Description of fruits and characteristics of the Pink Elephant variety
Pink elephant tomatoes have been included in the State Register of the Russian Federation since 1998 with a recommendation for cultivation in all regions of the country, in the coldest zones - under temporary shelter. Not suitable for industrial cultivation, this crop has gained popularity among amateur gardeners.
Tomato "Pink Elephant"
Description of the bush
The semi-determinate tomato Pink Elephant has a medium-sized bush with massive, spreading branches, and therefore requires a garter. Due to high yields, clusters with large fruits require additional support.
The height of the bush is from 1.2 to 1.5 m (depending on the frequency of pruning).
The plant is also characterized by active foliage growth and requires frequent pinching. The leaves of the tomato are large, wide, and rich green in color.
Fruit characteristics
The fruits of the Pink Elephant tomato variety have a round, somewhat flattened shape. The slightly concave stalk has faint ribbing and a small green spot that fades as it ripens. The skin color of ripening tomatoes ranges from pale pink to deep crimson (for ripe ones). Tomatoes are distinguished by honey-sweet fleshy pulp without sourness. The weight of one tomato is from 300 to 1000 g.
Fruiting and productivity
Pink elephant belongs to the high-yielding varieties. The crop is valued for its abundant fruiting and massive fruits with excellent taste. According to the description of the Pink Elephant tomato variety, photos and reviews from agronomists, the average yield of one bush is up to 4 kg per season.
Due to the impressive dimensions of the plant, the harvest volume from 1 m2 is up to 8-9 kg.
Giant in the garden
The variety is distinguished by the power of the bush and spreading side shoots. It grows up to 1.4-1.6 meters, so installation of supports and garter is required.
Belongs to the group of semi-determinate tomatoes, the stem has a growing point, the plant needs pinching. The foliage is medium, the leaf blades are medium-sized, potato-type. The color is rich green.
The number of brushes is different, topping occurs at any time, so it is advisable to grow a bush with two stems.
The first raceme appears above the 7th leaf, then inflorescences are formed through two leaves. Each inflorescence produces 3-4 fruits.
The tomatoes are fleshy, large in size, the ripening period is crimson with a crimson tint. The average weight is 300-500 grams, and the fruits, subject to certain rules of agricultural technology, grow to 800-1000 grams. The shape of the tomatoes is round, slightly flat, with ribbing in the stalk area. The skin is thin but dense, the flesh is very juicy, sweet, with a small number of seeds.
According to reviews from those who planted this tomato, the taste of the pink fruits is excellent, there is no sourness. The main purpose is salads, fresh consumption. Such tomatoes are suitable for preparing lecho and preserving them in slices. In marinades, cut fruits do not lose their shape and retain their wonderful taste. They make juice, sauces, and paste from pink tomatoes, but not everyone likes the overly sweet taste of tomato products.
The shelf life of such large tomatoes is low and they are of little use for transportation.
In terms of ripening time, it is a mid-early tomato; the fruits can be harvested 113-115 days after emergence.
Planting dates and care of Pink Elephant tomatoes
The time to plant seeds in the soil is the 2nd ten days of March. Mandatory disinfection must be carried out first. To do this, place the planting material for seedlings in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20-30 minutes.
Planting dates and care of Pink Elephant tomatoes
Sowing is carried out from mid to late March. If you plant seeds in the ground earlier, they may not sprout (especially in the northern regions). Climatic conditions also play an important role: if the air temperature has stabilized and the weather is mostly sunny outside, you can start working. However, if the air has not warmed up completely, it is better to postpone sowing until early April.
Growing seedlings
In reviews of Pink Elephant tomatoes, gardeners recommend any deep, disinfected containers with drainage holes for growing future seedlings. Prepare planting soil manually by mixing garden soil and humus, sand and ash, mixed in equal quantities. Then heat the mixture in an oven at 70 °C for additional disinfection.
Move the seedlings to the greenhouse towards the end of April, under film cover in the second ten days of May, and into open ground at the beginning of June.
Due to their size, bushes are planted according to the scheme 1-2 per 1 m2. Bury the seedlings in well-moistened soil to the level of the first leaves. After replanting, water the soil and mulch.
Care after transplant
After moving into the ground, tomatoes need regular watering with heated water, weeding and loosening of the soil. Plants should be fed every 2 weeks, alternating mineral mixtures with organic ones. When the first ovaries appear on the seedlings, switch to potassium-phosphorus fertilizing.
Formation and rationing
One of the most important conditions for obtaining a rich and tasty Pink Elephant harvest is the correct formation of the bushes. Without pinching, the fruits may grow small and lose their special taste.
Formation of a tomato bush
The formation of tomatoes begins after the formation of the first flower cluster. To achieve maximum yield, agronomists advise growing the crop in two stems. In addition, tomato flower clusters are also formed, leaving 2-4 buds in each. It is important to consider that an excess of ovaries in the lower part can lead to depletion of the bush, stopping growth and flowering.
How to grow seedlings
Another feature of the “Pink Elephant” is that it is grown only by seedlings, regardless of climatic conditions.
Seed preparation
Step-by-step steps for preparing seeds for planting are as follows::
- At the beginning of March, it is necessary to begin preparing seeds for seedlings in order to sow them in the second half of the month. In warm regions, seeds begin to be prepared earlier, and so are planted accordingly. To begin, treat the material purchased or prepared from the last harvest in a solution of potassium permanganate for about 30 minutes. We throw away the floating seeds; they will not sprout.
- After treating with potassium permanganate, rinse them under running water.
- Dry the resulting seeds.
- For a successful harvest, fertilizing should begin from the seeds. Before sowing, we treat the seeds with growth stimulants, for example, “Immunocytophyte”, “Agat-25K”, or a natural stimulant - aloe.
- Seed germination consists in turn of the following stages:
- Pour water into a shallow plate, place gauze or other cotton material;
- put the seeds;
- cover with the same material;
- watch when the seeds break through.
Container and soil
To plant sprouted seeds, it is recommended to prepare:
- thin plastic containers with lids;
- deep containers with a tray and drainage.
Use purchased soil recommended for sowing peppers and tomatoes , or you can mix the soil in which the seedlings will be planted with ash, humus and sand (ratio 2:1:1:1).
Diseases and pests of the variety
The Pink Elephant tomato has average resistance to diseases characteristic of nightshades. Without quality care and regular prevention, it will be difficult for the plant to resist infections on its own. To obtain a rich and healthy harvest, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the bushes (especially after transplanting to a permanent place) and treat the seedlings with recommended preparations.
Preventive measures
The pink elephant is prone to diseases:
- Brown rot. Appears due to an excess of nitrogen in the soil, as well as after heavy soil moisture. Affected plants must be burned, the remaining bushes must be sprayed with fungicides: Bordeaux mixture, Zaslon or Fundazol.
- Mosaic. To prevent disease at the harvesting stage, treat the seeds in a Fitosporin solution. If the infection has affected adult bushes, they must be torn out and burned. Treat the soil with manganese solution and sprinkle with wood ash. For subsequent prevention, spray healthy plants with a 5% urea solution.
Bacterial mottling may also be encountered when growing Pink Elephant. Remove infected branches and spray healthy plants with copper sulfate solution. For further prevention, you can use Bordeaux mixture or Fitosporin solution.
Pest and disease control
Sometimes the Pink Elephant tomato is attacked by insects - thrips, whiteflies and spider mites. To protect the plant, use insecticides, concentrated decoctions of onion peels, chamomile or celandine.
If aphids are infested, treat tomatoes with warm soapy water. To repel pests, plant several bushes of mint, celery or parsley at the base of the plants.
Advantages and disadvantages of Pink Elephant tomatoes
The advantages of Pink Elephant tomatoes include the following characteristics:
- good resistance to late blight;
- long period of harvesting (before the first frost);
- large and tasty fruits;
- long shelf life of tomatoes.
Advantages and disadvantages of Pink Elephant tomatoes
Among the disadvantages of the variety, one can highlight the demands on agricultural technology: mandatory pruning, tying up bushes, etc. In addition, during the ripening period, the stalk of tomatoes may crack, which makes it impossible to grow them for industrial purposes.
Similar varieties
The Pink Elephant tomato has similar characteristics to the Pink Honey and Raspberry Giant varieties: the color and taste of the tomato. However, the bushes differ in height and volume. And in taste, fruit size, yield and fruiting, the variety is reminiscent of Angela Giant and Brandy.
Reviews from gardeners
Lyudmila, 56 years old, Krasnodar:
I’ve heard about the sport for a long time, read the characteristics and descriptions of these tomatoes. But for a long time I hesitated to purchase seeds because of the tall growth of the plants - I don’t have much space in my garden bed. However, recently on the forum I accidentally found reviews about the Pink Elephant and a photo of a tomato - and still bought several seedlings. I don't regret it at all! I planted several bushes, tied them up well, and now I get large and delicious tomatoes. Very pleased!
Victor, 48 years old, Perm:
My wife suggested purchasing new tomato bushes for our greenhouse. We started reading various sites with reviews of gardeners to choose the best option. We found a lot of positive reviews under the description of the Pink Elephant variety, and decided to stick with these tomatoes. And we are very pleased with the choice. Yes, the variety is demanding in terms of care, but the result is worth it - we are happy with very tasty and fleshy fruits.
Further care of the crop
This variety needs support and garter; it is most convenient to grow tomatoes on trellises. This method will prevent damage to the plant, which bends under the weight of large fruits.
See also Tomatoes Mystery of Nature: description and features of growing a productive variety
Fertilizer application
It is enough to apply mineral fertilizers twice during the growing season. If preference is given to organic matter, the number of feedings can increase to five.
Watering rules
Before rooting, tomato seedlings need to be moistened daily. Then water three times a week, at the root, depending on weather conditions. Water for irrigation must be warm, settled, and a watering can with a fine-mesh nozzle.
Loosening the soil
After watering, the soil at the roots should be loosened to prevent the formation of a crust and to ensure oxygen access to the roots.
Stepsoning
Since the Pink Elephant variety bush can grow very tall and lush, pinching this tomato is one of the mandatory procedures, otherwise all the plant’s energy will be spent on the formation of tops, which will negatively affect the harvest.
Expert opinion
Stanislav Pavlovich
Gardener with 17 years of experience and our expert
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Stepchildren are removed at an early stage, without waiting until they reach more than 2 cm in length.
Bush formation
The bush usually has one stem with four tassels or two stems with two or three. The growth point needs to be pinched through the leaf after the top brush.
