Tomato Pink (Raspberry) elephant is a large-fruited variety that requires a lot of attention and care. But proper care will help grow delicious fruits that reach one kilogram.
Description and characteristics of tomato pink elephant
The pink elephant is a medium-sized bush with potato-type leaves. The height according to the description can reach one and a half meters.
Each brush contains 6-8 tomatoes. And the average yield per plant is about 4 kilograms... The fruits are very large and round. The skin is firm but thin and protects the fruit from cracking.
Most of all are suitable for fresh consumption. They are too large for preservation, but not quite suitable for juice due to their pink tint. It has a rich sweetish taste without sourness.
Ripening period from planting to the first ripe fruits - 115 days... it mid-season a variety that is considered one of the most delicious pink tomatoes.
Tomato, according to its characteristics, loves warmth, therefore it is ideal for growing in a greenhouse. In open beds, he may need a film cover. Depends on the region and temperature.
It can grow fully in open ground, without shelter.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main advantages of the variety:
- Large fruits.
- High yield.
- Disease resistance.
- Taste qualities.
- Long shelf life.
- Suitable for transportation.
Among the disadvantages are:
- The need for feeding.
- Demanding quality of irrigation.
- The need for a stable temperature.
Soil requirements for planting
To grow the Pink Elephant variety, a special soil is required, consisting of earth and humus.
You can add a small amount of river sand, or wood ash. If you cannot prepare the mixture yourself, then you can purchase the necessary composition in the store.
The soil must be well heated and damp... This should be taken care of in advance. Before planting, it is recommended to treat the land with copper sulfate, or a solution of potassium permanganate.
Sowing rules
Sow seeds for seedlings should in the second half of March... First, you need to soak them in a growth stimulator for twelve hours.
Seeds harvested more than two years ago are best suited. They have the highest percentage of germination. Three-year-olds are also suitable.
For sowing, containers with lids are suitable, which can be purchased at the flower shop. Covers are essential for a greenhouse effect. If there are none, then you can use cling film.
Having filled the containers with earth, holes should be formed. The optimal size is about two centimeters deep. After placing the seedlings, you need to fill in the holes and water.
After that, the containers are recommended to be covered with lids or foil and placed in a warm, well-lit place. If all sowing rules are followed, then the first shoots will appear in a week.
In the future, they will need:
- Regular watering.
- Airing.
- Removing condensation from covers or films.
To prepare the seedlings for outdoor conditions, it is worth arranging for her hardening... To do this, about ten days before disembarking in open ground, you need to take it out into the street. The time intervals need to be gradually increased.
Transplant to open ground
The pink elephant is a heat-loving plant that is sensitive to soil warming.
Therefore, it should be planted not earlier than June... Choose a sunny area that is protected from the wind.
It's good if the weather is cloudy on the day of disembarkation. If not, then it is better to do it in the evening. In this case, the seedlings quickly adapt to new conditions.
The distance between rows and holes must be 70 centimeters... So that the bushes do not intertwine with each other. This lowers the level of productivity.
Post-transplant care
Caring for a Pink Elephant tomato is quite simple and easy to implement. But it requires an integrated approach.
First of all it is necessary to eliminate stepsons... Thus, the load is regulated. Each brush should be left with no more than 4 flowers... Small and deformed ones are removed.
In order to avoid possible diseases, leaves of the lower tier are removed... This must be done very carefully, trying not to damage the main stem.
Necessary manipulations:
- Watering.
- Fertilizing the soil.
- Formation of bushes.
- Loosening the soil.
- Weed removal.
After some time, it will take tying branches with fruits to supports... For this, iron bars or wooden pegs are suitable. It is best to form the bushes into one stem. This guarantees the maximum yield.
Recommended to water tomato water with the addition of salt and ash... Ten liters requires one glass of ash and one tablespoon of salt. From this, the fruits become more sugary and fleshy. The water should not be too cold.
Soil loosening in between watering, allows oxygen to penetrate to the roots. This prevents weeds and disease.
Throughout the season, you need to enter top dressing... This is done no more than four times... Before flowering, nitrogen-containing components are used, and after the ovary, magnesium sulfate.
Diseases and prevention
The pink elephant is quite resistant to various diseases.
However, this does not override minimal preventive action. For this, industrial insecticides, chamomile decoction, celandine decoction are great. Warm, soapy water helps get rid of aphids. It is necessary to wipe the stems with it.
You can control pests with the help of:
- Parsley.
- Celery.
- Mint.
These plants need plant next to tomatoes... Their spicy scent will keep insects away.
Growing a pink elephant tomato does not require professional skills. With proper care and adherence to all recommendations, it will be possible to harvest a rich and tasty harvest. Which can be enjoyed for a long time, given the long shelf life of tomatoes.