- Authors: V. A. Vasilevsky, V. M. Nalizhity, S. A. Korotkov, A. V. Dynnik, ZAO Scientific and Production Corporation 'NK LTD'
- Year of approval: 2001
- Category: grade
- Growth type: indeterminate
- Appointment: fresh consumption, for juice, for ketchup and tomato paste
- Ripening period: mid-season
- Ripening time, days: 100-125
- Growing conditions: for open ground, for film greenhouses
- Marketability: Yes
- Transportability: Yes
The Pink Giant variety is one of the most popular representatives of the beef tomato group. It has a long fruiting period and good disease resistance. Used for slicing, salads, juicing and pasta.
Breeding history
Bred at the end of the XX century, the authors are: V. A. Vasilevsky, V. M. Nalizhity, S. A. Korotkov, A. V. Dynnik. Created on the basis of CJSC Scientific and Production Corporation "NK LTD". Included in the State Register in 2001.
Description of the variety
A tall variety up to 2 m in height, the bush is compact, grows upright, the shoots are strong, but they must be tied up, the leaves are light green small "potato" shaped. Growth type is indeterminate. The inflorescence is simple or intermediate, appears after 9 leaves, then every 3. A fruit cluster is formed at the place of the inflorescence. Each can have up to 6 fruits. On the lower brushes, the fruits are larger. It is a heat-loving and light-loving plant. In warm summers, the bushes grow taller, bloom faster and give a bountiful harvest. Grown in open ground, in film and glazed greenhouses
The main qualities of the fruit
Very large from 350 g, flat-round shape with small ribs. The color ranges from white-pink to bright crimson. The pulp is very dense, fleshy, juicy. The skin is firm. There are few seeds. They have an attractive presentation, are easy to transport in a slightly immature form, removed in a state of blanche ripeness, stored for a month, sometimes longer.
Taste characteristics
Sweet, delicate with a pleasant aroma, not sour. The taste is characterized as sweet, excellent.
Ripening and fruiting
In terms of ripening, this is a mid-ripening variety, tomatoes ripen 100-125 days after germination.
Yield
It belongs to the productive species, about 4 kg are removed from one plant. The fruits begin to ripen from mid-July to September.
The timing of planting seedlings and planting in the ground
In a southern climate, seeds are sown in the last days of February or early March, in a temperate climate - from mid-March, in a more severe (Siberia, Ural, Far East) - from late March to early April. It is recommended to plant the pink giant immediately in separate containers, since after a dive, the seedlings are sick for a long time. 3-4 seeds are planted in each container to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. The optimum germination temperature is 23-25 degrees. After the emergence of sprouts, you can choose the strongest, remove the rest, but only after the appearance of 2-3 strong leaves.
Seeds for seedlings for open ground are planted 2 weeks later. After the emergence of seedlings, the temperature is reduced to 16-18 degrees, after 4-5 days the temperature is raised again to 20-24. Before planting, young plants begin to harden 12 days in advance: first, they are taken out for 40 minutes in the shade, gradually increasing the duration of stay until a full day in the bright sun.
They are transferred to a permanent place from May 15 to June 5 - a more exact date depends on the climate of the region, for example, in the middle lane it is better to do this not earlier than the end of May. When the soil in the garden bed warms up to +10 degrees in the greenhouse and up to +15 degrees in open beds, the seedlings can be planted. Usually, the seedlings already have 6 true leaves and 1 inflorescence.
The soil for tomato requires sandy loam or light clay with a high nutrient content. Prepare a place for an autumn tomato, 1 sq.m bring - a bucket of humus, a glass of wood ash and 40 g of superphosphate. Before planting, dig holes, add a mixture to each, which contains complex fertilizers, lime, tobacco dust and dry mustard, then watered.
Elongated bushes should be laid at an angle, and of normal growth, they are buried in the first pair of leaves. Tied to a support. Watered with warm water (25-30 degrees), mulched with humus, shaded for 2-3 days from the sun.
In the southern regions, it can be grown in a seedless way.
Growing tomato seedlings is an extremely important process, because it largely depends on whether the gardener will be able to harvest at all. All aspects must be taken into account, from seedbed preparation to planting in the ground.
Landing scheme
For 1 sq. m, 3 plants are placed, an interval of 50x60 cm, or even 70x70 cm, is made between the seedlings.
Growing and care
Tall stems need regular tie and strong support. On the bushes, not only stepchildren are cut off, but also the foliage, which is below the fruit brushes. Formed in greenhouses in 1 stem, in open beds - in 2-3 stems. Sometimes, when forming into 1 trunk, an additional shoot is left under the first brush - in case the main trunk breaks off.
After the appearance of 5-6 inflorescences, the tops are pinched. Excess shoots and leaves are removed in several steps: no more than 3 at a time. Do not leave more than 6-7 fruit brushes on the plant, if you need to get very large tomatoes, then 4-5 and each with 3 flowers. Under the stems with large fruits, props are necessarily substituted, the branches may break, and the crop will be lost.
It is better to water abundantly in the evening, but only as the soil dries up. The earth must be loosened so that a crust does not form, mulched with sawdust or straw. If the irrigation regime is violated, the tomatoes may crack. The variety needs frequent watering during the period of flowering and growth of ovaries, about once every 5-7 days. During the ripening period, the amount of moisture is recommended to be reduced. Drip irrigation can be arranged.
The culture responds well to complex and organic fertilizing, they are applied up to 5 times per season. They are fed with nitrogen fertilizers at the growth stage - 20 g of azofoska per 1 sq. m, after the appearance of the 2nd fruit cluster, fertilizers containing potassium, calcium and phosphorus are introduced. Large-fruited varieties require more nutrients than other tomatoes. During the ripening period, they are fed about 3 times: infusion of mullein, infusion of herbs or chicken droppings.
A plant needs different micronutrients at each stage of growth. All fertilizers can be divided into two groups: mineral and organic. Folk remedies are often used: iodine, yeast, bird droppings, eggshells.
It is important to observe the rate and period of feeding. This also applies to folk remedies and organic fertilizers.
Disease and pest resistance
Has an average resistance to the main diseases of tomatoes. Prophylactic spraying against late blight with Bordeaux liquid and Fitosporin is necessary. The most dangerous pests are: aphids, Colorado potato beetle, whitefly. To control insects, wood ash or bioinsecticides are used.
Resistant to adverse weather conditions
It perfectly withstands untimely watering and temperature changes, but in cold weather it is imperative to cover it.
Growing regions
It bears fruit successfully throughout Russia, including areas of risky farming. In the south, they are grown outdoors, in other regions, only in greenhouses.
Review overview
For many gardeners, this is one of the favorite varieties; it is planted for huge, beautiful and very tasty tomatoes. The pink giant is not considered the most prolific, but the fruit's dessert qualities make up for this. They note that the tomato needs regular feeding, otherwise the harvest will be modest. The variety must be tied up and removed all excess shoots, but tomatoes are a real delicacy, always large and tender, even in lean years, only their number decreases and ripens longer.