Tomatoes Pink honey - reviews, description of the tomato variety with photos, advantages and disadvantages

Characteristics of the variety

Tomato has advantages and disadvantages. Most gardeners characterize it as a reliable variety with stable fruiting.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the variety:

• high productivity;
• large fruit;
• disease resistance;
• good taste;
• the ability to independently collect seeds for sowing.

Flaws:

• fruits are not suitable for long-term transportation and storage;
• Tomatoes are inconvenient to use for canning.

Many describe the variety as new, but it was bred by Siberian scientists in Barnaul at the end of the 20th century. Cultivated in the southern and northern regions. Suitable for growing outdoors or under cover.

The fruits begin to ripen 3.5 months after emergence.

Description of the bush

Bushes of semi-determinate type. Not many leaves. According to the description and characteristics of the variety by the producers, the plants reach a height of 0.6-0.7 meters; in a greenhouse they can grow up to 2 meters.

The variety is moderately resistant to gray rot and late blight.

Description of fruits

Fruits with a pleasant honey taste, intended for salad purposes. No sourness. A distinctive feature of plants is that tomatoes of different shapes can form on one bush:

• flat-round;
• heart-shaped.

The fruits have a good presentation. The variety is suitable for cultivation for commercial purposes.

The skin is thin and pink. The weight of one tomato reaches 800-1000 g. The average weight is 200-400 g. There are up to 6 fruits in a brush. The average yield is 4-6 kg.

The pulp is juicy, fleshy, moderately dense. There are few seeds. You can prepare seed material for sowing yourself.

On packets of “Pink Honey” tomato seeds it is often written that the fruits can gain weight up to 1.5 kg. According to reviews from experienced gardeners, the variety is indeed large-fruited, but specimens with such mass are not found.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros:

• low-growing, easy to care for;
• large-fruited;
• good yield;
• has time to ripen before frost;
• tolerates short-term drought;
• excellent taste without sourness;
• The fruits are consumed fresh, made into pastes, sauces, and tomato juice.

Minuses:

• increased susceptibility to diseases;
• needs to shape the bush and tie up the fruit clusters;
• suffers from high humidity and low temperatures;
• not suitable for storage, transportation and whole-fruit seaming.

Sowing seedlings

Sowing of seedlings begins 2 months before the expected date of planting in a permanent place. In the middle zone, seeds of plants intended for open ground are sown in late March and early April. For the greenhouse - in early March.

For sowing, choose purchased soil for seedlings or prepare a soil mixture from equal parts:

• garden, turf soil;
• sand;
• peat

Coconut substrate is considered a good option for sowing tomatoes.

For better germination, seeds are soaked in growth stimulants:

• "Energen";
• "Epin";
• "Fitosporin".

When sowing, the seeds are buried 1.5-2 cm.

After emergence, seedlings are provided with 12-16 hours of daylight. If there is a lack of sunlight, supplement the lighting with fluorescent lamps or phytolamps. On cloudy days, artificial lighting is also used during the daytime.

At first, the sprouts are kept at a temperature of 20 °C. As soon as the tomatoes grow a little, the daytime temperature is reduced to 16 °C, and the night temperature to 14 °C. Seedlings kept under such conditions are watered no more than once every 7 days.

Growing Tomato

Sowing of seeds is carried out 60-65 days before planting in a permanent place. The seed material is soaked in water for 24 hours. Another way is to place it in a damp cloth for 3 hours.

It is better to sow in fertilized soil. Furrows are made in the ground and seeds are placed in them at a distance of approximately 1.5 cm from each other. After this, the planting material must be sprinkled with soil and watered. Next, the containers are covered with film and sent to a warm place.

After the first shoots form, the film is removed and the seedlings are sent to a well-lit place, sprayed with warm water. After two true leaves appear, a pick is made, which consists of transplanting the seedlings into freer containers so that they have enough space for further growth and development.

Plant care

Rose honey is a drought-resistant variety, for which excessive watering can result in diseases and growth inhibition. Experts warn that waterlogging of the soil can lead to the appearance of gray rot or the development of the disease “black leg”. It is recommended to plant the plant in shady areas for better growth. Direct sunlight causes leaves on bushes to wilt.

In conditions of sufficient lighting, regular watering, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers, as well as observing the necessary protective measures in the fight against diseases and pests, a high yield can be achieved. As the plant grows, it requires tying up the bush parts, as well as carrying out the pinching procedure (removing side shoots on plant stems).

Forming stepsons inhibit the growth of the plant and deprive it of nutrients. The pinching procedure is carried out manually in the morning and in dry and warm weather.

Important. For 1 sq. m area it is recommended to plant no more than 3 plants.

The rules for watering tomatoes with Rose Honey are as follows:

• first watering - 4 liters per plant at a time, immediately after planting in a permanent place;
• the second watering occurs only after 10 days;
• Before and during the flowering period, water the bushes abundantly every week;
• accompany the beginning of fruiting with moderate watering - 2 times a week;
• Water a plant with ripe fruits once a week.
• It is important to moisturize the bush only in the root zone with warm water. Drops of water falling on the leaves of a plant can cause them to burn.

Watering the plants is usually done in the morning or evening hours, when there is no heat.

Like all nightshade crops, the Pink Honey variety is very sensitive to heat. However, the plant does not tolerate extreme heat. The optimal temperature for plant growth is +22-23°C.

Important. At low temperatures (less than +15°C), the processes of flowering and fruit formation may be inhibited, and at high temperatures (over +35°C), pollination may be inhibited, which can cause infertility. In this case, growth stimulants will be required.

The use of fertilizers can increase productivity and improve the taste of fruits.

For intensive growth of the green (vegetative) part, nitrogen and other organic fertilizers are used. During the fruiting period, it is important not to overuse nitrogen fertilizers, which can lead to intensive growth of green mass, which will negatively affect the yield.

Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are needed to form excellent taste properties of the fruit. Phosphorus, in turn, promotes intensive growth of the root system. It is applied in the form of dissolved superphosphate during irrigation. Ash is considered a universal fertilizer for tomatoes: the plant is watered with a mixture prepared by combining 1 cup of ash with 10 liters of water.

However, excessive use of fertilizers leads to reduced yields. It is not recommended to overuse nitrogenous substances, which are necessary only in conditions of insufficient growth.

It is considered optimal to carry out several feedings at different periods: 2 weeks after planting, before the beginning of the flowering period, during the formation of the ovaries and during the period of fruit ripening.

Growing in open ground

For seedlings, prepare an area with sufficient lighting without excess moisture. It is better to plant bushes in places where cabbage, carrots, radishes, legumes or garlic previously grew. To obtain a plentiful and healthy harvest, it is necessary to change the planting site every year to avoid the absorption of the same nutrients from the soil.

The beds begin to be prepared in the fall by digging them up and applying fertilizers: ash, compost, humus, potassium sulfate. Growing a plant in open ground is possible only when the air warms up enough.

To increase the resistance of plants to unfavorable external factors, they must be tied to pegs placed in the ground.

Growing in greenhouse conditions

The most common method of growing tomato seedlings is in a greenhouse, since it is still a heat-loving plant that will not tolerate late frosts. Also, in a greenhouse, tomatoes bear fruit earlier and are less susceptible to late blight.

The soil in the greenhouse is also dug up in the fall and enriched with fertilizers in the form of ash and humus.

In greenhouses, bushes can be tied to trellises, metal or plastic mesh.

For watering, you can install a drip irrigation system, this will reduce the risk of late blight and increase the yield of the plant.

Soil and greenhouse preparation

Before transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place, the plant is hardened for 1-2 weeks in conditions close to natural - taken out onto a balcony, loggia, veranda, and a window is opened.

The soil for planting is prepared in the fall. To do this, the ground is plowed or dug up. Fertilizers are added during digging: compost, humus, and mineral preparations. Or they sow green manure.

The greenhouse is treated: washed with a brush and fungicides, hydrogen peroxide or copper sulfate added to the water.

Important! Before transplanting, seedlings are watered abundantly in the evening or at least a few hours before.

Landing rules

Planting seedlings in a greenhouse begins when the soil warms up to 14-15 °C. As a rule, under cover the soil heats up to the required temperature 3 weeks earlier than in open ground. Most summer residents plant this variety under cover in the first half of May.

Seedlings are transplanted into open ground when the likelihood of return frosts has passed - in central Russia no earlier than the first days of June, in the south - in mid-May.

Plants are planted in rows or in a checkerboard pattern. 3 bushes are placed per m². The holes are made 20-25 cm long. If the soil has not been enriched with nutrients in advance, the following is added to each planting hole:

• 1 tsp superphosphate,
• 1 liter of humus,
• ½ tbsp. ash.

The stem is buried above the cotyledon leaves. If the plants are overgrown, they are planted lying down: the stem is placed horizontally on the surface of the ground.

After planting, a watering hole is made under the bushes. To protect against fungal diseases, spill a solution with the addition of a biological fungicide - “Fitosporin”. If desired, the tree trunk area is mulched with straw, sawdust, and dry grass.

Rules of care

As for any fruit crop, compliance with agrotechnical rules is a guarantee that at the end of summer - beginning of autumn the table will be replete with ripe, beautiful tomatoes. Caring for this variety is not much different from the methods of growing tomatoes of other varieties, with the exception of some nuances.

Watering

Tomatoes should be watered by directing the stream exclusively to the root area. If you water a tomato bush from above, the plant may suffer severe burns and die. In addition, the optimal time for watering is early morning or evening twilight.

Important! Watering tomatoes should be done with warm, well-settled water or rainwater. Therefore, it is better to collect water for watering nightshades in a special garden tank.

Fertilizer and feeding

If the soil has been well prepared since autumn, then the tomato bush develops quickly and gains strength. However, when the plant begins to bear fruit, there may not be enough nutrients. Therefore, at least twice during the fruiting period, it is necessary to apply a universal fertilizer suitable for tomatoes.

The first time to fertilize the plant is when the flower ovaries appear, the second time when the first fruits appear on the stems.

Loosening

Loosening tomatoes must be done with great care, as you can easily damage the delicate root system located close to the surface of the earth. This procedure is carried out using a thin twig, which pierces the soil in three or four places around the stem. In this case, the holes in the soil should not be deeper than 3 cm.

Watering and pinching

Caring for the “Pink Honey” tomato is no different from other varieties.

• If the lower leaves touch the ground, they are removed completely or shortened when planting.
• Drip irrigation is considered the most optimal option for watering tomatoes. The procedure is carried out with 3 liters of water as the soil under the bushes dries. But not more than once every 2-3 days.
• Greenhouse tomatoes are shaken every day early in the morning and the windows are opened for ventilation. Thus, they provide them with better pollination and prevention from fungal diseases that multiply in droplets of water on the leaves.
• The stepsons are removed as they grow, leaving small “stumps” at the cut site.

Disadvantages of the Pink Honey variety

The variety has few disadvantages, but they do exist.

• The fruits are difficult to transport because the skin is thin. They become very wrinkled on the road and therefore are not grown for sale.
• You can store Rose Honey tomato for no more than 10 days in the refrigerator. At room temperature the shelf life is shorter.
• Disease resistance is present, but not very high. These tomatoes, like many other varieties, get sick, especially in midsummer. So you can’t do without preventive treatments.

The pulp is pink, fleshy, with a high juice content

Important!

Rose honey tomato bushes are susceptible to late blight. To reduce the risk of the disease, you need to properly care for the plantings and carry out preventive treatments on time.

The disadvantages described above are significant for some gardeners. But knowing about them in advance, you can figure out whether this variety is suitable for cultivation in a particular case and whether it will be profitable.

Formation

The tomato variety “Pink Honey” is formed into 2-3 stems. Despite the fact that the bushes are of small height, they require a garter. Under the weight of the fruit, the stem of the plant droops and breaks.

Plants are loosely tied to pegs or trellises using a rope made of non-rotting material. Pegs for tying are inserted immediately upon planting; later installation damages the roots.

Reviews from gardeners about tomatoes of the Pink Honey variety

Gardeners' opinions about Pink Honey tomatoes are mostly positive. Although they also note the negative aspects of growing.

• Tatyana Platonova : “I have loved tomatoes since childhood, but finding a good variety to grow on the plot was not easy. I chose Pink Honey only for its taste and aroma. The fruits are beautiful, large, just what you need for a salad! It has some disadvantages - few seeds, susceptibility to disease, poor preservation, but for me they are insignificant. I only grow them in a greenhouse, where it’s easier to control temperature and humidity, which is important for this variety.”
• Valentin Nosov : “I love meaty and juicy tomatoes. They always choose yellow or red ones for twisting, and pink ones for eating, I prefer them. On the plot I grow several varieties and hybrids of pink color, among them Pink Honey. The bush grows about 70 cm, beautiful, spreading. You have to put a good support under it, because the fruits can break the branches. Tomatoes ripen in August, before which the plants need proper care. If there are a lot of fruits on the bush and it is clearly difficult for it, I pick some during the period of technical maturity and put them on the windowsill; they ripen quickly in the sun.”
• Yaroslav Korotkov : “The Pink Honey tomato pleases with the taste and size of the fruit. But there are also disadvantages to growing. For example, it does not produce very many seeds for planting and not all of them germinate quickly. In addition, the bushes can hurt and are often affected by the Colorado potato beetle. And yet I love and grow this variety. It's good for food. And how much tomato juice can be made from it! So I recommend it!”

Prevention of diseases and pests

For prevention purposes, crop rotation is observed. Any varieties of tomatoes are returned to their original planting location after 3-4 years.

Greenhouses and greenhouses provide a constant flow of air. To avoid leaf burns on hot days, shade the plants.

Carry out regular inspection of tomatoes for signs of pests and diseases. When diseases or pests are identified, appropriate preparations (fungicides, insecticides) or traditional methods of control are used.

Tomatoes with strong signs of damage are removed completely or the diseased parts are cut off and taken outside the site.

For prevention in cold or rainy summers, the bushes are sprayed weekly with Fitosporin. At the stage of fruit formation, they are treated with copper-containing preparations. During fruiting, spray with biological fungicides 2 times a week.

Important. If the tomatoes did not suffer from diseases, after harvesting, the entire top part of the bushes is cut off with pruning shears, and the roots are left to rot in the ground. Sick tomatoes are burned completely.