The Kilele F1 tomato variety is perhaps the Syngenta’s best tomato variety so far.
But, what makes type of hybrid tomato is it? How does it fair in terms of production? Hw much does it cost?
Well, in this article, we shall answer these and much more with respect to Kilele F1 tomatoes.
Kilele F1 tomato variety
To kick is off, it is a determinate hybrid tomato variety.
It produces tomato fruits that are very firm and oval in shape. This makes them ideal for markets that request elongated tomato fruits.
On top of that, this breed prouds itself with having an excellent sweet taste.
To top it all, Kilele F1 tomato plants have good foliage cover and that protects the fruits from sunburn.
Additionally, this makes the fruits suitable for any climatic conditions in the open field.
Transplanting Kilele F1 tomatoes
Generally, Kilele f1 seedlings are ready for transplanting within 25 to 28 days after sowing them.
Now, for maximum germination, we recommend that you transplant your tomatoes in the evening.
And while at it, be sure to water them constantly and sufficiently for the first 10 days of transplanting.
With regards to spacing, Kilele F1 seedlings require a spacing of 45×90 cm to 60×90 cm.
Bearing that I mind, on average, 10,000 seedlings of Kilele F1 are sufficient to fill an acre.
Kilele F1 tomato yields/production
Within 75 days from transplanting, you should be ready to harvest the first batch of your Kilele F1 tomato fruits.
Harvesting will continue for 8 to 10 weeks depending on how well you feed the plants.
Under good agronomic practices, Kilele F1 tomatoes will produce 5 to 8 fruits per cluster with the average fruit weighing between 120 and 130 grams.
In turn, this will translate to around 30 to 35 tonnes per acre.
Shelf life
Apart from its firm fruits even when ripe, Kilele F1 tomato fruits tend to have a long shelf life.
On average, these fruits have a shelf life of more than 21 dyas.
This makes them great for farming in extremely remote areas where transportation might be a concern.
This puts it in the same class as the Terminator F1.
Disease tolerance
Like other hybrid tomatoes, Kilele F1 is tolerant to most tomato diseases that plague African farmers namely:
- Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (ToYLV)
- Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) 0 – 2
- Verticillium & Fusarium Wilt (both race 1 and 2)
- Nematodes (M. incognita/++)
Trellising/staking Kilele F1
Within four weeks of transplanting, your kilele f1 tomato plants will be ready for trellising.
On average, this variety grows to a height of 4 ft.
So, when planning your staking, you will want to use poles that are around 5 feet tall.
Once you start staking, regularly adjust the staking string on a weekly basis until the first or second week of harvesting.
It is at this stage that the plant will stop growing and instead, start feeding the borne fruits.
Kilele f1 prices
Unlike other varieties, kilele f1 tomato seeds are sold according to the number of seeds inside the sachet.
With that in mind, the retail prices are as follows:
- 1,000 seeds – Ksh. 2,000
- 2,500 seeds – Ksh. 4,300
- 10,000 seeds – Ksh. 13,000
Note: the prices will vary a little from outlet to outlet.
Kilele F1 tomato variety – frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How many crates of tomatoes per acre in Kenya?
This depends on whether you have a determinate or indeterminate breed.
For determinates, you can expect anywhere between 310 to 500 of 80kg each in a season.
As for indeterminate varieties, you can harvest anywhere between 810 to 1,000 crates of 80kg each per season.
But, remember that it all boils down to how well you feed your plants.
How much is tomatoes per kg in Kenya?
During the low season prices will go up to 100 shillings and fall to around Ksh. 30 per kg during the high season.
On average, the prices are usually around Ksh. 60 per kg.
Wrapping it up
Kilele F1 is one of Syngenta’s hybrid tomatoes for East African markets.
The fact that it is resistant to several soil-borne diseases such as Verticillium & Fusarium Wilt makes it an excellent open filed variety for Kenyan farms.
Generally, it falls within the upper percentile of heavy producing determinate tomatoes with an average yield of 30 to 35 tonnes per acre per season.
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