Characteristics and description of the Golden Cockerel tomato

Many gardening enthusiasts grow the same tomato varieties year after year, arguing that tried-and-true options will never fail. But domestic breeding is constantly evolving, regularly introducing new, higher-yielding, disease-resistant, and versatile varieties.

One of these is the Golden Cockerel tomato, which can be grown anywhere, both in greenhouses and in open soil.

Characteristics of the variety

"Golden Cockerel" is a mid-season variety with a long fruiting period and is recognized as one of the most delicious yellow-fruited tomatoes. It is versatile, has a long shelf life, and is suitable for long-distance transportation due to its fleshy and firm fruits.

Plant characteristics

An indeterminate (tall) bush, its height reaches up to 2 m, most commonly 1.6-1.8 m. The stems are robust, the leaves are of a typical shape and size, and the plant requires staking and pinching throughout the growing season. It grows faster in warm climates or in greenhouses. It can be grown as a single stem, but best results are achieved with 2-3 or even 4 stems. The growing season of the "Golden Cockerel" tomato ranges from 110 to 125 days. This is the period from full seed germination to the beginning of fruit ripening.

Color, size, taste of fruits

The fruits are bright yellow, have a distinct "spindle-shaped" (elongated) shape, and are very dense, weighing 85-120 g. Under favorable conditions, a single cluster produces 5 to 10 tomatoes. They are highly palatable, with a pleasant, rich tomato flavor and a slightly sweet taste. The fruits are fleshy and have few seeds, making them very enjoyable to eat.

The "Golden Cockerel" variety is versatile in its uses: it can be eaten raw, added to gourmet salads, and preserved in various ways. The fruits keep well in a cool, dark place, retaining their flavor over time.
The yield of the "Golden Cockerel" variety ranges from 3 to 7 kg per bush (subject to proper agricultural practices). Maximum yield can only be achieved in greenhouse conditions, especially in northern regions.

Main advantages of the variety:

• versatility;
• long fruiting;
• high resistance to the most common tomato diseases;
• bright color and rich tomato flavor;
• undemanding to growing conditions.

Disadvantages of the Golden Cockerel tomato

• prolonged growing season;
• the need to shape the bush and tie it up due to its tall growth;
• the relatively high cost of seeds and the difficulty of availability of the variety (it remains rare to this day).

Features of cultivation

Sow seeds 60-65 days before planting the seedlings in open ground for their permanent location (the ideal time is March). Store-bought seeds don't require any additional treatment, but those harvested from a fruit will require a little pre-sowing care:

1. To check the quality of the seeds, they are soaked in a weak salt solution (a teaspoon per glass of water). Any that float to the surface are discarded.
2. Immediately before planting, seeds should be disinfected, as most diseases "live" on their surface. To disinfect, soak the seeds in a 1% potassium permanganate solution for about 20 minutes. You can also treat them in a 2-3% hydrogen peroxide solution heated to 45 degrees Celsius.
3. To improve varietal quality and germination, seeds must be soaked in a nutrient solution of Epin or Immunocytophyte.

After all the above procedures, you can sow the seeds with or without pre-germination. Germination accelerates the seedling germination process and also allows you to discard the planting material early in the process. This procedure is carried out using a damp cloth or cotton fabric: the seeds are laid out on the cloth, covered with plastic wrap, and kept in a warm place (20-25 degrees Celsius) for several days until the sprouts emerge.
Already sprouted or dry store-bought seeds should be planted in peat soil, spaced 1 cm apart. Add a centimeter-thick layer of the lightest peat possible, then water through a spray bottle or strainer, but avoid a direct, forceful stream, as this will cause the seeds to float. Cover the container with plastic wrap and place it in a well-lit area with a temperature of up to 25 degrees Celsius. Once the sprouts emerge, gradually remove the plastic wrap, allowing the seedlings to harden off and acclimate to the dry air in the room.

When the seedlings reach 1-3 true leaves, they should be transplanted into individual pots or plastic cups, planting them slightly deeper. To prevent stretching, you can provide supplemental 12-hour lighting.
When the plants reach 5-6 true leaves, they can be planted in a greenhouse or in the open ground. When planting seedlings in a permanent location, no more than four plants should be placed per square meter. If the soil is moist, it is recommended to loosen the soil more frequently to prevent rot.

As tomatoes grow, tie them to high supports and, if growth continues, pinch off the tops. To form two or more stems, regularly remove any abnormally growing side shoots. This is best done in the morning to allow the wounds to dry. To prevent disease, treat the removal sites with charcoal or brilliant green.

Water regularly after the top 4-5 cm of soil has dried out. To simplify this process, you can install a homemade drip system or an automatic sprinkler. It is recommended to water with cool water, no hotter than 16 degrees Celsius.

Rules for tying up a bush:

Staking, like other procedures, must be done with great care to avoid damage. Continue staking until the plant stops growing. The easiest way to tie the plant is to use a taut wire.

• Several poles are placed along the bed, with wire stretched between them. Since the plant is tall, at least three tiers of support are needed.
• You need to tie it up with ribbons or thick threads. If the thread is thin, it will simply cut the plant.
• Stake the stems as they grow. Place the first tie approximately 25 centimeters above the ground. The second tie can be placed at a height of 1 meter. It's important to tie not only the stems but also the clusters to prevent them from breaking under the weight of the fruit. Tie the clusters in the middle and extend them out to the sides. This should create a "tomato wall."

Regarding the formation of bushes.

• The tomato bush is formed into 2 stems (less often 3 or more).
• Stepchildren that have reached 4-5 centimeters are broken off at a distance of 1 centimeter from the stem.
• It is very important to do side-sonning in the morning, in warm and windless weather.
• Formation is carried out on the lateral shoot, and the main one is pinched.
• After treating each bush, rinse your hands (wearing gloves) in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent the development of diseases.

Disease resistance

It's commonly believed that yellow-fruited varieties, including 'Golden Cockerel,' are more resistant to diseases, especially late blight. Fortunately, this is absolutely true. Moreover, in addition to late blight, the variety described above is resistant to:

• fusarium;
• tobacco mosaic;
• Cladosporiosis.

The only serious threat to tall tomatoes is aphids, but this pest is very easy to control: just periodically spray the bushes with malathion, trichlormethaphos, or similar insecticides. Folk remedies against aphids include soap solutions (laundry soap), tobacco infusions, and herbal infusions of garlic, wormwood, or hot pepper.

Conclusion

"Golden Cockerel" is a good option for gardeners looking to enjoy a bountiful harvest with minimal labor, as well as the ideal taste of bright, unusually shaped fruits.

Reviews

Irina:
A wonderful variety, I really liked it as a greenhouse crop. My grandchildren love the bright yellow fruits and immediately run to them when they come to visit. The flavor is excellent; the tomato is a joy to eat plain or in jars in canned salads.

Victor:
I've been hunting for this variety for a long time, and then last year, some friends shared some seeds with me. I had trouble germinating them—only three out of ten sprouted—but the variety proved its worth with its fruiting, and I actually harvested 5 kg of fruit per bush in the greenhouse. I'm keeping it; I really liked the flavor—so juicy, fleshy, and rich!