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The Pink Stella tomato was created by Novosibirsk breeders for cultivation in temperate climates. The variety has been fully tested and zoned in Siberia and the Urals. In 2007 it was entered into the State Register. The sale of tomato seeds is carried out by the copyright holder of the Siberian Garden variety.
Detailed description of the variety
The tomato variety Pink Stella belongs to the determinant type. The low-growing plant does not exceed 60 cm in height. The standard bush produces lateral shoots at the first stage of the growing season before the formation of clusters. No more than 3 stepsons are left to form the crown, the rest are removed. As the tomato grows, it practically does not form shoots.
Tomato Pink Stella is a medium-late variety, the fruits ripen in 3.5 months. The bush is compact and does not take up much space on the site. Judging by the photo of Pink Stella tomatoes and according to reviews from vegetable growers, they are suitable for growing in open ground and in temporarily sheltered areas. The plant is adapted to the cold spring and short summer of Central Russia and tolerates low temperatures well.
External characteristics:
- The central trunk is hard, thick, woody, dark green with a brown tint.It does not support the weight of the fruit on its own; it requires fixation to a support.
- The shoots are light green; after fruit set, the plant forms single stepsons.
- The foliage of the Pink Stella variety is medium, the leaves are dark green. The surface is corrugated, teeth are clearly visible along the edge, and are densely pubescent.
- The root system is superficial, powerful, spreading out to the sides, fully providing the plant with nutrition and moisture.
- The Pink Stella variety blooms abundantly, the flowers are yellow, collected in inflorescences. The flowers are self-pollinating, 97% produce a viable ovary.
- The clusters are long, the first fruit cluster is formed after the 3rd leaf, the subsequent ones - after 1 leaf. Filling capacity – 7 fruits. The mass of tomatoes does not change both on the first and subsequent bunches. The filling capacity decreases; the last bunch contains no more than 4 tomatoes.
The first fruits ripen in mid-August if the crop is grown in an open area. In greenhouses - 2 weeks earlier. The tomato continues to grow until the first frost.
Brief description and taste of the fruit
Judging by the photo of the Pink Stella tomato fruits and according to the reviews, they correspond to the description of the originators. The variety produces tomatoes with a minimum acid concentration. The fruits are universally used, they are consumed fresh, they are suitable for making juice and ketchup. The size of Pink Stella tomatoes allows them to be used for preservation in glass jars. Tomatoes tolerate heat treatment well and do not crack. They are grown in private farmsteads and large agro-industrial areas.
External description of the Pink Stella tomato fruit:
- form – round, slightly elongated, pepper-shaped, with slight ribbing near the stalk;
- peel – dark pink, thin, dense, tomatoes can crack in hot weather with a lack of moisture, the color is uniform, the surface is glossy;
- average tomato weight – 170 g, length – 12 cm;
- pulp – juicy, loose consistency, without voids and white fragments, has 4 seed chambers and a small number of seeds.
Varietal characteristics
For a low-growing species, the Pink Stella tomato variety gives a good harvest. The level of fruiting is not affected by temperature changes day and night. But for photosynthesis, a tomato needs a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation; in a shaded place, the growing season slows down, the fruits ripen later, with a smaller mass. The variety requires moderate watering to prevent fruit cracking. The Pink Stella tomato prefers fertile neutral soils in lowlands; tomatoes grow poorly in wetlands.
If all requirements are met, the Pink Stella tomato ripens from the beginning of August to the end of September. One bush yields around 3 kg. Ripening time in greenhouses is 14 days earlier. The level of fruiting in an open area and in a greenhouse structure is no different. At 1 m2 3 tomatoes are planted, the average yield is 8-11 kg per 1 m22.
The priority in choosing the Pink Stella variety for planting on the site is the plant’s strong immunity to bacterial and fungal pathogens. Zoned in Siberian conditions, the tomato is immune to a number of common diseases:
- Alternaria;
- tobacco mosaic;
- late blight.
The variety is intended for cold climates; most nightshade pests do not survive. Of the main pests on the crop, the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle parasitize.
Pros and cons of the variety
In the process of experimental cultivation, work was carried out to eliminate the shortcomings; Pink Stella tomatoes became favorites for many vegetable growers thanks to:
- long growing season - the last harvest is harvested before frost;
- strong immunity, immunity to infection;
- stable yield, regardless of sudden changes in temperature;
- compactness of the bush;
- standard growth - there is no need for constant pinching;
- profitability of the variety for commercial cultivation;
- possibilities of cultivation in open ground and in protected areas;
- excellent taste characteristics;
- versatility of fruits in use, long-term storage.
The disadvantages of the Pink Stella tomato include the need to install a trellis; determinate varieties practically do not require this measure. Providing the tomatoes with the necessary watering so that the integrity of the peel is not compromised.
Rules for planting and care
The Pink Stella tomato variety is grown in seedlings. Seeds are collected independently or purchased from a retail chain.
Growing seedlings
Sowing of seeds is carried out 2 months before selecting seedlings for further growing season. In temperate climates - approximately in mid-March, in the southern regions - 10 days earlier. Sequence of work:
- Prepare a planting mixture in equal proportions from peat, river sand, and topsoil from a permanent location.
- Take containers: wooden boxes or plastic containers, at least 15 cm deep.
- Pour in the nutrient mixture, make 1.5 cm furrows, and plant seeds at a distance of 0.5 cm.
- Water with warm water and fall asleep.
- The top of the container is covered with glass, transparent polycarbonate or plastic film.
- Cleaned in a room with a temperature of +230 C.
After the sprouts appear, the covering material is removed, the containers are placed in a lighted place, and fed with complex fertilizer. Water every 2 days with a small amount of water.
After the formation of 3 leaves, the tomato planting material is planted into plastic or peat cups. 7 days before planting in the ground, the plants are hardened off and the temperature is gradually lowered to +180 C.
Tomato care
Tomatoes of the Pink Stella variety require standard agricultural technology:
- The plants are fertilized for the first time during flowering with ammonia. Secondly, at the time of fruit growth, phosphorus-containing fertilizers are applied, and during the period of technical ripeness of tomatoes, organic matter is added to the root.
- The variety requires watering; it is carried out 2 times every 7 days, subject to dry summers. Tomatoes growing in open ground should be watered early in the morning or after sunset.
- The bush is formed into 3 or 4 shoots, the remaining stepsons are removed, excess leaves and fruit-bearing clusters are cut off, a support is installed, and the plant is tied up as it grows.
- For preventive purposes, the plant is treated with copper-containing preparations at the time of fruit set.
After planting, the root circle is mulched with compost; organic matter acts as a moisture-retaining element and additional fertilizing.
Transplanting seedlings
Tomatoes are planted in an open area after the soil has warmed to 150 C at the end of May, in the greenhouse - in mid-May. Planting pattern:
- Make a recess in the form of a furrow of 20 cm.
- Compost is poured at the bottom.
- Tomatoes are placed vertically.
- Cover with soil, water, and mulch.
At 1 m2 3 tomatoes are planted, row spacing is 0.7 m, distance between bushes is 0.6 m. The planting pattern for the greenhouse and the unprotected area is the same.
Conclusion
Tomato Pink Stella is a mid-early variety of determinate, standard type. The selective tomato was bred for cultivation in temperate climates. The culture produces a stable high yield of fruits of universal use. Tomatoes with a high gastronomic rating.
