Content
- 1 Who brought it out and when?
- 2 Description and characteristics of tomato variety Empress
- 3 Advantages and disadvantages of the Empress tomato
- 4 Planting seedlings and planting in the ground
- 5 Caring for the Empress tomato
- 6 Treatment against diseases and pests
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 Reviews from gardeners about the Empress tomato variety
High yield, beautiful fruits and ease of care are the main, but far from the only advantages that the Empress tomato is endowed with. It is worth finding out what else is remarkable about this variety, how to properly cultivate it in a greenhouse, and what preventive measures are most effective.
Who brought it out and when?
The Empress variety was bred by scientific staff of SEDEK Agrofirm LLC and entered into the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 2011. The tomato was obtained by crossing two different varieties, therefore it is a first generation hybrid. This is confirmed by the F1 mark on the bag of seeds.
The Empress tomato is successfully grown throughout Russia under film cover
Description and characteristics of tomato variety Empress
The photo of the Empress tomato clearly shows the size of the bush. In a greenhouse its height can reach up to 2 meters.
Stems require formation and reliable staking
According to the description, the variety forms a plant of indeterminate type. The shoots are covered with large dark green leaves. To reduce the likelihood of disease development, lower foliage should be removed every two weeks. Simple type flower brushes. Pedicel with articulation.
The tomato root system is well developed, penetrates deep into the soil and extends across the stem.
According to external characteristics, the fruits of the Empress tomato are medium in size. Their weight is 100-150 grams. They are distinguished by a neat obovate shape with faint ribbing. An original convexity in the form of a nose is formed at the tip.
As tomatoes ripen, they turn red. They are covered with a thick skin on top, which protects them from deformation when transported over long distances.
The taste of the Empress tomato is good. The pulp has a dense texture, sweet taste with barely noticeable sourness.
Empress tomatoes retain their presentation for a long time
Maturation period
The ripening period for Empress tomatoes varies between 95-100 days after germination. Mid-early varieties are good because they bring a full harvest at the end of summer.
Productivity of Empress tomato
The Empress variety is one of the high-yielding varieties. Summer residents collect up to 9.1 kg of marketable fruits per square meter. But in order to achieve such large yields, during the ripening period of the vegetable it is necessary to fertilize with iodine or boron. This will contribute to increased fruiting and earlier fruit release.
Disease resistance
The Empress has strong immunity to diseases such as verticillium wilt, tobacco mosaic virus and blossom end rot. The variety suffers from fungal diseases infrequently, mainly due to improper agricultural practices.
To prevent diseases, it is necessary to ventilate the greenhouse, observe the watering norm and trim the bushes
Growing regions
The Empress variety of tomato can be grown in an ordinary greenhouse in any region of the Russian Federation. The bushes set fruit well in any weather. They are not afraid of night frosts, which often occur in the middle zone.
Methods of application
The most popular way to process tomatoes is canning. Empress tomatoes are perfect for this. They are thick-skinned and therefore do not crack during heat treatment.
Tomatoes can be frozen whole, after removing the skin, and used to make delicious juice, salads, pasta, and sauce. Ripe tomatoes are suitable for drying and drying because they have low-juicy pulp.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Empress tomato
Judging by the reviews of summer residents, Empress is one of the best varieties of tomatoes for protected soil. Among all its advantages, it is worth highlighting its resistance to diseases, which greatly simplifies its care.
Tomatoes have good keeping quality and excellent taste.
Pros:
- abundant formation of flower clusters;
- small fruit size, suitable for whole-fruit canning;
- commercial quality of the crop;
- transportability and good keeping quality;
- the possibility of selling goods on the market;
- high productivity;
- Widely used in cooking.
Minuses:
- The variety requires regular fertilizing.
Planting seedlings and planting in the ground
The Empress tomato hybrid is grown only by seedlings. A favorable time for sowing seeds is mid-March.
Before planting, the seeds are soaked in hot water for half an hour. Then they are placed in the refrigerator, where they are kept for two days. The prepared seed material is laid out on damp gauze.
To obtain nutritious soil, humus, peat and turf soil are taken in equal proportions. The mixture is mixed with wood ash and poured with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.
The boxes are filled with soil and the seeds are planted. Many gardeners immediately use plastic cups so as not to have to pick seedlings later.
Grooves are made on the surface of the soil, moistened, and then the seeds are placed in them, deepening them by 1.5 cm. The boxes are placed on a light windowsill and periodically turned so that the light falls evenly on all sides on the plantings.
Shoots appear at a temperature of +18-20 °C. After 7-10 days, the boxes with seedlings are transferred to a warmer place. At the age of 3-4 true leaves appearing, the plants are transplanted into personal pots.
The seedlings are watered and fertilized, and care is taken to ensure that they do not lag behind in growth. This usually happens due to lack of light. In this case, the plants are illuminated with a phytolamp.
With a lack of light, the sprouts stretch upward and become weak
Seedlings are transplanted into protected soil at the end of spring. Fertilizers and drainage are placed at the bottom of each hole. A layer of earth is poured on top and water is poured over it. Then seedlings are placed in the holes. The roots are sprinkled with earth and lightly compacted with hands.No more than five tomato bushes are planted per square meter.
Empress tomatoes require staking due to their tallness and strong branching
Caring for the Empress tomato
Greenhouse tomatoes are watered no more than twice a week. After watering, the soil must be loosened, ensuring complete air exchange.
The yield of the variety does not suffer under unfavorable conditions. However, tomato fertilizers are necessary. Mineral fertilizers are applied 3-4 times throughout the season.
Treatment against diseases and pests
With the help of preventive measures, you can protect bushes from various diseases. It is necessary to regularly inspect plants for symptoms, and if problems are detected, treat them with the biofungicide Trichodermin.
Tomatoes in a greenhouse can be bothered by spider mites and whiteflies. Folk remedies are effective against pests, for example, infusions based on onions, garlic and aromatic herbs.
The variety has strong natural protection
Conclusion
The Empress tomato bears fruit well in a greenhouse, rarely gets sick and is practically not damaged by pests. The bushes bring a rich and aromatic harvest that is suitable for any processing. The tomato bears fruit perfectly, regardless of weather conditions.
Reviews from gardeners about the Empress tomato variety
