Pink Flamingo Tomato: Variety Description, Reviews

True, sometimes gardeners complain that the results don't quite match the positive reviews promised. However, most failures stem from improper or inadequate plant care. After all, each variety has its own merits, its own character and characteristics, so to speak. When choosing a Pink Flamingo tomato, it's worth carefully studying its specifications, especially those detailing all the conditions for the plant's growth and development. Sometimes gardeners complain that the specifications say one thing, but the harvest fails.

Unfortunately, when it comes to these vegetables, some tomato varieties require close attention; they can't simply be planted, watered, and occasionally hilled. A good harvest is always the result of considerable effort, attention, and even love. Yes, plants also require warmth, care, and attention, coupled with the best possible growing conditions. This is especially true for the Pink Flamingo.

Characteristic

The Pink Flamingo tomato variety itself is classified as an indeterminate variety, meaning the bush continues to grow after planting, even after harvest time. So don't be surprised if the tomatoes grow up to 1.5 meters tall, and sometimes even up to 2.

In terms of ripening time, these are mid-season tomatoes. They can take 90-95 days to ripen, but most often the first harvest isn't expected until 110 days.

The fruits are beautiful and large, weighing 150 to 200 g, with some specimens weighing up to 450 g (the first tomatoes are usually the largest, then the flamingo gets smaller, but very small tomatoes are extremely rare).

The fruits are elongated, plum-shaped, medium-firm, and lack a green spot near the stem (although this is a signature feature of most large tomato varieties). Naturally, the tomatoes are pink, sometimes a little darker or lighter (depending on growing conditions).

Although they can hardly be called short, the taste of Pink Flamingo is simply amazing, much sweeter than many of their “colleagues” varieties.

Many positive reviews of Flamingo tomatoes are specifically culinary in nature. These are simply odes to the tomatoes, which can be eaten as is. Sweet, beautiful, and juicy, with a medium firmness. They easily add to a variety of salads and appetizers. Flamingo tomatoes are also used in canning, although pink tomatoes are known to be rare. When it comes to homemade tomato paste or juice, Flamingo tomatoes are rarely used. This is more due to the light color than the flavor. However, if you try it, the juice is pleasantly sweet, and the paste is also delicious.

Pros and cons

Of course, for a gardener, the advantage of any vegetable crop is its yield. This should be included in every specification, perhaps even on the first page. Clearly, for those growing for sale, the yield justifies the investment and generates profit. But others, growing vegetables for home use, also want a good, bountiful harvest as a reward for the time and effort invested. The situation is more complex for the Pink Flamingo.

In general, the sweetest variety of tomato The average yield in a good year is 10 kg per square meter (this is the size of the fruit), but otherwise it's 5-7 kg. Industrial producers might consider these figures a drawback, but that's a matter of personal preference.

A definite plus for flamingos is their resistance to a variety of diseases, which unfortunately also affect plants. Tomatoes have a strong, robust immunity against most nasty bacteria and fungi, although regular treatment of the plants is recommended. This is a preventative measure.

Tomatoes can withstand extreme weather conditions up to a point: sudden drought, sudden temperature drops (night or morning frosts, for example, daytime cold snaps), low humidity, or excessively high humidity. The fruits themselves, once harvested, can be stored for quite a long time (1.5-2 months if stored properly). They can be picked unripe (if stored in a warm place, they will ripen on their own over time), and they travel well.

Flamingos can be raised in a wide variety of climate zones (and greenhouses are still a necessity).

Important: Pink Flamingo seeds successfully passed the mandatory germination test, which also confirmed the purity of the entire variety. The description doesn't mention any obvious flaws, and negative reviews or photos of failed fruits are also rare on forums.

Tips for growing

Don't assume that all tomato varieties need to be grown the same way. Each variety requires an individual approach, understanding all the nuances. Only a careful, caring, and hardworking grower will enjoy a bountiful harvest. For example, Pink Flamingo is truly demanding regarding soil composition and properties, so find a good spot in your garden or greenhouse with fertile, well-drained soil for your tomatoes. Or bring (or make) fertilizer for them.

Even with the best soil, fertilizer will still be needed. After planting, feed with a fertilizer complex about 2-3 times. It prefers mineral fertilizers (ammonia or phosphate) and organic ones. Water with warm water (yes, ice-cold or even cold water is not recommended—it's a flamingo, after all) either early in the morning or after sunset.

Think about seedlings in advance. You need to find a good location, keeping in mind how tall tomato plants can grow, and ensure the soil is suitable. Then, select suitable containers (either individual ones or a couple of shared ones) to best suit your growing needs. Then, harden the seeds and treat them immediately for diseases. This can be done with a solution of potassium permanganate, then rinse thoroughly in clean, running water. Pricking out should begin when the first two small leaves have formed on the seedlings.

Replant the bushes when they're two months old (60-70 days old). The recommended planting pattern is 70 x 40 cm. Gradually shape the stem; the bush will definitely need support (for future giant growth). Then, monitor the growth to remove any unwanted side shoots promptly. Experienced gardeners, however, recommend always leaving 5-6 or more clusters to ensure early ripening.

The first one in terms of timing fertilizing tomatoes It will be 10-15 days, counting from the moment the finished seedlings are planted. Regular cow manure or accumulated bird droppings are most commonly used. Add a bucket of solution plus 50-60g of ammonium phosphate (superphosphate is also possible), plus 250-300g of wood ash. Apply the solution under 15-20 plants, in conjunction with watering. Fertilizing is best done during the growing season.

To sum it up, Pink Flamingo is a very good, tasty variety, delighting with large, beautiful tomatoes. It's successfully grown in a wide variety of regions, and its tolerance to weather fluctuations allows it to be grown even in open, uncultivated soil. The yield is average, but if you understand the variety's preferences, it's quite stable. However, Pink Flamingo doesn't require particularly long-term or expensive investments.

Careful attention is needed for fertilizing, good soil, and watering, always with warm water. Flamingo's appearance is ready to decorate any gardener's plot, no matter what grows nearby, even among its "colleagues"—other tomato varieties—Flamingo can stand out.

Important: Due to the height of the terminal bushes, choose tall and sturdy supports for them. This is especially true if strong winds are common in the region.

Agronomists recommend planting tomatoes in areas where the soil is enriched with green manure plants, in particular:

• White mustard;
• Oilseed radish;
• Phacelia;
• Lupine;
• Vika;
• Alfalfa.

How to achieve this? Sow green manure in the spring, before the planned transplanting of tomato seedlings to their chosen outdoor location. Then grow them alongside Flamingo. Create dense plantings. Mow down the above-ground parts of the green manure to prevent the seeds from ripening, then mulch the soil around the tomato plants. Green manure crops should be rotated regularly, without settling on one for too long; each variety should be planted for no longer than 1-2 years.

Feedback from practitioners

Oleg

"I've noticed that the 'Pink Flamingo' does have a drawback. It's prone to cracking. Of course, if the tomatoes are going straight to pickling or salad, this isn't a big deal. But if they're cracked, they won't last long in transportation. Therefore, I recommend carefully inspecting all the tomatoes before shipping. While it can withstand drought in cultivation, it's sensitive to temperature. Therefore, those living in extreme continental climates should exercise caution. And yes, it does store quite well. Two months is good for a tomato."

Natalia

"I buy vegetables, I don't grow them. But I've seen Flamingo on the shelves sometimes. I've tried it. It's really good for pickling. The fruits are long, narrow, and firm. They're not scarlet, but that's a minor detail; the main thing is the taste! They complement cucumbers well in a classic tandem. They also work well in salads, by the way."

Alena

I've been planting Flamingo for about five years now. Yes, the bastard is extremely picky about soil. I have to give it a perfectly good plot! I tried it in a greenhouse in winter, and it was fine; the harvest was good. You just need to prepare the fertilizer in advance and take care of the green manure. Flamingo loves company, though, what can you do? True, you do have to mow down the "company" often, before the seeds have time to ripen. Inspect the bushes yourself. Flamingo may be more fiddly, but its taste is always pleasing and its appearance is excellent. We eat it just like that, sealing the jars; the kids love it for its sweet taste. And that's important, because tomatoes are so full of vitamins. They're especially good raw. We eat them without salt to enjoy their natural flavor. I think I'll continue planting them; I've gotten used to it. You're unlikely to find a tomato variety with less demanding requirements. It’s not like potatoes or pumpkins; you just plant them and that’s practically it.”

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Irina

The bushes are huge! The garden is starting to look like either a real jungle or, I don't know, a park. The description is accurate; we planted 'Flamingo' tomatoes a couple of times, and they were perfectly visible from the window. They grew taller than me. I had to grab a stool when harvest time approached. As for the taste, yes, they're excellent. And I was pleased with the appearance. Yes, some of them crack, but that's a minor issue; many tomatoes do. I don't consider it a serious drawback, unless, of course, all the fruits crack during the harvest. Just make sure to eat the cracked ones immediately or twist them if you plan on canning. They have a stable shelf life of two months. They don't spoil or rot, and they retain their flavor. That's great. They're really convenient for cooking. They're not too juicy inside, so you can easily cut them without worrying about half a tomato ending up on the cutting board.