Kilele F1 Tomato Vs Rambo F1 Tomato.

Hi there.

Farming—any type of farming has a lot of uncertainties.

More so if you consider the unpredictable climatic conditions, the increased production costs, competition among farmers, and the market demand dynamics.

So the day I decided to grow tomatoes, that was a BIG decision.

Why?

I had a brother in-law who decided try his hand farming potatoes in Molo only to burn his entire capital.

That outcome made me a little fearful of farming.

So, before I settled on the best tomato variety suitable for the Kenyan market, I had to be Very careful not face a similar outcome.

Therefore, my first task was…

To do a thorough research.

I went to Wakulima market and other markets in Nairobi to talk to brokers.

“Why bother will all that?” You may ask.

My friend, this is a very CRUCIAL part of tomato farming.

You must know your market like the back of your hand.

Ignore it—and you are already decimated.

My friend—these guys (brokers) are the WOLVES of the fresh produce markets.

And if you want to sell anything, I dare say, you have to pass through them.

I am telling you the truth.

My experience is; there’s probably nothing like a free market in this world.

There are some people who control the markets—the fresh produce markets in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and any part of the world.

If you want to succeed, you have to talk to them.

So when I asked around “which is the best tomato variety for the market?”

They replied:

“Grow the modern tomato varieties. Avoid the old varieties like Money maker, Oxly, Rio Grande and you’ll find buyers.”

Ah! I wondered.

“Is that it?”

It was like enjoying a movie only to have an electricity blackout that lasts for 5 days.

You mean I just grow any modern variety?

That answer wasn’t specific.

It raised more questions than answers.

Image: Kilele Tomatoes Growing in a Field

How I Found the Tomato Right Variety to Grow That Later Gave Me Great profits:

I will get to this in a little while.

You’ll discover how I did it as you continue reading.

It so happened that when I was doing this research, the Nairobi International Show was about to Start.

I reasoned that this could be the best place to get the information.

And I was spot on.

If you’ve ever paid a visit the Nairobi International Show, you know that seed companies have their demo plots near the Kibera gate that faces Jamuhuri railway station.

Here, I was able to see tens of tomato varieties growing in the field.

My only regret was… I didn’t take any photos.

At that time, I was a laggard.

I was one of those guys who embraced smart phones much latter.  

This show visit opened my eyes.

I saw the performance of various tomato varieties in demonstration farms live… Not on photographs or videos.

This experience opened my eyes.

Finally, I was able to decide the right tomato variety to grow.

That’s why I am here today to share with you…

Image: A cluster of ripe Kilele Tomatoes 

My Experience Growing KILELE F1 VRS RAMBO F1.

Now this is the juice of the story…

The much hidden layer of the iceberg.

Therefore, is you are interested in…

• Growing a high yielding tomato variety,
• A variety that buyers will fight for,
• That’s Resistant to Tuta Absoluta and Bacterial Wilt (two notorious enemies of tomato farmers),

Then this post is for you.

Why?

I am going to compare the qualities of these two varieties so that if you decide to grow either, you succeed in tomato farming.

This comparison is absolutely necessary as there are hundreds of tomato varieties in Kenya.

For that reason, choosing the right variety is difficult even for experienced farmers.

Interested?

Continue reading.

Image: Rambo Tomatoes Growing in a Field 

Both These Varieties are F1 Varieties.

What the hell is F1?

You may ask.

This terminology F1 was first introduced in the 1800’s…

when Gregory Mendel and other genetic scientists were doing research about the breeding of animals and plants.

So the term F1 means:

An F1 variety is a plant variety created by crossing two distinct parents. The resulting F1 hybrid has certain characteristics of each parent. Typically, the F1 designation is limited to vegetable varieties.

If you are a book worm like me who loves reading, follow the link above for details.

Image: Rambo Tomatoes ready for harvest

Why should I care growing F1 tomato hybrids as opposed to open pollinated tomatoes?

F1 hybrid tomatoes have a number of advantages over open-pollinated tomatoes.

Here are some reasons why you might want to consider growing F1 tomatoes:

• F1 hybrid tomatoes are known for their uniformity in size, shape, and color.

This is because they are bred by crossing two genetically different parent plants, resulting in offspring that are all very similar to one another.

This can be an advantage for growers who want a consistent product for market or for home gardeners who want a neat and tidy garden.

• F1 hybrid tomatoes are often bred to be resistant to specific diseases, such as verticillium and fusarium wilt.

This can be a big advantage in areas where these diseases are common, as it can reduce the need for chemical treatments.

• F1 hybrid tomatoes are often bred to be high-yielding

Which means that they produce more fruit per plant than open-pollinated varieties.

This can be a big advantage for commercial growers who want to maximize their production.

• F1 hybrid tomatoes are often bred to mature earlier than open-pollinated varieties.

Which can be an advantage for growers in cooler climates or those who want to get a jump on the growing season.

That being said, there are also advantages to growing open-pollinated tomatoes.

For example:

The ability to save seeds from year to year and the potential for more diverse flavor profiles. Ultimately, the decision to grow F1 hybrid or open-pollinated tomatoes will depend on your specific needs and preferences as a grower.

Next, let us talk about The Fruit Quality Kilele F1 vs Rambo F1 Tomato.

When it comes to quality, we have to examine this feature from the customer’s viewpoint.

Right?

If you agree with me, tomatoes have 3 grades.

• • Grade A: Tomatoes are large in size. Free of any bruises, free of insect or disease damage
  • Grade B: Tomatoes are medium size. Free of any bruises, free of insect or disease damage
  • Grade C: Tomatoes are small size. Free of any bruises, free of insect or disease damage. They could have some acceptable form of bruises or damage from pests and diseases.

In this category, Rambo F1 comes top.

Here’s why:

Fruit weight is 150 grams as opposed to the Kilele F1 that has a fruit weight of 120-130 grams.

This means that Rambo F1 will produce a higher percentage of grade 1 fruits!

This is a big one: The Yield Per Acre Kilele F1 vrs Rambo F1

In this ranking criteria, Kilele F1 comes top.

It has the potential to produce 35 tons per acre as opposed to 30 tons per acre of Rambo F1.

An extra 5 tons per acre to me is quite significant.

Do you agree?

These varieties go neck to neck in other qualities.

The qualities are similar and it won’t make sense to give my commentary.

so I have outlined a comparison table below to make it easy for you and me.

Conclusion:

When it comes to choosing between the two, there’s a very thin line.

I am saying this because these varieties go neck to neck in most qualities.

Ultimately, it boils down to the personal preferences of the farmer and the cost of the seeds.

What are your thoughts on these two amazing varieties Kilele F1 and Rambo F1?

Share them below.

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God Bless.

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