Tomatoes are perhaps the most popular vegetable crop among all the rest. The variety of their species and varieties is truly amazing. And breeders do not get tired of surprising and delighting with new and new varieties. The tomato "Abakan pink", although it appeared not so long ago, managed to win the love of many summer residents. He especially pleased the inhabitants of the northern regions, since the variety feels great in various parts of the country.
Grade description
The main characteristics of the variety "Abakan pink":
- mid-ripening variety, ripening in 110–115 days from the date of emergence of seedlings;
- extended fruiting, very beneficial for salad varieties;
- bred for open ground and for greenhouse conditions;
- bushes of the determinant type, in height reach: in open ground up to 60–80 cm, in greenhouse conditions up to 140–150 cm;
- medium bushiness, require garter and formation;
- each bush forms up to 6 brushes, on which 4-5 fruits ripen;
- the bush is quite powerful, sprawling with large leaves and thick shoots;
- many lateral shoots are formed, needs regular pinching;
- productivity - average, per season 4-5 kg per m²;
- the shape of the fetus is a round-heart-shaped, slightly ribbed surface, an elongated nose;
- fruit color - reddish pink;
- fetal mass - an average of 300 g, can grow to 500 g or more;
- the peel of the fetus is shiny, medium density, not prone to cracking;
- the pulp of the fetus is medium density, pink, sweetish, with a slight acidity;
- variety - salad type, universal purpose, long term fruiting;
- good resistance to tomato diseases and pests;
- good transportability, average keeping quality;
- It is recommended to plant 3 bushes per 1 m².
Advantages and disadvantages
- The advantages of the variety are:
- excellent taste;
- good yield with proper care;
- large fruit size;
- excellent presentation and transportability;
- Suitability for growing in cold climates;
- good disease resistance;
- lack of tendency to crack;
- good ripening of fruits in boxes;
- extended fruiting period;
- good susceptibility to top dressing.
- The disadvantages of "Abakan pink" tomato include:
- relatively short shelf life;
- the need for frequent and plentiful watering;
- obligatory garter of bushes to supports;
- the need for regular pinching.
Self-growing seedlings
For successful cultivation of tomato seedlings, it is necessary to observe the timing of sowing, choose the right soil, prepare the seeds well and properly care for the seedlings.
Sowing dates
Timely and correctly planted seeds for seedlings are the key to a good future tomato crop. According to the instructions for the variety, "Abakan pink" should be planted on seedlings on March 10–20. For intensive growth, seeds need:
- water abundantly;
- put under the film;
- dive after the first leaves appear.
Did you know? Tomatoes are not only red, yellow or pink, but also black.
The soil
Soil for planting seeds can be purchased in specialized stores. Or make it yourself by mixing:
- 1 part of garden land;
- 2 parts of peat;
- 1 part of compost or humus;
- 0.5 parts of sand.
Also, complex fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus and a lower content of nitrogen are added to this mixture. The soil should be nutritious, loose, breathable and sufficiently moisture-absorbing. Before planting the seeds, the soil must be sieved and disinfected. For disinfection, it can be calcined in the oven for 20-30 minutes. Or treat with a weak solution of potassium permanganate in the ratio of 3 g of powder to 10 liters of water.Important! Garden soil should be taken from areas where solanaceous crops — tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes — did not grow in past years.
Capacity for growing
Seedlings can be grown both in the classical way - in wide and low boxes, and in separate cups, trays or peat tablets. The latter method is the most convenient, since in this case there is no need for a transplant. Tomatoes are transferred to a permanent place directly in tablets. However, this method is also the most expensive.
Growing seedlings in separate cups, you need to consider that a small amount of soil dries faster. Therefore, you should be especially careful about regular watering of plants. Thus, the choice of containers for seedlings depends only on your capabilities and preferences.
Seed preparation
For planting, you should take only full quality seeds. Therefore, they should first be sorted, selecting damaged ones. Next, the seeds need to be poured with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and incubated for 15-20 minutes. This will allow to disinfect the seed and prevent the development of pathogens in it. For better germination, you can soak the seeds in a growth stimulator purchased at a specialty store. In this case, it is important to clearly follow the instructions for the drug.
Did you know? Like many other plants brought from the American continent, at first the tomato was considered poisonous and planted solely as an ornamental plant.
Sowing seeds
Seeds are planted in a prepared soil to a depth of about 1 cm. If a large box is used for cultivation, then the distance between the rows should be about 4 cm. 2-3 seed seeds are usually planted in single containers or peat pellets, since some of them may not sprout . If necessary, excess plants are removed or dive.
Seedling Care
Seedlings must be placed in a warm and well-lit place, for example, on a windowsill. At the same time, it should be protected from direct sunlight. Seed containers must be tightened with a film or covered with glass. During the germination period, the room temperature should be around +25 ° C. Shoots will appear approximately 5-6 days after sowing. Sometimes this happens a little later. After this, the film can be removed. For sprouted plants, a temperature of +17 ... + 20 ° C is sufficient.
Important! Specialists note that seedlings «Abakan pink» prone to over stretching. To avoid this, it is necessary to organize additional lighting with phytolamps.
It is necessary to water the sprouts as necessary, this should not be abundant watering, but root spraying. For irrigation, it is better to take settled water at room temperature. In the phase of the second leaf of the plant, it is necessary to dive. And after a week to feed. To do this, you can use liquid fertilizer "Ideal" or an aqueous solution of urea at a concentration of 1 tsp per 10 l of water.
Seedling hardening
In order for plants to better adapt to a constant place of growth, it is necessary to harden seedlings. It begins 10-12 days before transplanting into the open ground. To start, containers with seedlings are taken out to a cool room, for example, on a glassed balcony for 15–20 minutes.
It is necessary to ensure that the plants are not exposed to direct sunlight or in a draft. Every day, the time spent on the balcony increases and by the time the process of hardening is over, the plants should be there permanently. At the same time, the temperature in the open air should not be lower than +10 ° С.
Planting seedlings in a permanent place
According to the instructions for tomato "Abakan pink" on a permanent place seedlings are planted on May 10-20. For planting, it is better not to choose a place where tomatoes grew before that.
- Good predecessors for tomatoes are:
- zucchini;
- eggplant;
- peppers
- cabbage.
Find out why tomatoes fall in the greenhouse and what to do.
Outdoor Care
Caring for “Abakan pink” is not very difficult compared to other tomato varieties.
Watering
This variety is very fond of water and needs abundant watering. In greenhouse conditions, you can water less often, about once every 5 days. On open ground, you should be guided by the weather and ambient temperature. Drying of the topsoil is a signal of the need for watering. It is advisable to water the seedlings in the evening, using rain or standing water at room temperature. Watering should be done under the root, trying to ensure that water does not fall on the leaves of plants.
Top dressing
All tomato varieties need fertilizers, especially for large-fruited varieties, which include "Abakan pink." During the season, the bushes should be fed under the root at least three times. And carry out two additional top dressings on a sheet using folk recipes with boric acid or iodine. The first feeding of tomatoes is carried out approximately 10 days after transplantation into the open ground. For it is used infused in a barrel of grass.
Important! Many gardeners note that tomatoes become more delicious and sugary if they are fed at least once with Kalimagnesia.
Subsequent feeding is carried out at intervals of 10-14 days with fertilizers for growing tomatoes, purchased in the store. Since mid-summer, the nitrogen fraction in fertilizers should be minimized and potassium and phosphorus-containing should be preferred. Ready-made fertilizers provide a balanced nutrition of plants. In this case, you must follow their instructions with the application rates for each phase of plant growth.
Stepson
Tomato "Abakan pink" must be stepson. Stepsons on its bushes are formed moderately, however, with an excess of nitrogen supply, plants can begin to “fatten”. In this case, numerous lateral branches are formed, which thicken the planting, lead to a decrease in yield and can provoke tomato diseases. Therefore, stepchildren should be regularly removed at least once every 3 days. Moreover, in the open ground, bushes are formed in 2-3 stems with a planting frequency of 3 roots per 1 m².
Soil care
In order for the plants to develop well and their roots to “breathe” freely, it is necessary to weed periodically and loosen the soil in the root circle. Also, so that the moisture evaporates more slowly, the bushes must be mulched. This will create a protective layer on the soil surface and protect the roots of plants from excessive heat, pests and weeds. In addition, it eliminates the need for frequent weeding and loosening of the soil.
As a mulch, they’ll work well:
- ripe leaves;
- mowed grass;
- 2- or 3-year-old humus.
Did you know? Fresh tomatoes contain only 22 kcal per 100 g, so they practically do not recover from them. In addition, red tomatoes contain more valuable trace elements than yellow ones.
Bush tying
Since the bushes of this variety are quite tall, they definitely need support. Without it, the bushes will slope down and even break under their own weight. In addition, the garter will provide maximum openness of the bush to the sun's rays and simplify the care of tomatoes.
Garter can be carried out in different ways:
- separate stakes for each bush;
- two racks along the edges of the beds with a strong wire stretched over them;
- cylindrical wire cages for each bush;
- "Pyramids" from improvised materials for a single plant.
Any fabric, twine or rope is suitable for attaching a bush to a support. You should not use a fishing line or thin wire, so as not to damage the plants. Each of the above methods is quite effective, so feel free to choose any one that will be most convenient and accessible for you.Preventative treatment
Although the Abakansky pink variety has a good resistance to disease, we should not forget about preventive measures. One possible problem is the attack of the Colorado potato beetle. This happens especially often if the tomato grows next to potatoes or eggplant. Typically, a bug attacks freshly planted seedlings and can significantly damage it. If it is not possible to collect insects by hand, you can treat the beds with any pesticide. However, it is better not to abuse chemistry without urgent need.
Another problem can be a real nightshade - late blight. When the first signs of the disease appear - brownish spots on the fruits and leaves - it is necessary to treat the bushes with 0.2% copper sulfate. Spraying plants with ash infusion also helps. This will not only get rid of the infection, but also feed the tomatoes with the necessary potassium. It should be noted that the best prevention of any disease will be the proper care of plants. And then they will certainly please you with a rich harvest of juicy and tasty tomatoes.
