Description of the Pink Lady tomato and its cultivation using the Dutch method

The Pink Lady tomato is one of the most popular and sought-after varieties among gardeners worldwide. The beautiful name "Pink Girl" refers to this nightshade variety, developed by Dutch breeders from the finest, highest-quality varieties. It thrives not only in greenhouses but also in open ground.

Pink Lady has many advantages, but it requires a certain amount of knowledge and experience in the intricacies of vegetable growing. Therefore, before you begin growing it, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the variety's characteristics and care instructions.

Characteristics of the variety

Pink Lady tomatoes are indeterminate. Mature plants can reach a height of up to 1.8 m. Experts recommend training this strong and sturdy bush into a single stem. This will help the plant conserve energy for growth and fruit production. This tomato requires staking and pinching.

The Pink Lady variety has light green foliage. The leaves are slightly elongated and densely fill the entire plant.

This mid-season hybrid from a Dutch producer boasts high yields. Harvesting begins in the first half of July and continues until August. On average, one bush can yield up to 5 kg of fruit per season.

Under excellent conditions and proper care, up to 12 kg of fruit can be harvested per square meter. Tomatoes of this variety are round, but slightly flattened, with slight ribbing. They are bright pink in color, sometimes approaching raspberry, and have a smooth, firm skin. The fruits are resistant to cracking. They withstand long-distance transportation and long-term storage in a cool, well-ventilated area.

The tomatoes are sweet with a subtle hint of spice. They have low acidity, and the flesh is firm and juicy. Each tomato weighs between 230 and 280 g. The versatility of the Pink Lady variety appeals to many gardeners. This variety is ideal for making tomato-based products such as paste, lecho, sauces, and juice preserves. They are also great in vegetable salads and eaten fresh.

This variety has the best characteristics. But Pink Lady has a key feature, which lies in the seedling cultivation technology. It was developed directly by Dutch breeders.

The Dutch method of growing seedlings

When purchasing Pink Lady F1 seeds, you can find the description and growing instructions on the back of the package. There, the manufacturer specifies the method for growing this variety. However, standard seedling cultivation methods can also yield good results:

1. The technology requires sowing seeds in a soil mixture. Then, mineral wool impregnated with a special solution is used.
2. Plants are transplanted into separate containers.
3. They are planted in a greenhouse. It is crucial to increase the carbon dioxide concentration in the greenhouse.
4. The temperature in the greenhouse should be within +25…+26 °C.

Further care is carried out as usual.

The Pink Lady tomato has a description of the classic method for growing seedlings, which is as follows:

1. Before planting, seeds are soaked in a weak solution of manganese and a growth stimulant.
2. You can create your own seeding mixture by mixing some turf, peat, and river sand.
3. Pink Lady seedlings are planted in special containers. Place the containers in a warm, well-lit area. Water with a spray bottle.
4. Sowing is carried out at the end of February or the first half of March.

As soon as the first two leaves appear on the seedlings, you can begin transplanting. Peat pots are best for this. This will make transplanting the seedlings into open ground easier later. After transplanting, the seedlings should be fertilized with liquid mineral fertilizer. This procedure is performed a second time just before planting the seedlings into the garden beds.

Young Pink Lady seedlings are planted in May. Before planting, the soil must be properly prepared, including adding peat and humus. Three to four plants are planted per square meter. The holes must be mulched, preferably with regular sawdust.

Tomatoes should be watered every 2-3 days with settled water. The beds should be loosened periodically. Throughout the season, tomato plants should be fertilized with liquid fertilizer no more than 4 times.

Reviews of the Pink Lady tomato are overwhelmingly positive. Gardeners enjoy experimenting with different growing methods, and these efforts are always generously rewarded with a bountiful harvest.