Ansal F1 is another tomato variety produced by Bayer East Africa and marketed under Seminis brand.
Over the years, Ansal F1 has been the favourite hybrid tomato variety for Kenyan farmers and sellers alike.
So, what makes this breed special?
Well, in this article, we shall be looking at the features of this breed.
Ansal f1 tomato variety
To start with, Ansal F1 is a determinate breed.
It produces strong vigorous plants with very good foliage cover and this reduces the risk of sunburn. This makes the breed to be well suited for the open field even under different climatic conditions.
This breed produces oval, elongated and firm fruits that ripen uniformly.
Additionally, the fruits are a deep red when fully ripe.
Nursery management of Ansal F1
Ansal F1 tomato seeds will do well both in a seed bed and in nursery trays.
If you opt to go the seedbed route, you will need to lay your seeds around 1 cm deep into the soil and cover them with a light layer of dirt.
As for the spacing, be sure to space the seeds well to allow easier uprooting during transplanting.
A spacing of 15 cm will be enough when it comes to the rows.
Also, be sure to water the seedlings more frequently.
This is because they are more subjected to harsh conditions more so if the weather happens to be hot.
Transplanting Ansal F1 tomato seedlings
Ansal F1 tomato seedlings are normally ready for transplanting within 25 days.
During this time, most are 8 to 10 cm long and they have 5 to 7 fruits.
If you plan on pruning your tomato plants to 3 to 5 stems, then, a spacing of 30×90 cm is sufficient.
On the other hand, if you intend on letting the plant grow wild, then, you will need a spacing of 45×90 cm.
Bearing that in mind, the recommended rate per acre is 50g (45×90 cm spacing) to 70g (30×90 cm spacing).
Ansal F1 tomato production/yields
Under good agronomic practices, Ansal F1 produces 6 to 8 flower nodes per cluster with the average fruit being between 100g and 150g.
Within 75 days after transplanting, as a farmer, you are assured that you can start harvesting your tomato fruits.
This makes the breed have an average yield potential of between 25 and 35 tonnes per acre.
Ansal F1 shelf life
Generally, Ansal F1 tomato fruits have a long shelf life of between 21 and 28 days.
This makes them a favourite not only to customers and sellers who are assured the fruits won’t go bad soon but also for farmers.
Due to their long shelf life and firm fruits, Ansal F1 farmers are assured that they can transport the fruits for long distances to the market without any damage or fruits going bad.
Ansal F1 disease tolerance
Like most Bayer East Africa seeds, Ansal F1 tomato breed is resistant to a wide range of diseases namely:
- Fusarium wilt
- Verticillium wilt
- Bacterial wilt
- Tomato spotted wilt
- Bacterial canker
- Tomato mosaic virus
- Root-knot nematodes
- Tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
Additionally, Ansal F1 tomato plants exhibit great tolerance to both early & late blight, bacterial spot and bacterial spec.
This makes it even more attractive to farmers who have trouble combating blight and its related diseases.
Trellising/staking of Ansal F1
For best results, it is recommended that you start staking your Ansal tomatoes at week 4 since transplanting.
Be sure that each stem is staked to a strong support.
Also, you will need to keep on re-adjusting the staking at least once a week.
This is because tomato plants grow fast and if staking is not readjusted weekly, the plant may end up falling off and this makes it susceptible to soil borne diseases.
Worse still, the stem might break off completely from the stem.
On average, Ansal F1 tomato plants grow to a height of 4 to 5 ft.
Bearing that in mind, you will want to ensure that your staking will accommodate this height – poles of 5 ½ to 6 feet will do.
Ansal F1 seeds prices
If you opt to buy them in seedling form (trays), each seedling retails between Ksh. 5 and Ksh.6.
On the other hand, the average retail price for the seeds is as follows:
- 1,000 seeds – Ksh. 1,800
- 5 grams – Ksh. 3,800
- 10 grams – Ksh. 7,500
- 25 grams – Ksh. 17,500
- 50 grams – Ksh. 33,500
Ansal F1 tomato variety – frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the maturity period of Ansal F1?
Like most hybrid tomatoes, Ansal F1 matures within 70 to 80 days and the first fruits will be ready for harvesting.
Being a determinate breed, harvesting will continue for around 8 to 12 weeks depending on how well you feed the plant.
How much does Ansal tomato variety yield per acre?
If you feed your Ansal plants well, you can expect to harvest anywhere between 25 and 35 tonnes of fruits per acre in one season.
How much does Ansal f1 fruit weigh?
If you feed your plants well, you can expect the fruits to weigh between 100 and 150 gms.
Final words
The Ansal f1 tomato variety is among the most preferred breeds by Kenyan tomato farmers.
This is because the breed is resistant to most soil-borne diseases that plague Kenyan farms including wilting.
Additionally, Ansal f1 exhibits good tolerance to both early and late blight and fruit cracking.
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