Produced by Royal Seed, the Terminator F1 tomato variety is a popular tomato breed amongst African horticultural farmers.
So, what makes this breed so popular?
Well, in this article, we will have a comprehensive look at this tomato variety.
Terminator F1 tomato variety
To start off, this hybrid tomato variety is determinate.
Terminator F1 is a long determinate variety – in other words, it can be harvested for longer than other determinates provided you observe good agronomical practices.
It produces firm tomato fruits that are oval in shape and have a uniform deep red colour when ripe.
Nursery management of Terminator F1
Being an open field variety, terminator f1 will do well in a seed bed – not necessary for you to spend extra on purchasing trays and soil.
Lay your seeds into the seed bed and cover them with 1/2 to 1 cm of fine soil.
As regards spacing, 15 cm spacing between the rows is adequate.
Also read: how to create tomato nursery seed bed
The seeds will sprout within 4 to 6 days and will be ready for transplanting within 21 to 24 days.
Transplanting Terminator F1 tomatoes
For best results, we recommend transplanting the seedlings in the evening and feed them with adequate water.
As for spacing, normally, Terminator F1 seeds require a spacing of 45×60 cm.
This will translate to around 11,000 seedlings per acre – equivalent to 50 gm.
Terminator F1 tomato yields/production
On average, terminator F1 tomato plants bear 5 to 6 fruits per cluster.
With regards to the fruits, they will weigh around 120 grams on average.
This translates to a yield potential of around 30 tonnes per acre – bear in mind that his is under excellent agronomic conditions.
You can rest assured that you will be harvesting your terminator f1 tomatoes for up to 12 weeks.
This is a plus for us considering that most determinate breeds have a harvesting period of 6 to 10 weeks.
Shelf life
When it comes to shelf life, Terminator f1 has an excellent shelf life of upwards of 21 days.
Additionally, the fruits still remain firm even when fully ripe.
This makes it a favourite for farmers in extremely remote areas as the fruits will withstand long travel distances without going bad.
Disease tolerance
Just like other hybrid tomatoes, the Terminator F1 is a favourite for African farmers because it is resistant to a range of diseases that plague African farmers when it comes to tomato farming.
With that being said, terminator F1 is resistant to the following diseases:
- Grey leaf spot
- Verticillium wilt (Vd & Va)
- Tomato Mosaic virus
- Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV)
Despite being an excellent variety, Terminator F1 is not tolerant to nematodes, bacterial wilt and fusarium wilt.
This is a let-down considering that most farms are plagued with these diseases.
Trellising/staking Terminator F1
Within three to four weeks of transplanting, terminator f1 plants will be ready for staking.
Generally, the plants will grow to an average height of 4 feet.
That being so, you should plant poles that have a height of around 5 feet.
Staking will continue on a weekly basis till the second or third week of harvesting.
It is at this point that the plant will stop growing and start feeding the borne fruits.
Terminator F1 tomato seeds prices
Compared to other determinates, the terminator f1 is fairly priced.
Below is terminator f1’s price list:
- 2.5 gms – Ksh. 1,000
- 5 gms – Ksh. 2,000
- 10 gms – Ksh. 3,800
- 25 gms – Ksh. 8,300
- 50 gms – Ksh. 15,500
Note: the prices will defer a little bit depending on the outlet you purchase them from.
On the other hand, if you opt to purchase the seedlings, they retail at a price of Ksh. 5 per seedling.
Terminator F1 tomato variety – frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Which determinate tomato is harvested the longest?
Short answer, Terminator f1.
It has a harvesting window of around 12 weeks.
This is quite long considering that other determinate varieties have a harvest window of 6 to 10 weeks.
Which is the best tomato variety in Kenya?
Ansal F1 is considered to be the best tomato variety in Kenya.
This variety is resistant to several diseases including fusarium and Verticillium wilt making it a farmer’s favourite.
Not to mention that the fruits have a shelf life of 21 to 28 days making them a favourite among farmers and sellers alike.
ALSO READ: Ansal f1 tomato variety handbook
Wrapping it up
Terminator f1 is one of Royal Seed’s domestic tomato seeds.
It has firm fruits even when ripe which makes it suitable for long distance transporting.
If you are considering an open field tomato variety to plant in extremely remote areas, then, Terminator f1 is definitely your answer.
ALSO READ:
Best open-field tomato breeds in Kenya
Zara f1 tomatoes – grower’s handbook
Anna f1 tomatoes – grower’s guide