A promising newcomer among tomato varieties is the “King of Kings” tomato, which is rapidly gaining popularity.
It is difficult to imagine a garden without a bed of tomatoes - the product has a universal purpose and is used in preparing many dishes. Among the variety of varieties, the King of Kings is especially noticeable.
The name speaks for itself - excellent taste and large size make the vegetable stand out among others. Let's look at why gardeners love it so much, and also identify the peculiarities of cultivation.
Description of the variety
Let us consider in detail the characteristics and description of the variety.
Distinctive features
King of Kings is a hybrid variety. This means that it was obtained as a result of crossing other varieties. The Moscow Institute of General Genetics is considered to be the birthplace of this tomato.
The tomato bush is indeterminate, that is, it is not limited in growth. With proper care, the plant reaches a height of 2 m. Many tassels are tied on the stem. This is a definite advantage, since they produce a large number of tomatoes.
The best growing conditions are a greenhouse, especially for regions with unpredictable weather. If you live in the south of Russia, then the King of Kings can be planted in open ground.
Characteristics of tomatoes and yield
The hybrid tomatoes are powerful - the weight of one varies from 300 g to 1 kg. The photo shows that the fruits grow very large.
The shape is smooth, round, the color is deep red. The pulp is fleshy and juicy.
Due to their large size, vegetables are mostly consumed fresh; smaller fruits are chosen for preservation.
The yield is high - up to 5 kg of tomatoes from 1 bush.
Important! Agronomists advise harvesting crops in a timely manner, avoiding over-ripening. Otherwise, the fruits will burst, especially if the weather is hot and humid outside.
How to grow seedlings
The seedling method allows you not only to harvest a healthy and rich harvest, but also to speed up its ripening. Let's consider detailed instructions for growing seedlings.
Seed preparation
When preparing seeds, use the advice of experienced gardeners:
- Buy seeds from a gardening store. When choosing a material, pay attention to the information on the packaging and carefully read the characteristics of the tomatoes. Trust only trusted manufacturers. Before purchasing, check the integrity of the packaging.
- Do not forget that diseases can “live” on the surface of seeds. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to carry out disinfection. Dilute a weak solution of potassium permanganate and wash the seeds with it. This is also done using a 2-3% hydrogen peroxide solution - keep the seeds in it for 7-8 minutes.
- Then soak them for a day in any growth stimulator. The drug "Green Belt" is perfect. If you do not trust the composition of such products, then replace them with traditional recipes, for example, aloe juice.
- Then dry the seeds without washing.
- Sprouting will help improve the quality of the crop. Place cheesecloth in a saucer and place seeds under it. Make sure the gauze is not too wet or too dry.
Important! Do not neglect the seed hardening procedure. Such seedlings tolerate weather changes better, and the bushes develop much faster.To harden, place the seeds in the freezer overnight, then remove and leave at room temperature for a day. After repeating this operation several times, rest assured that your seedlings will withstand any climatic fluctuations.
Container and soil
The best place for planting is land on which nothing has been grown for the last 1-2 years. If there is no such soil, then the plant should be planted in beds where cucumbers, potatoes, cabbage or zucchini previously grew.
Important! Prepare the ground in advance. Even in the fall, dig up the beds, remove any remaining weeds, and remove debris. The soil should not contain seed material of other crops.
Please note that tomatoes love well-moistened soil. Don't forget about the acidity level. Tomatoes also prefer soils that contain sand and other loosening elements (for example, ash). Fortunately, today it is not difficult to purchase soil that meets all these requirements - it is sold in gardening stores.
To prepare seedlings, ordinary plastic boxes or flower pots are suitable. The width of the container is more important than its depth, so don’t skimp and provide the plant with plenty of space.
Sowing
Place drainage (for example, expanded clay) at the bottom of the container, then soil and fill with a small amount of warm water. After the moisture is absorbed, use a wooden stick to make small indentations. They should be at a distance of 4-5 cm from each other. Sow the seeds there, then sprinkle them with a thin layer of moist soil.
Then cover the container with cling film or a plastic lid and place in a warm, well-lit place.
Growing and care
Seedlings should be kept in a bright room for at least 12 hours a day. Check the condition of the soil regularly and spray it with a spray bottle if necessary. To prevent fungal diseases, gardeners advise spraying seedlings with Fundazol, a medicine against infections.
If there is not enough light, purchase a phytolamp, it will restore the balance of light and heat. If you are confident in the fertility of the soil, then the seedlings do not need to be fed until picking. That is why it is best to purchase soil in specialized stores.
How to grow tomatoes
To get a rich harvest, follow a clear sequence of actions.
Landing
For the process to go smoothly, it is necessary to stop 2-3 days before planting. watering seeds And on the appointed day, an hour before planting, on the contrary, moisten the ground generously with water. This is necessary so that the soil is not damaged during replanting and the plant is not damaged.
The King of Kings is planted in open ground around the first half of June, in greenhouse conditions - in the second half of May. Before planting, the soil is dug up, disinfected with a solution of copper sulfate, and then sprinkled with organic fertilizers.
If you are planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, then also carry out disinfection - wipe all hard surfaces with the solution, including walls, doors, pegs. This can also be done using a solution of copper sulfate.
Care
The King of Kings, like other tomatoes, needs timely watering. However, be careful - too much water can lead to undesirable consequences, for example, cracking of tomatoes. It is better to water the bushes closer to the roots, avoiding moisture getting on the leaves.This simple rule will help protect the plant from diseases.
The bush is great for feeding based on nettle. This product improves the immunity of the crop and increases its productivity.
It is advisable to feed vegetables every 2 weeks. In addition, you should feed the tomatoes with Nitroammophoska, a product that promotes excellent formation of tomatoes.
Since the King of Kings is a high variety, a mandatory garter of tomatoes is required. Stepping should also be carried out periodically. In general, the variety is unpretentious in care. Do not forget about loosening the soil and removing weeds.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
Both a beginner and an experienced gardener may encounter a number of nuances when growing a variety:
- Cracking of fruits occurs if there is an excess of moisture in the soil.
- The need for tying and pinching takes personal time and effort.
- Although the King of Kings is resistant to diseases, it is sometimes affected by diseases that require special measures to treat the bushes.
- The next day after watering, do not forget to loosen the soil so that the necessary moisture reaches the roots.
- Don’t forget about fertilizers - proper fertilizing will only be beneficial.
Diseases and pests
The worst enemy of all tomatoes is late blight. Fungal spores penetrate the bushes and destroy the crop. A white coating or brown spots appear on the leaves. The fungus develops especially quickly in conditions of heat and high humidity. To combat the disease, both special drugs and folk remedies are used. For example, garlic tincture or ash solution.
Another problem is tobacco mosaic. Affected plants develop a yellow-beige pattern on the leaves (hence the name). It is recommended to remove such bushes immediately, since it is almost impossible to completely get rid of the infection. For prevention, it is recommended to spray the bushes with a solution based on whey.
From pests the whitefly should be mentioned. It causes yellow spots on plants, which then slowly kill it. To combat whiteflies, Confidor products are used.
Spider mites are also harmful to tomatoes. It leaves its web on the bushes, as a result of which the leaves dry out. It is recommended to fight ticks with garlic infusion.
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Harvesting and application
Tomatoes are harvested selectively as they ripen. The King of Kings is able to ripen indoors, which is undoubtedly a big plus. Tomatoes are best consumed within 2 weeks, as they are not suitable for long-term storage.
The range of uses for tomatoes is wide. Vegetables make excellent salads, soups, and side dishes. Tomatoes go well with both meat and fish. In addition, they are used to make juices, pastes, and ketchup. This variety is not suitable for canning because the fruits are too large.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Positive qualities include:
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- high productivity;
- excellent taste;
- universal application;
- the possibility of growing both in open ground and in a greenhouse;
- resistance to diseases and pests;
- high commercial qualities.
Among the disadvantages of the variety, gardeners note:
- higher cost of seeds compared to other varieties;
- short shelf life;
- mandatory stepsoning and gartering;
- impossibility of use for preservation and pickling.
Farmer reviews
The King of Kings tomato is popular with many farmers.
Valentina, Voronezh: “It is important to periodically feed the plant with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. They have a positive effect on the taste of vegetables and the overall yield. I don’t see any disadvantages with this variety; I’ve been growing King of Kings on my plot for several years now.”
Evgeniy, village Mine: “I was dissatisfied with the harvest. Although vegetables are tasty, they cannot be stored for a long time, and this is a significant drawback. It is also impossible to can these tomatoes for the winter. The variety requires too much attention during the growing process.”
In general, gardeners are satisfied with the quality and quantity of the harvest. The King of Kings has excellent resistance to diseases and has excellent commercial qualities.
Conclusion
If you have not yet grown the King of Kings variety, we advise you to think about it. The variety appeared quite recently, but has already attracted the attention of many gardeners. The bushes are unpretentious in care, although they require gartering and pinching. Don’t forget that tomatoes respond well to fertilizing and fertilizers, be it special chemicals or traditional medicine recipes.
The vegetable can be used in any way: added to side dishes, soups and salads, prepared tomato juices and pastes - the taste of the variety is excellent for these dishes. Eating vegetables in reasonable quantities will not only bring pleasure from the taste, but also benefit your health.