This is a comprehensive guide on best open field tomato variety in Kenya
Most farmers farm in the open field since it is cheaper and requires less skills; not to mention the availability of land.
Now, with so many different open field tomato varieties available, it can be challenging for you to decide which variety to plant.
That’s where this guide comes in…
By the end of the guide, you’ll have all the info you need to choose the right variety for your farm and maximize your yield potential.
Best open filed tomato variety in Kenya
Tip: the below varieties are bacterial and fusarium wilt resistant tomato varieties.
There are hundreds of open field tomato varieties that perform well in Kenya and this number grows by the day.
After experimenting with more than three dozen varieties, we have come up with a list of top five varieties that we feel are the best for open field in Kenya.
And they are…
Ansal f1
Produced by Bayer East Africa and marketed under Seminis brand, Ansal f1 tomato is a hybrid determinate breed.
It has excellent foliage cover that reduces the risk of sunburn – this makes it an excellent variety for open field planting.
Perhaps the most preferred breed by large scale farmers, Ansal f1 produces elongated (oval) and firm fruits that are deep red when they ripen.
Tip: an acre will require 25 to 35 grams of Ansal f1 seeds depending on your spacing.
Under good agronomic practices, these fruits weigh anywhere between 100 and 150 grams per fruit.
Another plus for these fruits is that they have a shelf life of between 21 and 28 days.
That being so, as an Ansal f1 farmer, you can expect yields of between 25 and 35 tonnes per acre per season.
Another plus for this variety is that it is resistant to most soil borne diseases that plague African farms namely:
- Fusarium wilt
- Verticillium wilt
- Bacterial wilt
- Tomato spotted wilt
- Bacterial canker
- Tomato mosaic virus
- Root-knot nematodes
- Tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
Also read: Ansal f1 – all there’s to know
Anna f1
Produced by Monsanto and marketed under the Seminis brand (both subsidiaries of Bayer EA), the Anna f1 variety is an indeterminate breed mostly grown in greenhouses.
Nonetheless, it also does well in the open field hence why it is in the list.
It produces firm oval-shaped fruits that ripen a deep red.
The seeds take around 6 to 8 days for them to germinate and require around 21 to 28 days for transplanting.
On average, this breed bears medium-sized fruits weighing around 100 grams.
On production…
Anna f1 tomatoes can be harvested for up to 4 months in the open field.
On average, each plant can produce up to 20 kgs (open field) and around 35 kgs in a greenhouse setting.
With a shelf life of 21 to 28 days, this breed is excellent for long distance transportation and fresh fruit markets.
Finally, the breed is resistant to several notorious diseases, namely:
- Bacterial wilt.
- Fusarium wilt.
- Verticillium wilt.
- Nematodes.
- Tomato mosaic virus.
- Alternaria stem canker.
Also read: Anna F1 tomato variety
Tylka f1
A product of Syngenta, the Tylka f1 variety is a medium indeterminate variety that also does well in an open field environment.
It has medium foliage cover (not so good for open field plants) but it is highly responsive to fertilizers and irrigation.
Its fruits are elongated with a deep red colour when fully ripe.
With a fruit size of between 100 and 130 grams, you can expect yields of around 35 tonnes per acre per season in the open field.
Above that, you can expect to harvest them for around 10 to 12 weeks depending on your agronomic practices.
In a greenhouse setting, the yields are anywhere between 70 and 80 tonnes with a harvesting period of 4 to 6 months.
With regards to shelf life, Tylka F1 tomato fruits have a shelf life of 21 days when harvested at mature green stage.
Finally, Tylka f1 is resistant to the following diseases:
- Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV)
- Tomato Mosaic Virus (ToMV): 0-2
- Grey leaf spot
- Fusarium crown and root rot
- Verticillium & fusarium wilt (race 1 and 2)
- Nematodes (M. incognita)
Also read: Tylka f1 tomato variety – all there is to know
Best open field tomato variety in Kenya – more varieties
Moving on…
Zara f1
Introduced by Amiran in 2017, the Zara f1 is a high yield determinate variety.
This breed has excellent foliage cover making it suitable for open field farming.
It produces oval shaped fruits that are a deep red once they ripen.
Its seedlings are normally ready for transplanting within 21 days of germination.
Tip: 20 grams of Zara f1 seeds are enough for an acre – about 10,000 seedlings.
Under good practices, Zara f1 produces fruits that weigh between 120 and 130 grams and this translates to between 25 and 30 tonnes per acre per season.
These fruits have an excellent shelf life of more than 21 days.
Once harvesting begins, you are assured that you can continue harvesting for up to 10 weeks.
When it comes to disease tolerance, the Zara f1 is tolerant to several diseases; namely:
- Bacterial wilt.
- Fusarium wilt race 1 and 2.
- Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV).
- Tomato mosaic virus.
On average, the retail price of 25g of Zara f1 seeds is Ksh. 7,000.
Also read: Zara f1 tomato variety – a deep guide
Terminator f1
Produced by royal seeds, the Terminator f1 is a long-determinate breed. In other words, it can be harvested for longer compared to other varieties.
It produces elongated fruits that are a deep red colour once they are fully ripe.
When it comes to staking, Terminator f1 seedlings require a spacing of 60 x 60 cm.
This translates to around 11,000 seedlings per acre – approximately 50gms.
With an average of 5 to 6 fruits per cluster, Terminator f1 tomato fruits weigh 110 to 130 gms on average.
On top of that, are firm with an excellent shelf life of more than 21 days.
When it comes to harvesting, these variety can be harvested for up to 12 weeks with an average yield potential of 30 tonnes per acre.
On disease tolerance….
Terminator f1 plants are resistant to several soil-borne diseases, namely:
- Grey leaf spot
- Verticillium wilt (Vd & Va)
- Tomato Mosaic virus
- Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV)
Also read: Terminator f1 tomato variety
Generally, all the above breeds will be ready for harvesting within 70 to 75 days of transplanting.
Other than that, if you have noted, all of them are resistant to fusarium wilt, bacterial wilt and verticillium wilt and this makes them excellent for the open field.
Best open filed tomato variety in Kenya – frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Which tomato has the highest yield?
In the Kenyan market, the Anna f1 variety is inarguably the highest yielding variety.
In a greenhouse setting, one plant can produce around 35 kgs whereas in the open filed, it can produce up to 20 kgs.
Which is the best tomatoes to grow in Kenya?
Among the best varieties to grow open field are Ansal F1, Anna F1, Terminator F1, Zara F1 and Kilele F1.
As for a greenhouse setting, Anna F1 and Tylka F1 top the list.
Best open field tomato variety in Kenya – Wrapping it up
Tomatoes are among the most widely consumed vegetables in Kenya with the country producing over 700,000 tonnes in 2021 alone.
This makes tomato farming a lucrative venture.
With our tomato-growing guides, we will help you yield the most from your farm.
So, do not forget to bookmark our site for more tomato farming guides.