The Shtambovy Korol (Standard King) is a mid-season variety of large pink tomatoes. It is well known to gardeners in Siberia, where it is 100% adapted to the climate. There, the variety is popular for its hardiness, cold resistance, disease resistance, and high yield. It is grown primarily in open garden plots.
Description and characteristics of the tomato variety "Stambovy Korol"
This vegetable variety has many excellent characteristics that make it attractive for both private and commercial cultivation. Familiarize yourself with these characteristics, as well as the botanical description, before you begin growing it in your garden.
History of creation
This tomato variety was developed by domestic breeders representing the Siberian Garden agricultural firm (Novosibirsk). It is a new product that has established a strong reputation in its short existence. It is not listed in the Russian Federation State Register.
SibSad has been a household name among gardeners since 2007. Today, it is considered one of the leaders in the Russian market for the production of:
- cold-resistant vegetable crops that grow and bear fruit well in regions with unfavorable climatic conditions (more than 300 varieties of our own selection);
- high-quality seeds with high germination rates.
What does the bush look like?
Standard King plants are vigorous and low-growing, quite compact. They are distinguished by their appearance:
- height - 0.55-0.6 m;
- straight and strong stem;
- a crown that is distinguished by its density and squatness;
- foliage: green, with a corrugated surface;
- flowers: large, yellow.
- ✓ Frequent formation of fruit clusters: every other leaf or every 2 leaves.
- ✓ The need for garter due to the weight of the fruits, despite the standard type of the bush.
Plants of this cultivar form standard trees. They are ideal for limited space. They are distinguished by the close placement of fruit clusters (every other leaf or every two leaves). They do not require pinching, but they do require staking due to the weight of the fruit, which places significant strain on the shoot.
Fruit characteristics
Shtambovy Korol tomato varieties are characterized by their large size and excellent consumer qualities. They possess the following characteristics:
- weight - from 200 g to 600 g (heavier fruits ripen in the lower part of the bush);
- beautiful round-heart-shaped;
- thin skin, but quite strong skin of a pinkish-crimson color (if the planting is over-watered, it may crack);
- bright pink, beefsteak-type flesh, sweet when cut, meaty, dense, with a small amount of seeds.
Tomatoes have excellent tasting qualities. They delight the eater with a rich tomato flavor, dominated by sweetness and a hint of tartness.
Ripening and fruiting, productivity
This variety belongs to the mid-early and hybrid vegetable crop category. Its harvest matures within 100-110 days after germination. It is considered very productive:
- one plant produces up to 6 kg of tomatoes per season (about 1 ten-liter bucket);
- sets fruit in any weather;
- Maintains high yields even with insufficient watering of the planting.
Disease resistance
The brainchild of SibSad breeders, this plant delights gardeners who grow it with its strong immunity:
- the bushes are resistant to fungal infections;
- they are almost never affected by blossom end rot;
- They attract pests no more than tomato plantings of other varieties.
However, it's still important not to neglect disease prevention for Standard King plants. Follow proper agricultural practices, particularly watering rates and frequency, and treat the tomato bed with biopreparations such as Fitosporin-M and Bioabsolut.
Growing regions and temperature tolerance
This varietal variety of vegetable is well adapted to cultivation in areas with a cool climate.
It is quite cold-resistant:
- withstands temperature drops to +5-6°C;
- at lower temperatures he gets sick and has a hard time recovering;
- dies under prolonged exposure to sub-zero temperatures.
Domestic gardeners successfully grow it almost everywhere in the Russian Federation, including in risky farming zones. It thrives in the Urals and Siberia, the central part of the country, and in the southern regions.
Purpose and application
Pink tomatoes of this variety are versatile. They are eaten fresh, added to summer salads, and used in cooking and winter preserves like lecho and adjika.
The large, fleshy fruits of the Standard King, with their rich, sweet flavor, have found wide use in home cooking:
- they are extinguished;
- grilled;
- served freshly sliced along with other vegetables, and also in combination with soft cheese and herbs;
- processed into thick and tasty tomato juice with pulp or puree;
- used to make ketchup, sauces, tomato soup, and borscht dressing.
The fruits of this variety tend to hold their shape well when sliced. Thanks to their dense flesh, they don't fall apart during cooking and retain their texture.
Beneficial properties and vitamin composition
Large, heart-shaped, pink tomatoes are not only delicious but also very healthy. Their pulp is rich in valuable nutrients:
- vitamins (A, C, E, K, B6, folic acid, etc.);
- minerals (potassium, iron, magnesium, calcium, copper, phosphorus, sulfur, manganese, sulfur, etc.);
- antioxidants, in particular lycopene;
- fiber.
They contain more tocopherol and carotene than regular red tomatoes. They are a source of the phytonutrient lycopene, a carotenoid with powerful antioxidant properties that lowers bad cholesterol. They are also rich in potassium and heart-healthy B vitamins.
By eating the fruits of the Standard King, you will experience many healing effects:
- improve digestion;
- balance the amount of fluid in the body;
- lower your cholesterol levels;
- normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- improve skin condition;
- improve your visual acuity;
- improve metabolic processes in the body;
- protect your body's cells from damage caused by free radicals;
- ensure better hematopoiesis;
- strengthen your nervous system;
- improve your mood and vitality.
Despite the health benefits of pink tomatoes, they have some contraindications. Fresh tomatoes should not be included in the diet of those suffering from stomach ulcers, colitis, acute gastritis, pancreatitis, gallstones, gout, arthritis, or kidney dysfunction.
Planting and growing methods
Gardeners primarily grow the Standard King tomato in open garden plots, either by seedlings or direct sowing. It requires standard farming techniques and is relatively easy to care for.
- ✓ Optimum soil temperature for planting seeds: +15°C.
- ✓ The distance between plants should be at least 50 cm to ensure sufficient space for growth.
Seedlings
For an earlier harvest, grow vegetables using seedlings. Sow the seeds approximately 60 days before transplanting them into the garden. Follow these guidelines:
- Use high-quality seed material and a universal substrate for vegetable seedlings purchased at a flower shop;
- plant the seeds in planting containers filled with fertile soil;
- plant them to a depth of 1-1.5 cm;
- moisten the crops and cover them with film;
- leave them in a warm place (+25˚C) until sprouts appear.
After the seedlings emerge, provide them with good light and a favorable temperature (20-22˚C). Water them moderately from time to time. When the seedlings develop one or two true leaves, transplant them.
Planting in open ground
Plant Shtambovy Korol tomato seeds outdoors in May. Wait until the soil warms to 15˚C and the risk of frost has passed. Before planting, dig the soil and fertilize it with compost or humus, as well as mineral fertilizers, to improve its fertility.
Use a plot of your garden for growing vegetables that has the following characteristics:
- open;
- smooth;
- solar;
- windless;
- having protection from drafts;
- non-floodable;
- with loose and nutritious soil.
Once the first leaves appear, thin the seedlings. Leave at least 50 cm between plants.
Planting dates and scheme
In the south of the country, transplant tomato seedlings to the open garden in mid-May, after the threat of frost has passed. In northern regions, plant the plants indoors or under temporary plastic cover at the same time.
Transplant the Shtambovy Korol tomato seedlings into the garden by following these steps:
- Water the seedlings to ensure they are safely removed from their pots, along with the root ball. Be careful not to damage the fragile roots.
- Place the seedlings in the prepared planting holes. Holding them by the trunk, fill the bottom with soil.
- Gently compact the soil near the roots with your palms.
Caring for the Standard King tomato
This variety is quite easy to grow, but requires standard care to maintain the health of the tomato plant and ensure high yields. Follow these agricultural practices:
- WateringRegularly moisten the soil under the bushes with warm, settled water. Standard plants have shallow roots. Drying out the topsoil is detrimental to them. In hot weather, provide plants with abundant and frequent watering. Perform this procedure in the morning.
- Loosening the soilCarry out this procedure the day after watering the planting. Loosen the soil with a fine rake to prevent the formation of a dense soil crust and to saturate it with oxygen.
- Weed removalWeed at least once a week, combining it with loosening.
- MulchingCover the soil under your tomato plants with a layer of organic matter after watering and loosening the soil. This will prevent the soil from drying out and suppress weed growth. Use straw, sawdust, or peat as mulch.
- Tying to a supportThis procedure is necessary to avoid the shoots of the bush breaking under the weight of ripening fruits.
- Fertilizing the plantingApply nutrient mixtures throughout the season. Use mineral complexes in the form of aqueous solutions.
- × Avoid over-watering the soil, as this may cause the fruit to crack.
- × Do not use cold water for watering to avoid stressing the plants.
Treatment and prevention of diseases and pests
The standard variety of this plant has a strong immune system. Its bushes are less susceptible to tomato infections. Tomato infections can occur during the rainy summer season if agricultural practices are not followed (such as irregular watering schedules or neglect of preventative treatments against late blight and other diseases).
Fungal infections are difficult to cure. At an early stage, it's a good idea to apply a copper-based fungicide. If the infection is severe, dig up the affected bushes from the garden bed along with the soil ball and destroy them by burning. Spraying with Fitosporin-M once every 10 days will help prevent the problem.
Sweet pink tomato bushes attract insects. They are attacked by pests:
- aphid;
- spider mite;
- scoop;
- tomato moth, etc.
Regularly inspect your tomato plantings to detect their presence early. To prevent excessive pest infestation, spray the plants with insecticides before they begin to bear fruit. During the fruiting and ripening period, use biological products such as Fitoverm and Bitoxybacillin-BTU.
Pros and cons
The Shtambovy Korol tomato variety has many advantages that make it an attractive choice for private growers and farmers:
The cultivar has virtually no drawbacks. Gardeners note only the increased need for staking, the tendency for tomatoes to crack when overwatered, and their unsuitability for whole-fruit canning.
Reviews
Standard King is a Siberian variety of sweet pink tomatoes, beloved by gardeners for its good cold tolerance, high yield, excellent flavor, large fruit size, and rich vitamin content. These tomatoes are eaten fresh, used in various dishes, and canned.