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Breeders always breed new varieties of tomatoes, taking into account the wishes of vegetable growers. Dutch specialists offered farmers a wonderful variety with a record yield, endurance and extraordinary taste. This is a mid-season hybrid “Palenca”.
Tomato “Palenca” deserves attention due to its characteristics that meet the needs of even very demanding vegetable growers. This is confirmed by the reviews of summer residents and photos of adult Palenka tomato bushes.
Main characteristics
In the description of the Palenque tomato variety, important characteristics must be indicated. This is a list of the advantages and features of a tomato that vegetable growers should consider when growing a variety. The main information for summer residents is:
- Plant type. The tomato is a first-generation hybrid, therefore it is marked with the letter F1 on seed bags.
- Type of tomato plant. According to the description of the variety, the Palenque tomato belongs to indeterminate plants. This means that a plant bush with an endless growth process reaches a height of up to 2 meters. Therefore, the vegetable grower will need the ability to form, tie up and stepson tomatoes.
- Growing type. The hybrid is recommended for cultivation in a greenhouse. Some amateurs try to grow a plant in open ground, but in this case it is not possible to obtain all the qualities declared by the manufacturer.
- Harvest maturity. Mid-early. No more than 110 days pass after seed germination until the full maturity of the fruits of the Palenka variety.
- Appearance and parameters of the Palenque tomato bush. The plant is formed into one stem, which grows very powerful, there are no branches. Requires tying to the trellis. Carpal fruiting. The first bunch of tomatoes is formed after the 9th leaf, 5-6 tomatoes ripen in each brush. The following brushes are tied regularly after 2-3 sheets.
- Fruit. Symmetrical glossy cream. The color of mature tomatoes “Palenca” is bright red. The fruits are rich in flavor and aroma. The mass of one tomato is 100-110 g. They perfectly tolerate transportation and storage, do not crack when moving. Equally well suited for fresh consumption and preparations. Used by housewives for whole-fruit canning, making juices, mashed potatoes and salads. Very much appreciated by farmers for the quality of the fruit.
- Culture disease resistance. The hybrid variety of tomato demonstrates good resistance to verticillium and fusarium root wilt, TMV, cladosporiosis.
- Productivity is one of the most important characteristics of Palenque tomatoes. Many vegetable growers consider this indicator the most significant. With good care, 20 kg of high-quality fruits are harvested from one square meter of tomato planting area.
According to vegetable growers, the yield of Palenka tomato variety covers all the troubles of growing a plant.
Advantages and disadvantages
Any vegetable crop has advantages and disadvantages. Their list can be formed on the basis of the feedback from those summer residents who have already grown the Palenque F1 tomato.
Benefits of tomato:
- unpretentiousness in any climatic zone;
- evenness and uniformity of fruits;
- excellent taste;
- high and stable yield;
- excellent commercial qualities;
- versatility of application;
- high rates of keeping quality and transportability.
Summer residents also highlight some of the disadvantages of Palenka tomatoes:
- the need for pinching and forming bushes;
- the need to install trellises and tie the stem;
- susceptibility to late blight;
- cultivation only in closed ground.
Those who have already grown indeterminate tomatoes in a greenhouse consider such parameters to be features of the agricultural technology of the Palenka variety. All efforts are overlapped by the number of fruits. The yield of tall varieties of tomatoes is much higher than the low-growing varieties. In addition, the return of the crop does not occur in 1-2 doses, but is stretched throughout the season. According to the farmers, the yield of the Palenka tomato in the greenhouse is very high, each bush is literally strewn with fruits (see photo).
Growing a hybrid – the first steps
In order for tomatoes to begin to bear fruit earlier, a seedling method of growing is used. The technology of growing indent seedlings is almost the same as the cultivation of low-growing varieties. Sowing tomato seeds “Palenka” is appointed in mid-March, so that the seedlings do not outgrow. If the planting material is purchased from a trusted supplier, then the licensed seeds have passed the pre-sowing treatment. In this case, the task of the vegetable grower is to take care of the quality of the substrate.
For seedlings of the Palenque F1 tomato, a mixture of humus, soddy land and peat is prepared. The components are taken in equal amounts. Additionally, for each bucket of the mixture, add 1 teaspoon of fertilizer:
- superphosphate;
- urea;
- potassium sulfate.
If the components are not prepared in advance, then they buy ready-made soil mixture for seedlings. It has an optimal composition and sufficient nutrients.
Separately, it should be said about the choice of containers for seedlings of indents. You can sow in a box, and in the stage of two leaves, pick out in separate cups. But it is better to take special cassettes in which the bottom extends. This will help to transfer the seedlings into a more spacious dish without damage. The container for seedlings of the tall Palenque tomato should be spacious so that the plants do not start growing in cramped conditions. Otherwise, the yield will be significantly reduced.
The prepared container is filled with soil mixture and proceed to sowing. Seeds of tomato varieties “Palenka” are buried in the soil by no more than 1,5 cm. Sprinkle with a thin layer of earth and cover with a film.
Many vegetable growers are concerned about the ambient temperature values. According to the description of the Palenka tomato variety, the optimum temperature for:
- Seed germination is +23°С-+25°С. To keep the value at a constant level, the landing containers are covered with a film. As soon as shoots appear, the film must be removed.
- The first period of seedling growth remains within the same limits. After 2 weeks, reduce the rate to 20 ° C. This is achieved by aeration of seedlings.
- The disembarkation time is +18°С – +19°С.
Care of seedlings
The main points that a vegetable grower needs to fulfill in a timely manner:
- watering;
- feeding;
- dive;
- ventilation;
- disease prevention.
Water the seedlings carefully and with warm water. According to the description of the properties of the variety, Palenque tomato seedlings are moistened infrequently, but only after the topsoil has dried (see photo).
Plants dive in the phase of two leaves. Spacious containers are prepared in advance, filled with soil and seedlings with a clod of earth are transferred. In this case, the stem is buried to the cotyledons.
Top dressing is done, adhering to the schedule. Seedlings need nutrition in order for mature plants to bear fruit better. The first time seedlings need top dressing a week after picking. Tomatoes “Palenka” respond well to watering with water infusion of humus (10: 1). After 7 days, seedlings are watered with mineral fertilizers:
- urea – 0,5 tsp;
- superphosphate – 1 tbsp .;
- potassium sulfate – 1 tsp.
Substances are diluted in 5 liters of clean water and tomato seedlings are fed. It is more convenient to purchase a ready-made complex fertilizer and dilute according to the instructions.
2 weeks before planting, the seedlings begin to harden off in order to adapt the plants to the temperature inside the greenhouse. Seedlings of indeterminate varieties are ready for planting with 9 true leaves.
Landing on a permanent place and caring for plants
It is important for the gardener to meet the deadlines for planting the Palenka tomato in the greenhouse and the planting pattern. For closed ground, the density of tomato planting is no more than 3 bushes per 1 sq. meter.
Tips from an experienced gardener about planting tomatoes in a greenhouse:
A week later, when the plants take root, the stems are tied to a vertical trellis with twine. In the future, every 3-4 days, the main stem is braided around the twine. This technique prevents the Palenque tomatoes from sliding down under the weight of the fruit.
In the greenhouse it is necessary to maintain the temperature regime. With sharp fluctuations in temperature, Palenque tomato bushes can shed their ovaries. To prevent this from happening in the fruiting phase, the soil must be warmed up to 18°C, the air up to 25°C during the day and 18°C at night.
It is also important to provide good lighting. Proper formation of the stem helps to avoid thickening of the bushes.
Helpful video on the subject:
Another point that you need to pay attention to is the humidity in the greenhouse. If waterlogging cannot be avoided, then Palenque tomatoes may be subject to fungal diseases. Therefore, plants are watered no more than 2 times a week, then the soil is loosened and the room is ventilated.
The leaves are cut off only to the side. If this is done in a downward direction, then the stem can be injured.
Top dressing for the variety is carried out regularly with an alternation of 2-3 weeks. The first feeding of Palenque tomatoes is needed 2 weeks after planting in the greenhouse. For all dressings use complex mineral fertilizer. Consumption of the working solution – 0,5 l per area of 10 square meters. m.
helpful hints
For gardeners who grow the Palenque tomato for the first time, it will be useful to remember the advice of professionals:
- For a hybrid, you must carefully follow the watering schedule. One pass, and the fruits crack, shrink. During the period of active fruiting for indents, the schedule does not change. Therefore, watering is not reduced so that the fruits are tied intensively.
- It is better to form plants in one stem. This maintains good illumination and ventilation of the bushes of the Palenque variety.
- Planting is a must. Otherwise, the uncontrolled growth of stepchildren will lead to the formation of a jungle in the greenhouse with all the ensuing consequences – diseases, reduced yields and weakening of tomatoes.
- If you do not comply with the requirements of the agricultural technology of the variety, then the plants undergo late blight.
- The formation and pinching of plants is done during the entire growing season.
Reviews
It is also useful to read the reviews and photos of the farmers to make sure that the Palenka tomatoes match the description of the variety.
