Content
Professionals in growing tomatoes have long preferred to deal mainly with tomato hybrids, since they are characterized by incomparable resistance to adverse conditions, good yields and safety of grown vegetables. But even simple gardeners sometimes want to be one hundred percent confident in the results of their labors. And don’t just rely on good weather in the summer and successful coincidences of circumstances, thanks to which you will be able to pay maximum attention to your tomato bushes and enjoy a good harvest.
Tomato hybrids can make life much easier for gardeners and therefore continue to be in demand among the population, even despite some of their shortcomings. The weak points of hybrids include the inability to use seeds from grown fruits for further propagation of tomatoes and the somewhat rubbery taste of the fruits.
Tomato King The F1 market, which first appeared at the beginning of the 21st century, immediately aroused such increased interest among both farmers and ordinary summer residents that manufacturers launched a whole series of tomato hybrids under that name.
The article will provide an overview of all the most popular hybrids of this series of tomatoes with their brief characteristics and descriptions of the varieties.
History of origin
The first tomato in this series was called Market King No. 1. It was bred at the very beginning of the 21st century by breeders of the Scientific and Production Corporation “NK. LTD", better known to gardeners and vegetable growers as the agricultural company "Russian Garden".
Already the tomatoes of this first hybrid fully justified the name given to them - they were truly kings in many respects. And in terms of yield, and in terms of resistance to diseases and unfavorable growing conditions, and in terms of the duration of storage and transportation.
Immediately after it, hybrid No. 2 appeared from the same series, which corresponded to all the characteristics of the first hybrid, but was more suitable for whole-fruit canning, since it had an elongated cylindrical shape of the fruit and a small mass of tomatoes.
Both first Kings were intended mainly for processing and obtaining a variety of tomato products, although they could also be suitable for salads.
But starting from No. 4, tomato hybrids received exclusively salad purposes, their taste characteristics were improved, and breeders thoroughly worked on the size of ripe fruits.
With the exception of No. 5, the size of the fruits of which does not exceed 200 grams, the remaining kings compete with each other in the size of tomatoes, which continue to retain all their unique properties inherent in all hybrids of this series without exception.
Other hybrids in this series have not yet received this honor.
If the first hybrids of this series were specially intended for cultivation in open ground and belonged to the determinant group, then later the ripening times and growth characteristics of the bushes began to differ in great diversity. Multi-colored hybrids of this series also appeared. The last new product launched in 2017 was the Orange King of the Market.
General characteristics
Despite the wide variety of tomatoes in the King of the Market series, these hybrids have some features that are common to absolutely all representatives of this group of tomatoes.
- High resistance to most diseases characteristic of nightshades: fusarium, verticillium, alternaria, gray leaf spot, tobacco mosaic virus;
- Tomatoes are also rarely affected by pests;
- The fruits are characterized by long shelf life (up to 1 month or more) and good preservation (they do not crack either on the bushes or after harvesting);
- Tomatoes have dense pulp and smooth, strong skin, which makes them ideal for any preparation;
- The shape of the tomatoes is ideal, with virtually no ribbing.
- High yield of marketable fruits, up to 92%;
- Resistant to temperature changes and other weather conditions that may be unfavorable for tomato development;
- Stable and fairly high yield due to good fruit set, which is practically independent of weather factors.
Features of individual hybrids
Initially, the King of the Market series of hybrids was created specifically for the industrial cultivation of tomatoes in open ground. Therefore, the vast majority of tomatoes in this series belong to determinate plants, which are limited in growth and the height of the bushes does not exceed 70-80 cm.But the Kings of tomatoes numbered 8, 9, 11 and 12 are indeterminate plants and can be grown both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions.
At the same time, No. 7 is already mid-season, and the last Orange King of the market No. 13 even belongs to mid-late tomatoes. Its fruits ripen 120-130 days after emergence, and therefore in many regions of Russia it makes sense to grow it only in greenhouses, or at least under film covers.
To make it easier to navigate the abundance of characteristics of the King of the Market series hybrids, below is a summary table that examines all the main representatives of this series.
Hybrid name | Ripening time (days) | Bush height and growth characteristics | Productivity | Size and shape of fruits | Fruit color and taste |
Market King No. I | 90-100 | Up to 70 cm Determinant | About 10 kg per sq. meters | Up to 140 g cuboid | Red Good |
No. II | 90-100 | Up to 70 cm Determinant | About 10 kg per sq. meters | 80-100 g cylindrical, cream | Red good |
No. III | 90-100 | Up to 70 cm Determinant | 8-9 kg per sq. meters | 100-120 g flat-round | Red good |
No. IV | 95-100 | Up to 70 cm Determinant | 8-9 kg per sq. meters | Up to 300 g rounded | Red good |
No. V | 95-100 | 60-80 cm Determinant | 9 kg per sq. meters | 180-200 g Flat-rounded | Red good |
No. VI | 80-90 | 60-80 cm Determinant | About 10 kg per sq. meters | 250-300 g rounded | Red good |
No. VII | 100-110 | Up to 100 cm Determinant | About 10 kg per sq. meters | Up to 500-600 g rounded | Red great |
Pink Market King No. VIII | 100-120 | Up to 1.5 m Indet | 12-13 kg per sq. meters | 250-350 g Round, smooth | Pink great |
King Giant No. IX | 100-120 | Up to 1.5 m Indet | 12-13 kg per sq. meters | On average 400-600 g and up to 1000 g Round, smooth | Red great |
Early King No. X | 80-95 | 60-70 cm Determinant | 9-10 kg per sq. meters | Up to 150 g rounded | Red good |
Pickling King No. XI | 100-110 | Up to 1.5 m Indet | 10-12 kg per sq. meters | 100-120 g cylindrical cream | Red good |
Honey King No. XII | 100-120 | Up to 1.5 m Indet | 12-13 kg per sq. meters | 180-220 g rounded | Red great |
Orange Market King No. XIII | 120-130 | Up to 100 cm Determinant | 10-12 kg per sq. meters | About 250 g rounded | Orange great |
Reviews from gardeners
Gardeners were immediately attracted to the tomatoes from the King of the Market series and they were willingly grown in various regions of Russia, despite the relatively high cost of the seeds. Reviews from gardeners about tomatoes in this series are mostly positive, although there are recognized leaders: No. 1, No. 7, Pink No. 8 and King Giant No. 9 are especially popular.
Conclusion
The King of the Market tomatoes amaze with the diversity of their varieties, unpretentiousness and stable and sustainable harvest. This is probably why their popularity does not subside. For any, even the most fastidious gardener, there will be a variety among them that will definitely make him change his mind about hybrids.
