Most summer residents and gardeners, choosing suitable crops for cultivation on their site, very carefully study different varieties. It is not surprising that the tomato variety "pink elephant", the characteristics and description of which will be presented in the review, may interest many. Large fruits with excellent taste combined with the versatility of the culture make it a good choice for a gardener. Therefore, to talk about it in more detail will be very useful.
Bush description
First of all, it is worth giving the characteristics and description of the tomato "pink elephant". One of the most important indicators is the maturation rate. Experts usually attribute it to mid-ripening varieties - after planting, about 115 days elapse before planting the first ripe fruit. A very good indicator, allowing you to enjoy fresh tomatoes already in mid-late July, if you use seedlings.
The height of the bush of tomatoes "pink elephant" is quite large - up to one and a half meters. Of course, this requires additional care when growing in greenhouses. But we will return to this issue a bit later. The leaves are similar to potato, so a novice summer resident may well confuse them.
Despite the considerable size of the fruits, the latter grow with brushes - up to 6-8 tomatoes in each. The yield is very good - on average, you can get 4 kilograms from a bush, but there is evidence that with good care this figure increases to 6 kilograms.
A little about the fruits
Giving a characterization and description of the tomato variety "pink elephant", one can not help but talk about the fruits. After all, itโs for their sake that any summer resident works on the ground, spending free time that could be spent with great comfort.
The variety got its name not at all by chance. The fruits on it are really large - mostly 250-350 grams. However, if you provide them with good care, enough moisture and heat, and also grow on fertile soil, then the weight of the first fruits can be several times more - up to 800-1000 grams! Really a serious indicator that allows you to brag to friends and neighbors.
In shape, the fruits are rounded, slightly flattened. The top is smooth, but near the stalk there is a slight ribbing. The fruits have a glossy appetizing peel of deep pink or even crimson color. However, sometimes near the base there are pale green spots that can slightly spoil the first impression.
The taste is just great. The pulp is fleshy, few seeds. Sugar content is clearly visible at the fruit fault. The taste of tomatoes is saturated, slightly sweet. True, some may be disappointed by the lack of acidity, which is present in most varieties of tomatoes.
The peel, although thin, but rather dense, sometimes even tough. Which is not surprising - to prevent the appearance of cracks on such large fruits softer would not succeed.
In general, the taste of tomatoes of this variety differ from the standard. To some connoisseurs, they seem a bit dry and cloying. If you prefer more juicy and sour tomatoes, then this variety is clearly not for you.
Main advantages
Studying the description and reviews of the tomato variety "pink elephant", a photo of which is attached to the article, we can first identify several important advantages that attract many summer residents. We will tell you briefly about them.
Of course, first of all, these are sizes. Even 250-300 grams is a very good indicator for tomatoes. But these are quite average fruits for this variety. If you make an effort, you can get much more impressive results - up to a kilogram! Of course, at any fair or just among the neighbors to brag about the same harvest will be pleasant to any sophisticated summer resident.
The yield is also not bad - up to 6 kilograms, and on average - about 4. A very good indicator, especially when you consider that most early ripe tomatoes bring about 2-5 kilograms from the bush.
Most diseases bypass this variety. Many summer residents who planted tomato "pink elephant", reviews and photos of fruits are often posted on the forums, especially emphasizing this fact. But even the most experienced summer residents can be left without a crop if the beds are affected by any disease.
A serious advantage can be called versatility. That is, you can grow this culture in different conditions. Someone chooses a greenhouse, and other people just grow seedlings, and then plant it in open ground. If you live in a mild climate, for example, in the Krasnodar Territory, which is famous for the long summer, then you can plant seeds directly on the beds and be sure that you will soon get a rich harvest.
Taste qualities, although a little specific, but still most people like it, and therefore they can be called a plus.
Finally, despite its impressive size, the fruits are stored for a long time - up to 2-3 weeks in a cool room, and sometimes more. A dense skin provides easy transportation over long distances. This will be an especially important advantage for summer residents, who, having harvested, are in a hurry to take it to the city. Of course, for this it is better to choose medium fruits, but not the largest ones - it will be harder to transport them, as there is a risk that they will burst or choke from shaking under their own weight.
Are there any flaws?
Of course, any plant that has advantages has certain disadvantages. When describing and characterizing the pink elephant tomato variety, it is important to list not only the former, but also the latter.
The disadvantages include first of all the exactingness to a constant temperature. These tomatoes do not tolerate swings quite well - because of this, productivity can decrease and even flowers sprinkle. Therefore, it is worth planting them in the ground either in greenhouses, or when the weather finally settles. It will be useful to keep in reserve a large piece of film, so that in case of frost it will be possible to close the beds.
Also, the variety definitely needs abundant watering. Without it, you should not rely on a good harvest. If the rain does not pass 2-3 times a week, be prepared to water the beds yourself - otherwise the fruits will not reach their maximum size.
The same - the large size of the fruit - is the reason why the variety grows poorly on poor soils. To grow a large number of large tomatoes, the plant needs an abundance of nutrients and trace elements. If the soil is not fertile enough, you need to apply the appropriate fertilizers - compost, peat or mineral.
So only you can decide for yourself whether to grow this variety in the country or whether it makes sense to give preference to other options.
Seed preparation
To get a rich harvest, experts recommend that the pink elephant tomato seeds be properly prepared. Work is simple and not time consuming.
It is necessary to prepare a solution of potassium permanganate - barely pinkish, a few grains in a glass of warm water - and pour them seeds. After this, it is advisable to stir the liquid and leave for half an hour. Such a simple procedure will allow you to awaken the seeds for growth (due to moisture), disinfect from possible infections and weed out healthy ones from empty ones - the latter float to the surface. So skip this step is not worth it.
Growing seedlings
The next step - growing seedlings of tomato varieties "pink elephant", a photo and description of which are given in the article.
The best choice of substrate would be chernozem mixed with sand. Ordinary land mixed with compost and sand will do.
It is not necessary to deeply dig the seeds - 1-1.5 centimeters are enough. After that, the earth is watered abundantly and put in a warm, preferably shaded place. It will not be superfluous to close the container on top with glass to create a certain microclimate.
After a few days, the seeds will sprout. After that, you can remove the glass, and put the box on a sunny windowsill - the main thing is that they do not dry out due to too intense lighting, so regularly moisten the ground.
Landing
Seedlings are planted in open ground after the threat of the last frost has passed. The distance between the beds should be about 50 centimeters, and between the holes - at least 40, so that the bushes do not interfere with each other. The earth is well moistened, seedlings are carefully removed from the container (if they are grown in separate cups - everything is further simplified) and planted in prepared holes.
In the first days, it will be useful to obscure young seedlings - until the root system has developed sufficiently, has not taken root, the sun can harm plants.
By the way, for root development, you can immediately water the beds with a solution of phosphate fertilizers immediately after planting (or immediately in front of it) - they positively affect the growth of the roots.
Plant care
In general, caring for the "pink elephant" is slightly different from caring for other tomatoes. But there are a few key points.
Since the bushes reach a height of one and a half meters, you do not need to cut them on the beds. But in the greenhouse it makes sense to cut off the top at a height of about one meter. Then the plant will go to the sides, not up.
Of course, we must not forget about tying. One and a half meter bushes must be tied up in a timely manner - preferably twice a season. Otherwise, they may well break under the weight of the fruit.
Do not forget about fertilizing. If tomatoes and other nightshade are grown at the same place for several years, this is mandatory. You can use complex mineral fertilizers or organic - compost, mullein, green slurry. The latter, of course, are safer, but they do not act so quickly.
Possible diseases and parasites
Composing a characteristic and description of the tomato variety "pink elephant", it is worth mentioning the aspect that is so unpleasant for any summer resident.
In general, disease resistance in this variety is very high - they are almost never found. But no one is safe from parasites. The standard treatment procedure is to use insecticides. But if you grow certain crops on the garden with tomatoes, for example, mint, celery or parsley, their pungent smell will scare away many pests. This should be remembered in order to use fewer poisons, getting an environmentally friendly crop.
Fruit use
The range of application of the fruit is quite wide. Of course, first of all they can be eaten fresh - their taste, although not quite standard, but still very refined. They go perfectly to salads and lecho. Ketchup is simply amazing - you donโt have to boil the crushed pulp for a long time, getting rid of excess water.
But tomato juice from tomato "pink elephant" does not work - the fruits contain too little moisture. Yes, and use tomatoes for canning - in banks or barrels - does not work. They are too large, because of which it is not possible to fit them tightly into a container, and this leads to irrational use of volume.
Therefore, approaching the choice of raw materials for blanks is very serious and responsible, so as not to regret the unsuccessful decision.
Reviews
Summer residents leave quite conflicting reviews about this variety. One likes productivity, disease resistance, large fruits and taste. And to others, on the contrary, the taste seems fresh. Some also note the importance of timely gartering and regular pruning in the greenhouse - otherwise the bushes obscure other crops, reducing their yield.
But in general, in most of the summer residents are satisfied. If they do not refuse other varieties in favor of the "pink elephant", then they nevertheless agree to select several beds under it in order to obtain large, tasty, fleshy fruits in the fall.
Conclusion
On this our article comes to an end. Now you know a detailed description of the tomato variety "pink elephant": reviews and photos, advantages and disadvantages. So, if necessary, easily decide whether it is the best choice for you.