Farmer's Guide on Terminator F1 tomato variety, characteristics and resistances to enhance your yield

Terminator F1 is a vigorous, long-determinate, heavy-yielding plant. The fruits are oval and deep red in colour.

Terminator F1  Characteristics: 

• Determinate
• Maturity 75 days from transplanting
• Fruit weight 125 - 150 grams
• Yield Potential 40 tonnes per acre
• Long shelf life of up to 21 days at room temperature
• Plant population per acre 8000

Terminator F1  Resistances / Tolerances:

• Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV)
• Tomato Mosaic Virus
• Verticillium Wilt (Vd & Va)
• Grey Leaf Spot

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

Terminator f1 will thrive in a seed bed because it is an open field variety; you will not need to purchase trays or soil separately.

Place your seeds in the seed bed and cover with 1/2 to 1 cm of fine soil.

15 cm between rows is an adequate spacing.

The seeds will germinate in 4 to 6 days and be ready for transplanting in 21 to 24 days.

Transplanting Terminator F1 tomatoes

For the best results, transplant the seedlings in the evening and provide them with enough water.

Terminator F1 seeds typically require a spacing of 45×60 cm.

This translates to approximately 4,000 to 4,500 seedlings per acre, or 15 to 20 gms.

Terminator F1 tomato yields/production

On average, terminator F1 tomato plants produce 5 to 6 fruits per cluster.

The fruits will weigh approximately 120 grams on average.

This translates to a yield potential of approximately 30 tonnes per acre, keeping in mind that this is under excellent agronomic conditions.

You can be confident that you will be harvesting your terminator f1 tomatoes for up to 12 weeks.

This is advantageous for us because most determinate breeds have a harvest period of 6 to 10 weeks.

Shelf life of Terminator F1 tomatoes

Terminator F1 has an excellent shelf life of up to 21 days.

Furthermore, the fruits stay firm even when fully ripe.

This makes it a favorite among farmers in extremely remote areas because the fruits can withstand long distances without going bad.

Disease tolerance of Terminator F1 tomatoes

Just like other hybrid tomatoes, the Terminator F1 is a favorite 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

Terminator f1 plants will be ready for staking in three to four weeks after transplanting.

Plants typically reach a height of 4 feet.

That being said, you should plant poles that are about 5 feet tall.

Staking will continue weekly until the second or third week of harvest.

At this point, the plant will stop growing and begin 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 harvest window of approximately 12 weeks.

This is quite long, especially since other determinate varieties have a harvest window of 6 to 10 weeks.



What is the best tomato variety in Kenya?


Ansal F1 is thought to be the best tomato variety in Kenya.

This variety is resistant to several diseases, including fusarium and Verticillium wilt, making it a popular choice among farmers.

Not to mention that the fruits have a shelf life of 21 to 28 days, making them popular with farmers and sellers alike.