeners, having learned about the new Jeff Davis tomato variety, want to know its characteristics, are interested in a description of the variety, its yield, and are also interested in reviews from real people who have already planted the plant and harvested the fruits.

Jeff Davis is a warm-loving tomato. It was imported from the United States and is considered a family heirloom. It was first introduced in 1991 in the US state of Kentucky. Jeff Davis tomatoes are so unique that you simply have to try them. This article will discuss them.

What does the Jeff Davis tomato look like and its characteristics?

This tomato produces a high yield. It is considered a mid-season variety. This tomato is considered indeterminate (it can reach a height of 2 meters). Tomatoes can be grown both indoors and outdoors, as long as the climate is warm. The bush appears robust, with numerous dark green leaves resembling potato tops.

What can be the yield?

These tomatoes are striking in appearance. They are pinkish-purple in color, and their skin is thin. The juicy, flat-round fruits (sometimes ribbed) have sweet, fairly tender flesh. The seed chambers are small, and there are virtually no seeds. The tomatoes have a sweet, appetizing taste. This variety is often eaten fresh in salads, juices, and preserves. After the first cluster appears above the ninth leaf, all other inflorescences appear three to four leaves later. A single cluster can produce up to six ovaries. Each fruit can weigh between 300 and 500 grams. Some tomatoes weigh up to 1 kilogram each.

In the Krasnodar region, an amateur gardener distinguished himself by shaping a bush from two stems, and then harvesting 3.8 kg.

Pros and cons of tomatoes

This variety tends to showcase its full potential only in warm locations. If the weather is cool, the tomatoes will struggle and will have difficulty adapting to such conditions. If you must grow Jeff Davis, it's best to do so in a greenhouse.

Positive aspects of the variety:

gives a high yield;
the fruits have excellent taste;
have a high degree of resistance to the negative impact of diseases and pests;
bears fruit for a long time;
resistant to high temperatures;
unpretentious.

One of the downsides is their lack of immunity to low temperatures. Even the slightest drop in temperature is painful for tomatoes. They must be used immediately after harvesting. This variety has been noted to not store well in the refrigerator.

Features of growing these tomatoes

Jeff Davis has the same soil, fertilizer, and watering requirements as all other tomato varieties. This variety should be grown in a sunny, windless, and warm location. To avoid the hassle of staking over time, cultivate the plant with one or two stems. Three stems are also acceptable, but remember that overcrowding will result in small tomatoes.

About seed collection

Seeds of this variety are rarely found in stores. Even if they do appear, they're rare. They're most often sold by collectors. Seeds can also be found in foreign catalogs. Therefore, purchased seeds should be prepared independently.

To obtain high-quality seeds, this variety is planted as far away from other tomato varieties as possible. This prevents cross-pollination and preserves the key characteristics. Each plant should look its best.

How to collect seeds:

choose medium-sized tomatoes, you need to take several of them, mark the beautiful ones, take fruits from 2 or 3 brushes;
A good option is to pick the brown-colored fruits and let them ripen in a warm place. Overripe fruits should not be touched;
Since the seeds are inside the shell, it needs to be removed. To do this, pour the grains into a jar and cover with cheesecloth. No need to add water. The jar should be placed in a dark place for about 2 days to begin the fermentation process.
Once the seeds settle, a film will form on the surface and bubbles will be visible, signaling the end of the fermentation process. This step cannot be missed. Rinse the seeds repeatedly under water right in the jar. The water at the end of the rinse should be perfectly clear.
Then sort the seeds. Place them in a salt solution. You'll need 200 grams of water and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Discard any seeds that float to the surface. Rinse and dry any that sink to the bottom.
Some people disinfect the grains before the drying process by placing them in a solution of manganese;
After the entire collection procedure, the seeds are placed in paper bags and stored for 5 years, no more.

Collecting tomato seeds isn't difficult. But you need to be careful and meticulous. You won't regret the time spent, as you could become the owner of some of the rarest tomato varieties.

How to prepare seedlings

Sow the seeds 65 days before you plan to plant the tomatoes in their permanent location. Prepare a container in advance. It should be wide, or use small cups. To disinfect the seeds, soak them in a potassium permanganate solution (1 g per 100 ml of water) for 20 minutes. If you prepared the soil yourself, it's best to bake it in an oven preheated to 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.

Sow the seeds in moist soil. Cover the container with glass. Remove the glass only when seedlings appear. Place the container in a warm, well-lit area.

As soon as two or three true leaves appear, the seedlings should be pricked out. After 14 days, the seedlings are fed using a specific liquid fertilizer.

Important! During cultivation, the soil should be kept slightly moist at all times. If the weather is cloudy, the plants will require additional lighting. Otherwise, the plants will become leggy and weak.

The last fertilizer application should be 14 days before planting. Organic fertilizer is a good option.

About planting and care

Jeff Davis tomato seedlings should be planted when the weather is already warm. This can be done either during the day or in the evening. Add a small amount of complex or mineral fertilizer to the planting holes. It's a good idea to install stakes immediately. This is due to the rapid growth of this tomato variety. Jeff Davis tomatoes require staking.

Pruning of side shoots (2-3 branches) and lower leaves is necessary. In normal weather, water the plants once a week. If it's hot, water every 3-4 days. Mulch the beds to prevent moisture evaporation. Fertilizer should be applied three times during the season. The first feeding should be done when the bushes begin to bloom and young buds form. When loosening the soil, do so carefully. Weeds should be removed promptly.

Based on reviews, one can conclude that this variety is resistant to various diseases and pests. Growing difficulties may arise if the weather in your region is cool or if tomato care guidelines have not been followed.

Reviews

Svetlana:

"I'd heard a lot about the effectiveness of the Jeff Davis variety. But unfortunately, my first attempt at growing tomatoes was a failure. The plants were stunted, and the yield was minimal. Over time, it became clear that our region's climate wasn't suitable for this plant. Now that I live in Crimea, I have no problems with yield, as I did in Uglich. And the tomatoes you can grow are so delicious, you'll lick your fingers!"

Tatiana:

"I'm partial to pink tomatoes. I especially love the Jeff Davis variety. They're easy to care for and resistant to pests and diseases. Each fruit is large. They're sweet, with a hint of tartness that adds a special flavor. These tomatoes can be eaten fresh, canned, or juiced."