Bright early tomato with large fruits - the “King of the Market” tomato and the secrets of growing it from experienced gardeners

Official data

Only one hybrid, “Market King VII,” has been officially legalized and entered into the register of breeding achievements, but the rest of the kings are impostors.

However, the series was released under the responsibility of “Russian Garden” and at the vegetable growers’ own risk.

The series is presented under the motto “Series of the best determinate tomatoes.” That is why the “King” variety, included in the register under number 9610183, was not included in the “retinue”, since it is indeterminate.

He grabbed “Russian Garden” and other kings, giving them just numbers instead of author’s names. So the legal variety “Raspberry King” was called “Pink King of the Market 8 F1”, and the variety “Golden King” was renamed as “Orange King of the Market 13 F1”.

Be that as it may, packers sell a series of low-growing tomatoes, and vegetable growers, having grown the “King of the Market” tomato, readily submit reviews, photos of the bush and their opinions for consideration.

All presented varieties of “kings” are determinate.

Features of cultivation

There are 2 ways to grow tomatoes:

1. Sowing for seedlings - depending on the ripening period and climate of the region, from the end of February to the end of March.
2. Without seedlings - sowing seeds in open ground (under a greenhouse cover) in the second half of April. This method is suitable only for the southern regions.

Seeds do not require pre-soaking or dressing

Seeds for cultivation are purchased only in the store: collecting them yourself is impractical, since the King of the Market is a hybrid, not a variety. Sowing is done in peat cups - then the seedlings do not need to be picked.

The soil can be purchased or made independently from turf soil, compost and humus (2:1:1 ratio) or from equal quantities of peat and garden soil with several handfuls of sand and wood ash. Standard growing instructions:

1. Sow at a shallow depth of up to 2 cm and moisten abundantly.
2. Place in a warm place (25 degrees), cover with a film with holes and illuminate for up to 13-14 hours a day.
3. After 2 weeks, complex mineral fertilizer is added (if ash was initially added, this step is skipped).
4. Gradually the temperature is reduced to room temperature (20-22 degrees).
5. 2 weeks before transplanting into the ground, they are hardened at a temperature of 16-18 degrees.

Even in cool summers, King of the Market tomatoes produce good yields

The planting pattern is linear or checkerboard. Between the bushes you need to leave 40-50 cm, between the rows a little more - 50-60 cm. In the future, feed with complex fertilizer every 2-3 weeks, provide regular, but not excessive watering. It is advisable to mulch the soil with hay, peat or sawdust. The bushes must be tied to a support. In some cases (if the hybrid is indeterminate), they need to be stepsoned.

"Market King 1 F1"

The fruits of this tomato are cube-shaped with an average weight of 90-110 g. The marketable product is level.

Tomato pulp is dense, rich and has good taste. The fruits are resistant to cracking and are intended for both fresh consumption and canning. When cooked, tomatoes keep their shape, and the skin is so dense that it does not crack, protecting the entire contents.

The Market King 1 tomato contains 2-3 chambers filled with tomato pulp and a small amount of seeds.

The opinions of vegetable growers are divided regarding the ripening period. Some argue that the tomato is early ripening, while others say that it is impossible to try “King 1” before the end of August.

What vegetable growers agree on is its advantages:

• good taste of fruits;
• universal purpose.

It is difficult to determine the height of the plant of this hybrid. The packer kept silent about the information, but reviews talk about both 80 cm and 150 cm.

Characteristics

When the fruits reach varietal maturity, they are red in color and slightly elongated in shape. The tomatoes are quite large, weighing about 300 grams. The number of chambers in the fetus is 4-5. The dry matter content does not exceed 6%.

See below for the fruit weight of tomatoes of other varieties:

“King of the Market” is very tasty fresh. Thanks to the balanced content of microelements, it produces good juice. It is not suitable for whole-fruit canning due to its large size. Tomatoes of this variety can be pickled in barrels and also dried.

Among the main advantages of this hybrid, experts highlight:

• resistance to lack of moisture;
• resistance to diseases;
• good yield;
• high taste qualities of fruits.

Its main disadvantages include:

1. The variety is suitable only for the southern regions. It is not grown in the middle zone and northern regions.
2. Some gardeners also consider the impossibility of whole-fruit canning to be a disadvantage.

"Market King 2 F1"

Medium ripening hybrid. The photo of the bag of seeds shows tomatoes with a distinct oval shape. The description says that the fruits are large, up to 140 g.

The hybrid “King of the Market 2” is intended for open ground.

Tomatoes are resistant to cracking, dense, fleshy, red.

The characteristics of the hybrid manufacturer indicate that the tomatoes are perfectly preserved and can be transported well over long distances. Those who grew tomatoes fully confirm this property.

The hybrid is recommended to be grown in those regions where the abundance of sunlight does not allow planting sensitive varieties.

Those vegetable growers who cultivated the hybrid say that the tomato has:

• good taste;
• universal purpose;
• increased resistance to diseases;
• excellent transportability and keeping quality;
• good yield.

Rules for harvesting and storing crops

Tomatoes are collected from the bushes once every 5 days, at the height of the season - once every 2-3 days. When separating the fruits, you need to leave the stalk; it keeps the tomatoes longer. The hybrid in question is very thermophilic, so it must be removed before the first autumn cold snap.

As already mentioned, the King of the Market has excellent shelf life and can be stored in a ripe form in a refrigerator at a temperature of 0°C for a month without loss of commercial qualities. It also transports well thanks to its thick skin.

Did you know? There is an original way to grow tomatoes upside down. It is suitable for mini varieties. The bush is placed in a firmly suspended container and watered like flowers. This method is used to save space and provide high-quality ventilation of shoots.

The King of the Market tomato series lives up to its name: thanks to its high yield, variety of hybrids, disease resistance, excellent taste and beautiful appearance of the fruit, these tomatoes are literally flying off the shelves. The most important thing when growing is to purchase high-quality seeds, avoid mis-grading, and follow the simple recommendations outlined in the article.

"Market King 3 F1"

The hybrid is intended for cultivation in open ground in the middle zone and southern latitudes.

The fruits are flat-round in shape, with an average weight of 120-130 g. They are red, smooth, and have excellent transportability.

Hybrid "Market King 3" for universal use. The thick skin perfectly preserves the pulp from cracking during heat treatment.

Reviews indicate:

• high yield;
• good disease resistance;
• keeping quality and transportability;
• excellent fruit set regardless of weather conditions;
• good taste.

How to grow King of the Market tomatoes

Due to the excellent characteristics and properties of the King of the Market hybrid, anyone, even a novice gardener, can grow it if he follows simple rules for planting and care.

Landing in the ground

It is best to plant seedlings in the ground towards the end of spring - beginning of summer, when the soil no longer freezes at night. From 3 to 5 plants are planted per square meter. It is better to find out the planting interval from the recommendations on the seed packaging of the King of the Market variety you have chosen. Usually it is 40 by 50-70 cm.

Care

Hybrids of this variety do not like heavy watering, but you should not overdry the soil even in temperate climate zones. Weed and loosen the soil as necessary, remove excess shoots and tie up the stems.

In addition, the variety readily responds to complex feeding. With this care, bushes are formed more neatly and give a generous harvest. The taste is also noticeably improved.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

To form beautiful tomato bushes of this wonderful variety, immediately after the first flowers appear on the first formed tomato cluster and the formation of two stepsons, break off the least powerful of them with your hands. Plant the plant every 10-12 days in warm sunny weather in the morning or afternoon.

If you don’t have enough bushes, you can grow tomatoes with two stems. Then just leave the stepson above the first brush, then tie it up separately and grow it further, carefully monitoring the condition of the bush.

Features of the formation of determinate type tomato bushes:

How to form tomato bushes Part 1 - Formation of determinate type tomatoes.

Diseases and pests

Please note that the normal color of ripening fruits is light green without stripes or spots. If yours is different, check your plants for diseases or pests. Typical diseases for the King of the Market are Alternaria and bacterial spot. For prevention, feed the bushes with fertilizers containing copper and nitrogen.

No matter how good this tomato variety is, pests will still want to flock to the fragrant smell of the fruit. Mole crickets, slugs or Colorado potato beetles are often spotted near the Market King.

Purchase the necessary medications for the Colorado potato beetle and mole crickets in advance in case they suddenly appear. At the first sign of slugs, spray the plants with a solution containing black pepper or mustard (1 tbsp per 1 m²). If you notice a mole cricket, you need to thoroughly weed the ground before spraying.

"Market King 4 F1"

Salad tomato. The fruits are round, smooth, without ribbing, and red in color.

The taste of the hybrid “King of the Market 4” is very high. An excellent balance of sugars and acids, an excellent aftertaste, and good transportability make the hybrid very desirable for growing by farmers and those vegetable growers who want to sell surplus products on the market.

The tomato has increased resistance to fusarium, verticillium, alternaria, and gray leaf spot.

The hybrid is recommended for southern latitudes.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

In this series of tomatoes, every farmer will find a hybrid suitable specifically for his purposes, be it preparing salads, whole-fruit canning (No. II, No. XI), making juices (No. XII).

• The King of the Market is distinguished from other varieties by:
• high commercial productivity (yield of marketable fruits up to 92%);
• excellent shelf life and transportability;
• resistance to most diseases and pests;
• beautiful appearance;
• excellent taste.

Important! Seed material is purchased exclusively in the store, since this group of tomatoes belongs to hybrids (labeled F1), whose seeds are not used for propagation.

• The disadvantages of the series include:
• mis-grading occurs in seeds;
• the need for mandatory tying;
• requirement for high nutritional value of the soil;
• thermophilic (in the northern regions it is grown only in greenhouses).

"Market King 5 F1"

Mid-early ripening. The weight of a tomato fruit varies from 180 to 200 g. The tomatoes are flat-round, red, smooth, resistant to cracking and have an excellent marketable yield.

The hybrid “King of the Market 5” has high fruit set properties in all weather conditions.

Those who grew it say that it is a hybrid:

• transports well;
• has excellent productivity;
• has good taste;
• Resistant to major tomato diseases.

Characteristics and cultivation of the variety

Main characteristics:

1. All tomatoes of the Korol variety are resistant to diseases to which other vegetables of this type are susceptible. It will not be affected by verticellosis, fusarium or other diseases.
2. Pests rarely attack tomatoes.
3. Tomatoes can be stored for a long time and transported over distances.
4. The fruits have dense flesh and strong skin, which make it possible to preserve tomatoes.
5. The shape of the Tsar Market fruits is almost perfect and has no ribs.
6. The yield of each bush is about 92%, which is a very high figure.
7. They do not respond to temperature changes and adverse weather conditions.

Tomatoes are mainly intended for growing in open areas: tomatoes from numbers 1 to 6, as well as number 7, are determinate. The bushes grow to a height of no more than 80 cm. Among the hybrids there are indeterminate plants (No. 8, 9, 11 and 12), which can be grown both in greenhouses and in open ground.

The farmers who bought the seeds liked the tomato. Everyone who planted this variety leaves positive reviews about the King of the Market tomatoes. There is practically no negative feedback. Everyone is satisfied with buying seeds and planting them in their summer cottage. And this despite the price, which is far from small.

The characteristic features of cultivated plants of this class include:

• Resistance to a number of known diseases, such as verticillium, tobacco mosaic virus and gray spot;
• Quite a low probability of damage by insects and parasites;
• Tomatoes of this variety can be stored for a long time (up to 30 days or more);
• At the same time, they are well preserved both on the bushes and after harvesting (in warehouse conditions);
• Tomato fruits are distinguished by increased pulp density and have a strong and durable skin, which allows them to be used during harvesting work;
• They have an almost ideal shape and are practically devoid of ribbing;
• The yield of marketable fruits per bush for these hybrids reaches 92%.

In addition, they are resistant to any climatic deviations, including temperature fluctuations and wet (rainy) weather.

Growing tomatoes King of the market

The listed advantages of this type of tomato crop allow them to be used not only for personal purposes, but also to send part of the harvest for sale. This is facilitated by a volume-stable commercial output, the value of which depends little on the growing region and soil conditions.

"Market King 6 F1"

An early-ripening hybrid, although vegetable growers note that it should be classified as mid-early. Recommended for growing in open ground.

The fruits are round, smooth and even. Average weight is about 300 g. The tomato skin is very dense. Thanks to it, tomatoes are perfectly stored and can be easily transported over long distances.

Tomato “King of the Market 6” is presented as the best one for sale on the market. The external characteristics of the tomato are excellent. Taste characteristics are “good”.

Useful video

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the tomato varieties that are also recommended to be grown outdoors, like the “King of the Market” tomato:

And in the table below you will find links to articles about tomatoes of various ripening periods that may be useful to you:

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter.

"Market King 7"

This is the only hybrid entered into the register of selection achievements. Its number is 9552974, but the number of the hybrid is VII.

The applicant and originator of the tomato is CJSC Scientific and Production Corporation NK.LTD, Moscow region. Shchelkovo. The trial lasted two years and was legalized in 2006.

The hybrid is recommended for cultivation in the North Caucasus region as a salad plant, for growing gardens in private gardens of citizens in open ground.

In terms of ripening time, the variety is mid-season. The leaf blade is medium.

The fruit is flat-round in shape, with slight ribbing, dense, very resistant to cracking.

The tomato does not have a green spot on the stalk. Its color is even, uniform, and red during the period of botanical ripeness.

In the section, 4 nests are clearly visible.

The weight of a tomato varies from 80 to 130 g, sometimes tomatoes can reach 190 g. Reviews say that although the fruits are not equal in weight and size, they all find their consumers on the market and remain in demand.

During the tasting it received an “excellent” rating.

Productivity

Having a marketable product yield of within 90%, the hybrid shows very high yields.

When registering a variety, yields are usually compared with regional standard varieties. When compared with the variety “Podarok Kuban”, which is the standard, “King of the Market 7” shows 16 c/ha more, and when compared with the variety “Novichok” it shows 98 c/ha more.

Such a yield, with good commercial indicators, is very impressive. The average commercial yield recorded for the hybrid is in the range of 253-584 c/ha. The numbers are very different. This suggests that the hybrid is plastic. To obtain the highest performance, he needs:

• high nutritional value of soils;
• timely feeding at the root;
• foliar regular feeding.

The originator of the variety and vegetable growers involved in the production of commercial products for the market speak about the very high shelf life of the fruit. The preservation of commercial qualities for a month after collection without creating special conditions puts this hybrid on the podium in terms of demand.

Sustainability

Market King VII has been extensively tested for susceptibility to contagious tomato diseases and has been found to have increased resistance to Fusarium, Verticillium, Alternaria and Nematode.

Advantages

It is not for nothing that this particular hybrid was included in the register, since it has a number of advantages:

• high productivity;
• excellent taste;
• good marketability;
• impeccable keeping quality;
• excellent transportability;
• good disease resistance.

Advantages and disadvantages

This hybrid has a number of advantages over other varieties:

• resistant to dry climate conditions;
• shows resistance to the development of diseases;
• gives a wonderful harvest;
• demonstrates excellent taste.

The description of the variety also contains disadvantages:

1. The king of the market is a zoned variety, so its cultivation is possible only in the southern regions of the country.
2. Impossibility of canning in its entirety.

Despite some disadvantages, which are very relative, the variety has a large number of fans who have not changed their favorite hybrid for several years and leave only good reviews.

"Market King 8 F1" or "Raspberry King F1"

The packers named the eighth king the hybrid, which was entered into the register of varieties under number 8456588 in 2021, but it was in variety testing for quite a long time and managed to be released to the people before its legality.

Applicant and originator LLC NPO "Garden and Vegetable Garden" Chelyabinsk region. With. Shumovo.

After lengthy tests, the commission recognized that the hybrid is suitable for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation. Despite this, some packers stubbornly point out that the tomato is for Siberia.

The hybrid is recommended for cultivation in closed ground and in the gardens of vegetable growers and summer residents.

The hybrid is medium in terms of ripening and is intended for salad purposes.

What is served under the name “Pink Market King 8” is actually crimson in color, flat-round, leveled in shape with faint ribbing. The fruit is medium in density with six or more seed nests.

The weight of the tomato is equalized within the range of 300-340 g. During the tasting, a unique taste balance was noted and the rating “excellent” was given.

The yield of the hybrid is also high, but the tomato does not show much plasticity. To show the legal 10-12 kg per square meter of the garden requires soil nutrition.

The yield of marketable fruits was 9.9-11.7 kg/sq. m.

Pest and disease control

The King of the Market tomato variety is resistant to many diseases. The bush will never be susceptible to late blight and gray rot. But if done incorrectly, the plant can be threatened by Alternaria blight, bacterial spot, mole cricket, Colorado potato beetle and slugs.

To combat insect pests, use the drug “Gnome”, “Prestige” and treat the land with a solution of hot pepper or mustard.

Alternaria blight is a common disease of tomatoes. The disease begins to develop from the bottom up. The fungus attacks the stem, foliage and fruits. The disease appears:

• in hot, rainy summers with a sharp change in air temperature during the day and night hours;
• after mechanical damage to the barrel;
• sowing infected seeds;
• non-compliance with crop rotation.

Treatment consists of treating the bush with Tatu, Consento or Antrakol.

Bacterial spotting is a dangerous disease that cannot be treated. If dark, spreading spots are found on the leaf plate, the bush is immediately removed. To prevent neighboring tomatoes from becoming infected with a terrible disease, they are sprayed with copper-containing solutions. The disease often appears at high temperatures and humidity.

To preserve the harvest, you need to take timely preventive measures:

• purchase seeds only from trusted suppliers;
• remove weeds in a timely manner;
• do not thicken plantings and observe crop rotation;
• remove lower leaves.

"King Giant 9 F1"

Describing the characteristics of this king, the packers did not skimp on compliments. Those who packed the seeds in a bag guarantee the weight of the fruit to be at least 450 g, but they also promise that individual specimens can reach 1000 g.

presented a series of determinant hybrids. And indeed, all the previous “kings” were short, but “King Giant 9” is a tall, indeterminate hybrid.

Reviews from those who have already grown the ninth king certainly begin with showing photos of the weight of tomatoes. Vegetable growers claim that the largest tomato weight is within 860 g. Other fruits are smaller in size, but they:

• fleshy;
• delicious;
• aromatic;
• recumbents.

Hybrid for salad purposes.

The plant requires pinching and timely gartering. Vegetable growers talk about good disease resistance, but experienced tomato growers carry out preventive treatments in a timely manner.

Reviews, who planted

Vladimir, Armavir:

For a long time, through trial and error, we searched for the optimal tomatoes for our area. And when they imprisoned the Market King, they realized that they had found what they were looking for. Tomatoes are completely unpretentious, do not need a lot of moisture, and suffer little disease.

Olga, Alushta:

We grow a variety of varieties and hybrids of tomatoes, but I like the King of the Market the most. I sow directly into the garden, the yield is good, there is enough for myself and I take it to the market. Tomatoes are tasty, juicy and meaty at the same time.

Nelli, Astrakhan region:

We have such heat in the summer that not every crop will take root. But the King of the Market tomatoes thrive in our conditions and are not capricious without rain. We eat them fresh and use them for juice.

The heat-loving hybrid tomato variety King of the Market bears fruit well in the southern regions and, with proper care, provides vitamins to the owners of the beds for a long time. To prevent and improve the quality of fruits, it is necessary to treat plants and soil with modern and traditional preparations against pathogens and pests and apply fertilizers on time.

"Early King 10"

It is difficult to say what is hidden under this name. What the market supplies is represented by very early indeterminate large-fruited tomatoes.

Reviews do take place, but the mismatch with the kings suggests that they are not always talking about the same thing.

If a variety is named “Early King 10,” then this is not in the register of varieties and you should think carefully about whether you need to deal with tomatoes whose origin is unknown.

Characteristics of the variety

Before starting to grow any crop, including tomatoes, gardeners learn a lot of information about what characteristics a particular crop variety has. Among this information, the first positions are the advantages and disadvantages that the variety has.

According to experts, the tomato variety King of the Market f1 has the following advantages:

1. Easy to care for.
2. High level of productivity.
3. Resistance to most diseases that can affect the plant.

Also, many tomato breeders add rapid fruit ripening to their list of advantages. The first tomatoes belonging to the King of the Market variety can be harvested as early as July or August.

The main disadvantage of the variety is the high heat-loving nature of tomatoes.

For this reason, it becomes slightly difficult to grow them in regions far from the south. Also, some owners argue that the inability to preserve the entire King of the Market fruit is also a varietal defect.

"Orange King of the Market 13 F1" or "Gold King"

They renamed the beautiful hybrid “Golden King” to orange, and number 13, which since 2010 has been pleasing vegetable growers with its beautiful fruits.

The tomato is included in the register of breeding achievements of the Russian Federation under number 8954018.

The originator and applicant of the variety is LLC Agrotechnological Novosibirsk district, village Izdrevaya Russia.

The tomato is recommended for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation in film shelters and unheated greenhouses of vegetable growers’ private farms.

Orange King of the Market 13, or rather “Golden King” is a hybrid for salad purposes, medium ripening.

The plant is low-growing, determinate.

The leaf blade makes the hybrid recognizable because it has a very light green color. Novice vegetable growers, not understanding the intricacies of the hybrid, believe that the leaf indicates nitrogen deficiency and begin intensive feeding, but these are just biological features.

The fruit of the hybrid is heart-shaped. During the ripening period, the tomato retains a green spot at the base of the stalk for a long time. As biological ripeness increases, the spot disappears and the fruit turns yellow.

Faint ribbing adorns the “golden king”. The tomato is average in density, has 6 and sometimes more nests filled with pulp.

The tomatoes are leveled, weighing about 200 g, with a good marketable yield.

The tomato taste is balanced. The tasters' rating is "good", but vegetable growers note the taste of the fruit as "excellent".

It should be noted that the variety is not very “promoted”, but meanwhile, those who grew it once note:

• high productivity;
• long, extended fruiting;
• excellent resistance against diseases;
• high taste qualities.

Having planted “Golden King” tomatoes in the garden and experienced all the delights of the hybrid, vegetable growers are surprised why this “gold” is not yet in demand by the broad masses, but this tomato deserves its name “king of the market tomatoes.”

Some vegetable growers compare the “Golden King” with the hybrid “King of Siberia”. However, the "King of Siberia" is not on the register and is of unknown origin, and is marketed as an indeterminate, tall-growing variety, while the "Golden King" does not exceed 80 cm, making it much easier to care for.

What qualities do fruits have?

The fruits are valued for their taste

Undoubtedly, every gardener is interested not only in how intensively he will have to care for the crop that he is going to grow, but also what characteristics his harvest will have. This allows you to determine the profitability of planting and further caring for the plant. This is especially important when tomatoes are grown for the purpose of subsequent sale.

According to experts, experienced gardeners and ordinary consumers, growing the King of the Market tomato on your own plot is completely justified. This process is justified not only by ease of maintenance, but also by the following product indicators:

1. One fruit can weigh up to 300 g.
2. In appearance, the tomatoes are round, slightly oblong.
3. The surface of the tomato is smooth.
4. The fruits are resistant to cracking.

Ripe tomatoes turn red. Tomato skin has a higher density. This allows the pulp not to be damaged during storage or transportation. This property is also appreciated by breeders and consumers.

The taste characteristics of the King of the Market tomato indicate that the fruits of this variety are simply ideal for fresh consumption. Tasty and sweet-tasting tomatoes are added to salads, vegetable dishes, and various snacks. These tomatoes are also actively used for making juice. The large size of the fruit becomes an obstacle to their canning. However, inventive housewives have found a way out - the King of the Market tomatoes, dried or pickled in barrels, perfectly dilute the winter diet of many families.

Features of agricultural technology

Whatever the height, if the fruits are heavy and the hybrid is productive, it requires garters. Clusters with large fruits break off without fixation, and the plant's marketable yield is significantly reduced.

For garters, you can use both materials purchased from gardening centers and those adapted from household waste.

Regular tying will ensure a smooth increase in yield and its preservation.

When growing tomatoes, the king of the market, and counting on high yields, special attention should be paid to soil agricultural technology. In order for the fruit to gain weight and its taste to be balanced, with the optimal amount of dry matter and sugars, it is necessary to provide the plant with all nutrients.

Plant care

The king of the market is a fairly unpretentious hybrid. It is flexible and adapts to almost any conditions. But if you want to get a really good harvest, then you should follow the watering and fertilizing regime, as well as perform agrotechnological techniques (tying, weeding, loosening).

Watering rules

Rules for watering tomato King of the Market:

1. Use warm, settled water.
2. Watering is carried out at the root. Leaves and inflorescences should not be irrigated.
3. On average, one bush requires 5 liters of water. During the flowering period and before fruit formation, the amount of water is increased to 10 liters.
4. The frequency of watering depends on weather conditions. Both the top layer of soil should not dry out or become waterlogged. On average, the frequency of watering is 1-2 times a week.

Top dressing

To provide nutrients, the plant is fed with nitrogen fertilizers two weeks after planting and with phosphorus-potassium complexes during flowering and fruiting (once every 2-3 weeks). Tomato also responds well to organic fertilizing (0.5 liters of mullein or bird droppings diluted in 10 liters of water). At the end of July, feeding is stopped so as not to promote the growth of green mass to the detriment of fruit ripening.

Read about the features of applying fertilizers for tomatoes.

Stepping and bush formation

The King of the Market does not require mandatory pinching, but some farmers form a bush with 2 stems, removing unnecessary shoots every 11 days. Without stepsoning, the King of the Market will give a later, but also more abundant harvest.

Regardless of whether you are engaged in the formation of a bush, it needs to be tied up, since most of the hybrids in the series have large fruits, which, combined with high productivity, requires fixing the plant to preserve the tomato. The bush is tied to pegs or a trellis is made. It is better to use synthetic materials for garters (they do not rot and are more durable).

Loosening the soil and weeding

After watering, the soil is loosened to a depth of 4-5 cm. Careful weeding is also necessary: ​​all weeds are removed by the roots to prevent pest infestation. To simplify this work, a tool such as a Fokin flat cutter is used.

Did you know? The Fokina flat cutter is such a popular tool that it is often counterfeited. The original flat cutter has a black blade, and its handle is never painted.

Pests and diseases of the variety

The Market King has excellent immunity against the most common diseases: fusarium, tobacco mosaic, gray rot, late blight. However, improper care can lead to the development of certain diseases and pest damage.

Let's consider the main threats to the health of tomatoes and methods of their treatment and prevention:

1. Alternaria blight is a fungal disease that affects the stem, leaves and fruits. The reason for the development is non-compliance with crop rotation and a combination of hot weather with high rainfall. To get rid of Alternaria fungicides “Tattu” and “Antrakol” are used.
2. Black spot is much more dangerous than Alternaria blight. It is characterized by the rapid spread of dark spots on the leaves. The leaves fall off, and the fruits rot and do not ripen. If a disease is detected, the affected plant must be removed and burned, and the entire area surrounding it must be treated with Bordeaux mixture. Black spot can be prevented by regular fertilizing with mineral fertilizers, timely weeding, non-thickening of plantings and adherence to crop rotation.
3. The mole cricket damages the roots of tomatoes, it is especially dangerous for young seedlings. Thorough weeding will serve as prevention, and if the mole cricket is already annoying you, the drug “Thunder”, whose granules are laid out in moistened soil to a depth of 3-5 cm, will be a great help.
4. To combat the Colorado potato beetle , which feeds on tomato leaves, the chemical preparation “Prestige” is used, and plants and soil are also dusted with sifted ash.
5. The netted slug usually appears in the cold, rainy summer and feeds on tomato foliage, leaving holes and a silvery slimy trail. This is not only unaesthetic, but also entails a slowdown in the growth of tomatoes and the death of flower stalks. In addition, the slug spreads infections and fungi. Slugs are collected by hand and destroyed. “Biological weapons” such as parasitic nematodes are also used. This microorganism is safe for both humans and tomatoes. The nematode is sold packaged in boxes in specialized stores. Another good means of prevention is to plant onions and garlic between rows.

Characteristics in the table

Growing and care

Formation on the advice of agronomists is carried out in 2 main trunks. Once every 7-10 days, the lateral shoots are planted.

Fertilizers are applied once every 12-14 days. They use root and foliar methods.

Preferred feedings:

The beds are regularly loosened and, if possible, mulched to prevent drying out.

• straw
• hay
• green manure
• peat.