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The Pink Flamingo tomato variety quickly gained popularity among farmers and gardeners. The tomato is considered mid-season, suitable for salads and other dishes, both fresh and pickled or canned from tomatoes. The pink flamingo has earned respect for the palatability of its fruit. With the growth of the bush up to 170 cm, the fruits ripen with a mass of about 400 grams. The bushes of this variety tolerate dry weather well, are resistant to cracks that spoil many varieties, and are immune to many types of fungal diseases that can attack other types of tomatoes.
History of creation
This variety is just over 10 years old (at the time of 2018). Its creator is considered to be the breeder Maksimov S.V. Initially, "Pink Flamingo" was designed for the North Caucasian climate, but after test plantings in open ground in other climatic conditions, it became clear that the tomato grows well everywhere. Only some of the characteristics changed, for example, the height of the bush or the color saturation. But they may not change, if you adhere to certain rules when caring for this type of tomato and know the features of the Pink Flamingo variety.
Characteristics of the variety
According to its characteristics, the Pink Flamingo tomato variety is considered prestigious. This is a determinant tomato, the process of its growth does not stop even during the fruiting period. The variety is mid-season, the bush bears fruit for about 110 days. It is very rare, but it is still possible to reach fruit ripeness at 95 days, although it all depends on climatic conditions, soil and the process of caring for this crop. The tomato is large, its weight ranges from 110 grams. up to 400 gr.
Tomato Pink Flamingo
Flamingo tomatoes are believed to be more suitable for greenhouse cultivation. But again, depending on which region we are talking about. If the spring is early, the soil is warm, then you can sow seeds in open ground without any fear. It is more convenient to grow a Flamingo tomato in a greenhouse since the last month of winter. The variety is not resistant to frost and low soil temperatures.
The characteristics and description of the Pink Flamingo tomato variety begins with the stem and leaves. The stem is deep green, with a characteristic downy. The leaves are soft, carved, small in size. In growth, the bushes of this variety can grow up to 1.5 meters.
The description of the fruits of the Flamingo tomato can capture the imagination of even an experienced gardener. The tomato looks like a plum, the flesh is not tough, and, as in most pink tomato varieties, there is no white-green seal near the stalk. Flamingo's distinctive feature is its taste. The fruit is much sweeter and more sugar-free than similar varieties of pink tomatoes. The fruits contain up to 4% of tomato juice, and about 7% of dry matter.
Cutaway tomato
Productivity at "Flamingo" is average. About 10 kg can be collected from a square meter. But this weight is achieved not by the number of tomatoes, but by their size.
Growing features
The Pink Flamingo tomato is grown in different regions. Depending on weather conditions, the specifics of planting and caring for the crop may also change.
For planting this variety on seedlings, the soil and feeding should be well prepared. The total seedling capacity will be or individual cups, it does not matter. It all depends on the convenience for the gardener. Seeds should be hardened and processed before planting. Seeds of "Pink Flamingo" are planted for seedlings in mid-late March. A pick is carried out only when two leaves are formed on the sprouts.In open ground, the sprouts of the resulting seedlings are planted at the age of 60 days. Tomatoes are very demanding on the soil. Therefore, before planting, the soil must be prepared: fertilize, dig up. Bushes will develop better in places where cabbage of any kind or any legumes previously grew.
Dive seedlings
After planting the seedlings, it will need to be fed several times. Fertilizers can be different: from mineral to organic. Since the height of the bush is very high, it requires a garter. The weight of the fruit is also rather big, so it will be necessary to unload the branches. Extra stepsons are removed. Tomatoes need to be grafted so that the plant spends its energy not on the growth of greenery, but on the formation and ripening of fruits. If you do not follow the process of the appearance of new stems on the bush, then you can wait for the tomatoes very late, and they will be small enough.
"Pink Flamingos" are bushes that keep growing constantly. Therefore, you have to follow the side shoots all the time. In time, removed stepchildren will unload the bush, allow it to concentrate on the growth of fruits. Also, pinching a tomato of this variety is necessary because the variety is not early ripe. Given this factor, the ripening of the fruit can be expected even before the first frost. For greater productivity, about 6 branches should remain on the bush.
The bushes are planted quite tightly: 55x45. Fruits begin to set somewhere in late May - early June. This type of growth and maturation is good for almost any climate, because, like almost everywhere, these months are considered the warmest. Spring frosts will no longer disturb the bush, and the first winter frosts are still very far away. Any lateral shoots formed at the end of July and beyond should be removed from the bush, since they will take the plant's strength over themselves, but they will no longer be able to give full-fledged fruits.
There are several ways to form bushes of the "Pink Flamingo" variety:
- One stem;
- Two stems;
- Three stems.
The formation of a shoot in one stem implies the removal of absolutely all side shoots. Only the main stem remains, which will bring the harvest. When forming a bush in this way, you can plant them close enough to each other. They will not thicken the neighbors and will let in enough sunlight.
The formation of a shoot in two stems implies the preservation of only one stepson, which comes out under the first brush of the main shoot. All other stepsons are removed without regret.
To form a bush, which will consist of three brushes, you need to leave the first two stepsons.
The earliest harvest will give the bush that is formed into one main stem. And the richest harvest is the one with three stems, but at the same time the last fruits will have to be picked not ripe so that they are not beaten by frost. A bush that is formed from two stems will yield a good harvest, but not very early.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The most important advantage of the Pink Flamingo variety is its resistance to many tomato diseases. Of course, he requires no less care, but the result will exceed all expectations. Also, the advantage can be written down to the unusual sweetness of the fruit. Despite the fact that tomatoes are pink, this particular variety can be canned and pickled. Tomato juice is delicious, but the color suffers. Unfortunately, it will not be saturated red.
Also tomato bushes "Pink Flamingo" quickly adapt to weather climatic conditions. They are drought-resistant, are not afraid of the scorching sun, they tolerate high soil moisture well.
Suffers excessive fire
The crop harvested from the bushes of this variety does not deteriorate for a long time, it ripens well at home.
Among the disadvantages can be called a small yield of the bush. Regardless of the formation, he will be able to give no more than 10 kg, but with a good weight of the fruits, their number will accordingly suffer. That is, these tomatoes are not very suitable for cultivation for industrial purposes.
The disadvantages include the exactingness of the stems to the soil. Before planting seedlings or sowing seeds, the soil must be fertilized and dug up. Regardless of where the "Pink Flamingo" grows: in a greenhouse or open ground, regardless of climatic conditions, the bushes must be treated with mineral and organic fertilizers. During pollination and fruit ripening, the soil must be fed at least 5 times.
Top dressing with potassium and phosphorus
Another disadvantage is that you must constantly monitor the temperature of the water for irrigation. It should never be cold, because the fruit will crack and seal almost the entire diameter. Therefore, rarely any of the gardeners allows a direct flow of water from deep wells. Usually water is collected in containers, settled there under the sun's rays, and only then goes to watering the tomato, through drip irrigation hoses or ordinary garden ones.
When properly planted and cared for, this tomato variety will delight amateur gardeners and consumers of these wonderful vegetables. There are not so many disadvantages of a tomato; they can be avoided by learning how to properly care for tomato bushes. The yield of the bush is good enough for home consumption.
