It is rare to meet a gardener who does not grow tomatoes in his garden. An excellent choice would be the Pink King variety, the main characteristic of which is its unpretentiousness and good resistance to tobacco mosaic. This variety will especially appeal to those who prefer pink tomatoes.
Description of tomato Pink King
The variety belongs to the first generation hybrids. Tomato Pink King is also called Pink King VIII F1. It was created by breeders from Russia. It was included in the state register in 2007.The tomato has gained popularity among domestic farmers due to its high yield and excellent taste of the fruit.
The hybrid is classified as mid-season. The ripening period of tomatoes is from 110 to 120 days from the moment the sprouts appear. In the northern regions, it is recommended to grow in greenhouses and greenhouses, but in this case it will not be possible to obtain a bountiful harvest. In the southern and central zones of Russia, breeding in open ground is also possible.
The bushes are indeterminate, the growth of the main stem is not limited and can grow up to 2 meters. In connection with this, plants need tying to a support and pinching. To get maximum yield, the stem needs to be formed into 1 or 2 stems.
The main advantage of the hybrid is its immunity to many diseases of nightshade crops, as well as to pests. In addition, a tomato can produce ovaries, even if it was a rainy and cold summer.
Does not tolerate short daylight hours and temperature changes during the day and night. If watering is not organized correctly, plants can be infected with gray mold.
Under ideal growing conditions, more than 12 kg of ripe fruit can be harvested from one Pink Tsar tomato bush. For 1 sq. m. It is recommended to grow no more than 4 bushes.
Fruit characteristics
When choosing tomatoes for your plot, it is not enough to study only the description of the variety, but also the characteristics of the fruit. It is important to take into account the goals of breeding tomatoes, because each hybrid has its own characteristics.
The main advantage of the Pink King is its large fruit size. Like most pink tomatoes, this hybrid has very large fruits. The maximum weight can be up to 350 g. This variety is one of the largest-fruited.
Ripe oval-shaped tomatoes. The sides are slightly flattened. The skin is dense, smooth, with slight ribbing. The fruits are light pink in color, with a green spot near the stalk. The pulp is juicy and sweet. There are about 5 - 6 chambers inside the tomato. The dry matter content is within 6%.
Salad tomatoes, very tasty fresh. You can also use them to make tomato juices, pastes, ketchups or sauces. But, due to the fact that the fruits are very large, they are not suitable for canning in their entirety.
After harvesting, tomatoes can be stored for a long time without losing nutrients. They do not crack and withstand transportation well.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Pink King hybrid
Reviews of the Pink King F1 tomato from those who planted it in their summer cottage are mostly positive. But, despite the large number of positive reviews, the Pink King F1 tomato has not only advantages, but also disadvantages.
Advantages of the variety:
- Large-fruited, tomatoes can reach up to 350 g;
- Unpretentiousness to breeding conditions;
- Gives a bountiful harvest throughout the season;
- Fruits can be stored for a long time and not lose their taste;
- Universal use in cooking;
- High resistance to diseases and pests;
- Ovaries can form in any weather conditions;
- Tolerates lack of moisture well.
Flaws:
- Tomatoes Pink King F1 do not tolerate a lack of sunlight;
- With excessive soil moisture, bushes can become infected with gray rot;
- The fruits are not suitable for canning whole.
How to grow seedlings correctly
Future productivity depends 90% on the quality of growing tomato seedlings. When buying ready-made seedlings, it is impossible to know whether the harvest will be of high quality.Therefore, it is advisable to grow seedlings yourself.
When purchasing planting material, you first need to pay attention to the release date. It is advisable to purchase seeds that were released no later than 2 years from the date of purchase.
The optimal time for sowing Pink King tomato seeds is the first days of March. The second important point is that before planting seeds, it is recommended to disinfect them. This is necessary in order to increase the germination of planting material.
The seeds need to be soaked for 20 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate (3 grams per 1 glass of warm water). After time, the seeds need to be washed and dried.
After this procedure, the seeds should be germinated. To do this, take damp gauze and place planting material in it. The gauze should be put in a warm place and moistened periodically to prevent the seeds from drying out. Seeds begin to germinate in about 3 to 6 days.
Only germinated seeds can be planted. Those seeds that have not sprouted can be thrown away, even if they sprout, the seedlings will be weak and painful.
Now you can start preparing the soil. Soil can be purchased at the store. You need to buy special soil for growing vegetables. It can be diluted with soil from your site. Before this, it should be warmed up and poured with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Planting tomato seeds in the soil:
- Drainage should be poured into the bottom of the container where the seeds will be planted. It can be expanded clay, ground eggshells or small pebbles;
- Then they need to be filled with prepared soil and watered generously with warm water;
- Plant the planting material and cover the boxes with cling film;
- The film must be removed regularly and the soil watered;
- After the first sprouts appear, the cling film must be removed.
Caring for tomato seedlings Pink King
In order for seedlings to grow faster, they need a sufficient amount of sunlight, at least 12 hours a day. If it is not enough, then artificial lighting is necessary.
When the first true leaves appear, the seedlings will sprout. True leaves should not be confused with cotyledons. Cotyledon leaves are the first pair of leaves.
The seedlings should be carefully removed from the container and planted in peat cups. It is necessary to deepen the seedlings almost to the cotyledon leaves.
Two weeks after picking, a new root system begins to form in the seedlings, and the bushes themselves grow faster. After the formation of the third true leaf, the seedlings need even more sunlight. Also during this period, feeding is very important.
2 weeks after picking, a solution of urea, superphosphate, sulfate and potassium should be added to the seedlings. After 10 days, fertilizing must be repeated.
Seedlings are planted in a permanent location at the end of May. If May was too cold, then planting should be postponed until June. The distance between the bushes should be at least 40 cm. When the tomato begins to grow, it is recommended to tie it to a support. Since the Pink King variety is a tall hybrid, the bushes can break under the weight of the fruit and cannot be done without a garter.
