Description of the King London tomato, cultivation, and planting instructions

The King London tomato is a large variety with delicious, juicy, and pleasantly aromatic fruits. Large tomato varieties are popular among gardeners, used for making tomato juice at home or for sale.

What is the King London tomato?

The King of London tomato was bred by Siberian scientists by accident, and therefore was not included in the special State Register. Nevertheless, the variety has become popular among gardeners growing tomatoes for sale and for personal use.

Characteristics and description of the variety:

1. King London is a mid-early variety; it begins to bear fruit as early as 110 days after sowing the seeds for seedlings.
2. The breeders' description states that the plant is indeterminate and not a standard bush type.
3. The plant has a strong stem.
4. The bush has moderate foliage and can grow up to 2 m. The average height is 1.5 m, so the plants must be supported.
5. A developed root system that grows strongly in width.
6. The leaves are similar to potato leaves, without pubescence and with a wrinkled structure.
7. The inflorescence begins to form after the appearance of the 9th leaf.
8. Each inflorescence produces up to 5 fruits.

The description states that the plant is resistant to diseases such as mosaic, powdery mildew, and late blight.

This variety can be grown both in open beds and in a greenhouse, where the fruits on the bushes will be slightly smaller than those grown outdoors. Gardeners report very high yields of up to 5 kg per bush. However, with proper cultivation, the yield can double.

King London tomatoes have a large diameter, reaching 15 cm, and weigh between 0.8 and 1 kg. Fruit description:

1. The shape of the fruit is round, heart-shaped.
2. Dense, smooth, but not thick skin.
3. When ripe, the fruits change color from pink to red and crimson.
4. Inside, the tomatoes are pink, fleshy, and multi-chambered, with up to 8 chambers. There are few seeds.
5. The fruits have a sweet, slightly sour taste and a pleasant smell.
6. Tomatoes are eaten fresh—in salads, on sandwiches, and whole. They're also used to make soups and purees, and to add to borscht and stews. If you're canning King London tomatoes, you'll need to cut them into several pieces to fit them into the jar.

Let's consider the pros and cons of the variety.

Summer residents and experts note that the King London has several advantages:

• high yield;
• long-term storage;
• great taste;
• large fruits.

The disadvantages include the fact that the fruits begin to crack right on the plant during ripening.

How are tomatoes grown?

Let's look at how to properly grow tomatoes. This variety grows well in open ground in the south of the country, but in other regions, it is recommended to plant it in greenhouses for maximum yield.

Seeds for seedlings are sown in March, and as soon as the first 1-2 leaves appear, they need to be picked.

The seedlings should be transferred to the greenhouse when they have become established, 55 days after the first shoots appear. They are planted in the open ground 65 days after the seedlings begin to emerge.

Plant the bushes in a staggered pattern, but no more than three plants per square meter. It's essential to remove side shoots during cultivation to ensure the bush has two stems. The second tomato stem will form from this side shoot.

Plant care involves tying them to trellises or stakes. It's best to secure the stems in several places as they grow to prevent the bushes from breaking under their own weight and the weight of the fruit.

During the season, fertilize and water directly at the roots, avoiding contact with the leaves. Excess moisture prevents the fruit from ripening properly and causes them to crack.