How to care for the Palenka hybrid tomato for a better harvest

Dutch breeders have spent a lot of time and effort on the development of the Palenque hybrid. The result exceeded expectations: the culture harmoniously combines record yield with excellent taste.

After numerous tests, the hybrid was entered into the State Register of the Russian Federation. Palenque tomatoes are known in all regions not only among amateur summer residents, but also among professional farmers.

Description of the hybrid

Palenque is a hybrid, not a tomato variety. Its characteristics and descriptions indicate high yields even under unfavorable conditions. The plant is indeterminate, with unlimited growth of the main stem.

The height reaches 2 m and therefore requires a garter and pinching of plants. The foliage is medium, the leaves are rich green, the branches are spreading. The first flower cluster is laid over 9 leaves, the subsequent ones every 2-3 leaves. Each cluster forms 5–7 ovaries under any weather conditions.

Mid-early appearance: harvesting begins in 105-115 days from the moment of emergence. The tomato is immune to a number of dangerous diseases, such as:

• tobacco mosaic virus;
• fusarium and verticillary leaf wilting;
• cladosporia (brown spot);
• root rot.

These diseases have different etiologies: viral and fungal. Both are equally dangerous to plants. With an outbreak of infections, most of the plantings die. In case of fungal infection, seedlings can be cured by identifying the disease at an early stage. However, a viral infection is almost impossible to treat. Therefore, a big plus for any culture is its immunity.

In addition, neighboring plants can also become infected, as happens with brown spot, tobacco mosaic, fusarium and verticillosis. With these diseases, the appearance of the leaves and their color change. Subsequently, they wither and the plant dies. Basal rot causes root rot and the death of stem tissue.

Despite the strong immunity of Palenka against many dangerous diseases, it is practically not protected from late blight. Therefore, you should take care of the necessary preventive measures in advance.

Yield indicators

The culture is recommended for breeding under a film shelter and in greenhouse conditions. Nevertheless, in the southern regions, tomato is successfully bred in open beds, although under such conditions it will not be possible to achieve high fruiting rates.

reference... The creator of the hybrid claims a high yield only in greenhouses.

When planting in a greenhouse, 6-7 kg of excellent fruits are harvested from 1 seedling, provided that no more than 3 plants per 1 m2 are planted.

Description of fruits

The photo shows Palenque tomatoes.

The average weight of ripe tomatoes is 100–130 g, the shape is oval, slightly elongated, similar to cream. The color is deep red, the taste is excellent, sweet, with a pronounced sourness characteristic of tomatoes.

The pulp is juicy, dense. The rind is thin, but strong enough for long distance transportation. Long-term storage vegetables retain their presentation. For these reasons, the variety is popular with entrepreneurial farmers who grow it on an industrial scale. Ripe tomatoes are in great demand in the sales markets.

The purpose of the fruits is universal: they are suitable for preparing various fresh dishes, winter preparations and processing into tomato products.

Pros and cons of a hybrid

Each crop has its own advantages and disadvantages. Palenque is no exception.

Let's start with the positives:

• adaptation to any weather conditions;
• the possibility of breeding in all regions;
• ovary formation under any conditions;
• high-yielding variety;
• resistance to dangerous diseases;
• uncomplicated agricultural technology;
• excellent fruit taste;
• unusual shape;
• long-term storage;
• transportation to any distance;
• versatility in cooking.

Of the available negative properties, it is worth noting:

• necessity garters;
• regular pinching;
• weak immunity to phytophthora;
• obligatory installation of trellis.

Growing features

To get strong and healthy seedlings, it is important to adhere to certain rules: the timing of sowing seeds and planting seedlings in the ground.

Sowing seeds and first shoots

Experienced gardeners know that hybrid seeds will have to be purchased for every planting. Of course, you can collect the material yourself, but this does not make any sense, since the hybrids do not retain their parental properties in the next generation.

The purchased seeds do not need to be processed in a growth promoter and disinfected: the manufacturer takes care of this himself.

reference... You can buy Palenque tomato seeds at any specialty store. Distribution is carried out by the agrofirms "Partner" or "Semko Junior".

The soil is prepared from peat, turf and humus in equal quantities. A little potash fertilizers and superphosphate are added to the resulting mixture for greater nutritional value. After that, it is poured with a hot solution of potassium permanganate to destroy disease-causing spores.

For sowing, a common wooden box is used, followed by transplanting the seedlings into individual containers. The box is treated with a dark solution of potassium permanganate and filled with soil.

The seeds are planted in grooves 1.5 cm deep and 2–2.5 cm apart. Moisten with a spray bottle with warm, settled water and cover with a film. Planting containers are left in a warm room at a temperature of 23-25 ​​° C.

reference... To obtain healthy seedlings it is important to maintain the correct temperature regime.

After the emergence of seedlings, the film is removed and the containers are placed on the windowsill. The temperature remains at the same level for 2 weeks.

Seedling care

Water the seedlings sparingly, as the top layer of the soil dries up, with warm, settled water using a shallow watering can. It is not necessary to fill the soil, this threatens the development of fungal diseases.

After that, the soil is superficially loosened, improving the air permeability of the soil.

As the seedlings take root, the temperature is lowered to 20 ° C. At lower values, the first flower cluster will form too low, which will negatively affect the further development of the seedlings.

When 3 true leaves are formed, the seedlings are dived, seated in separate containers. They are prepared in advance: they are treated with a strong manganese solution and small drainage holes are made at the bottom of each container to drain excess moisture. The containers should not be less than 500 ml, since each bush needs a lot of space for full growth.

2 weeks after the pick, the seedlings are fed with liquid fertilizer for tomato seedlings. Top dressing must be combined with watering.

2 weeks before planting in the ground, seedlings begin to harden in the open air in the daytime. Initially, it is left on the street for 1 hour, gradually increasing the time to 11 hours. This procedure helps the seedlings to quickly adapt to new conditions after transplanting. In addition, the seedlings are fed again with liquid fertilizer.

Bedding

The soil for tomato beds is prepared in the fall. The earth is dug up and humus, ash and superphosphate are introduced. In the spring, they dig it up again and spill it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

After the soil warms up to 18 ° C, the seedlings are transplanted into shallow holes at a distance of 50 cm from each other. 1 m² place no more than 3 plants in a checkerboard pattern.

If the soil has not warmed up to the desired level, the transplant should be delayed, otherwise the young bushes will shed their ovaries.

Palenque tomato care

With proper care of the hybrid, gardeners achieve record-breaking fruiting rates. Proper watering is one of the prerequisites for the full growth and development of seedlings.

Watered them regularly, as the soil dries up, with settled water. The lack of moisture affects the developing fruits: they do not gain weight and crack. Nevertheless, it is also impossible to overmoisten the soil: an excess of liquid threatens the development of fungal diseases. Do not forget about the daily airing of the greenhouse, as this helps to avoid high levels of humidity.

After watering, the soil is loosened and weeds are removed. So that the beds do not dry out, they are mulched.

Immediately after transplanting, it is worth installing a trellis, on which the stem and fruitful branches are tied. To do this, metal supports are installed from different sides of the beds and a wire is pulled between them, on which the plants are fixed with soft fabric tapes.

reference... When breeding a hybrid, you cannot do without installing a trellis.

Form a bush into 1 stem, removing all other stepchildren as they grow. Plants are regularly harvested throughout the growing season. The lower leaves are removed before the first flower cluster. This not only protects the plant from diseases, but also promotes better ventilation.

The culture is fed every 2-3 weeks. As top dressing use a full range of mineral fertilizers and organic matter, alternating them with each other. Thus, the bushes receive all the necessary substances.

Harvesting

Harvesting begins in June and continues until autumn. Throughout the entire period, the bushes are decorated with elegant cream tomatoes that look spectacular on any garden plot.

Ripe vegetables are stored for a long time without losing their presentation and taste. For these reasons, they are in great demand in the sales markets. Entrepreneurs are aware of this feature and successfully breed the hybrid on an industrial scale.

Prevention of diseases and pests

The culture is resistant to many tomato diseases, but weakly resists late blight. Timely preventive measures will help protect plants from fungal infection.

Increased humidity and temperature are considered favorable conditions for the development of the disease. To eliminate such factors, protected structures must be ventilated daily. Fresh air destroys not only disease-causing spores, but also the usual conditions for the existence of many greenhouse pests.

During the growing season, the bushes are treated with fungicidal preparations, and the earth is spilled with copper sulfate before transplanting. According to the rules of crop rotation in the greenhouse, the topsoil must be replaced every year. Thus, pathogenic microorganisms are not stored in the soil and the new soil will be rich in nutrients.

In case of fungal infection, plants are sprayed with "Fitosporin" or "HOM" is used.

To scare off pests from tomato beds, chopped cloves of garlic are dug into the ground, pungent-smelling herbs are planted next to the bushes, and the seedlings are sprayed with decoctions of nettle or onion husks.

Do not forget to regularly check each plant thoroughly. This will help to prevent the development of diseases or the accumulation of parasitic insects in time.

Farmers reviews

Everyone who grew a tomato in their beds leaves positive feedback:

Elena, Zelenogorsk: «The Palenque tomato hybrid is very beneficial. You have to work hard with the formation and pinching of the bush, but the harvest is worth it. The fruits are tasty and have a long shelf life. Fruiting until frost and longer if the greenhouse is heated. It is a pity that it is impossible to collect seeds on your own - all signs are lost. "

Valery, Moscow region: “We were interested in the photo and description of the hybrid. I landed for the first time and I'm very happy with the result. The stem is very powerful. The yield is excellent: we had enough and provided all our friends. Excellent tomatoes for fresh salads and preparations. I will plant again. "

Conclusion

Tomato Palenque F1, despite some demanding care, has successfully taken root in many beds. The hybrid is valued as a high-yielding member of the Solanaceae family, well adapted to weather conditions and resistant to many diseases. Due to its excellent taste and attractive appearance, the fruits are successfully used commercially.