History of selection
The Em Champion tomato variety was bred at the end of the last century by Siberian breeders for cultivation in the cold regions of the country. Initially it was intended for cultivation in open ground. But, as gardeners from different regions of the country note, Em Champion tomatoes also thrive when grown in greenhouse conditions. The variety was included in the State Register in 1982.
The Em Champion variety was intended for cultivation in Siberia
Features and rules of agricultural technology
When growing tomatoes, you need to consider the following:
- Planting is done by seedling method.
- The duration of formation of young bushes is 50 – 60 days.
- The tomato is planted in slightly acidic soil enriched with calcium.
- There can be 3 – 4 bushes per 1 m².
- 2 weeks after planting, the sprouts are fed with organic fertilizers.
Advice. Before planting, the seeds should be placed in a 3% solution of potassium permanganate for 60 minutes. This measure will protect the seedlings from pests and increase resistance to diseases.
The period of moving into the ground for the southern regions is mid-May, for the middle zone - June. For regions with a cold, changeable climate, greenhouse cultivation is chosen.
Description of the tomato variety Em Champion
The tomato from the Siberian collection Em Champion is a determinate (low-growing) variety, that is, the development of the bush occurs with the growth of the central stem stopping and the formation of a flower cluster at its top (topping).
The neat bushes of this crop are low (0.5-0.7 cm), weakly leafy. The shoots are thin, but quite strong. The dark green embossed leaves are large and drooping, which ensures good ventilation of the plantings. The shape of the leaf blade is characteristic of representatives of this culture.
The inflorescence of Em Champion tomatoes consists of 3-5 simple yellow flowers, in the place of which, after the end of the flowering period, an ovary is formed. The first flower cluster is formed above the fifth leaf, all the rest - every two leaves. The growth of the central stem, as a rule, stops after the formation of 4-5 fruit clusters.
The Em Champion variety is facultative, that is, self-pollinating. Therefore, the participation of bees is not necessary to pollinate flowers; a simple blow of wind will be enough.
Oval heart-shaped tomatoes Em Champion are similar in shape to the famous variety Bull's Heart. In most cases, the weight of one fruit is 150-300 g, but larger specimens are also found (about 800 g).
The thin tomato skin, which is not prone to cracking, adheres tightly to the tender juicy pulp. The high sugar content gives these tomatoes a pleasant, sweet, slightly sour taste. The seed chambers contain a small number of seeds.
The root system is strong, taprooted, with numerous branches. The length of the central root can reach 1 m, and the lateral ones extend in different directions at a distance of 0.5 to 2 m. Due to the good regenerative abilities of the root system, minor damage to it does not have a detrimental effect on the growth and development of the plant.
Attention! The Em Champion tomato is not a hybrid, which makes it possible to independently collect planting material for the next season.
The Em Champion variety is characterized as large-fruited
Characteristics of tomato Em Champion
Em Champion tomatoes can easily withstand frequent temperature changes and provide a decent harvest in almost all regions of the country, even in the most unfavorable season. And this is not the only good quality of tomatoes.
Tomato yield Em Champion
One plant lays up to five flower clusters, on each of which up to five large fruits subsequently ripen. Thus, with proper agricultural technology, it is possible to collect 3-4 kg of ripe tomatoes from a bush. This allows the variety to be characterized as high-yielding.
In terms of ripening, the tomato is mid-early, so the first ripe fruits can be obtained 100-110 days after sowing the seeds for seedlings. The fruiting period continues until frost.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Tomatoes of this variety have a certain immunity to fungal and viral infections. However, this does not always protect them from the development of diseases and attacks of harmful insects characteristic of Solanaceae. The reason for this, as a rule, is high humidity and improper care of plants.
Methods of application
Em Champion tomatoes do not have good shelf life and transportability, therefore they are not suitable for long-term storage and transportation over long distances.
Ripe fruits are eaten fresh and used for preparing salads, first and second courses.
The large size of tomatoes does not allow their use in the process of whole-fruit canning. However, the presence of juicy and sweet pulp makes these tomatoes an ideal raw material in the production of juices, sauces and fruit drinks.
Attention! Em Champion tomatoes are recommended to be used immediately after picking from the bush.
The good yield of the variety is due to the large size of the fruits
Features of growing the variety
“Em Champion” is a standard, determinate variety. This means that the plant does not grow and practically does not branch. Such crops have strong stems and dense lower leaves, which, sinking to the ground, seem to hold the stem.
Since contact with soil is always a risk of fungi and infections, the lower leaves should be removed. The variety has a weak root system, so immediately after transplanting into open ground, you should consider a crop support system.
Did you know? The first recipe using tomatoes appeared in Naples in a cookbook published in 1692.
Microclimate
To germinate seedlings and plant them, it is necessary to create certain conditions.
Maintenance regime for future plants:
- temperature - +25...+28°С;
- air humidity - 65-70%;
- lighting - up to 16 hours a day, bright.
For the sprouts that appear, the temperature is reduced to +20…+22°C.
Sowing seeds
Sowing dates are calculated based on the expected planting date:
- for a greenhouse - 50 days;
- for open ground - 60 days.
Did you know? The largest tomato fruit was grown in the USA; its weight, according to the Guinness Book of Records, was 2 kg 900 g.
When preparing the soil yourself, you should take into account: it must be light, loose and have an acidity level in the range of 5.5-6 pH.
For a high-quality substrate, take the following components in equal proportions:
- turf soil;
- compost;
- coarse sand.
Before sowing, the soil is treated from possible pathogenic organisms: steamed or calcined.
Seeds also require several stages of preparation:
- calibration - the material is immersed in clean water and the floating specimens are rejected;
- disinfection - soak for 20 minutes in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate;
- germination - the seeds are wrapped in damp gauze and placed in any convenient container in a warm place. Cover the top of the container with film, removing it for ventilation every day for 10-15 minutes. After 4 days, the seeds will hatch.
Sowing technology:
- Dip the planting container into the potassium permanganate solution and rinse with clean water. Fill with soil.
- The soil must be compacted and moistened with water at room temperature.
- The seeds are buried 1 cm into the soil. In a common container at a distance of up to 4 cm from each other, one seed is placed in individual pots.
- The material is sprinkled with soil.
- The container is covered with film and placed in a warm place.
Seedling care
Crops under the film are ventilated daily to avoid mold on the soil surface. After the first shoots appear, approximately 4 days after sowing, they are gradually accustomed to open keeping. Before removing the film completely, first open it for a couple of hours a day.
It will be useful for you to read about diseases of tomato seedlings and methods of treating them.
Watering is carried out with settled water at room temperature at intervals of a week. Water with a thin stream at the root so as not to get on the leaves.
When watering, it is important to monitor the moderate soil moisture; neither overwatering nor complete drying out should be allowed. The first feeding of plants is carried out two weeks after germination
Subsequent fertilizers are applied at intervals of 7 days. Apply fertilizer to the soil, in the tree trunk circle.
You can use organic material:
- fermented mullein, bird droppings;
- powdered egg shells;
- infusion of onion peels.
When the first pair of strong leaves appears, pick them into separate containers. To avoid this procedure, it is better to sow seeds in peat bowls.
Planting seedlings in the ground
Before planting grown seedlings, they need to be hardened off. To do this, the plants are taken out into a cool room for 1-2 hours, gradually increasing the “walk” to a day. The timing of planting in open ground varies in each region.
Read when and how to plant tomato seedlings correctly.
Signs of healthy seedlings ready for transplanting:
- the presence of at least 10 strong leaves;
- healthy, strong stem at least 30 cm high;
- formed brushes with flowers.
Technology for planting seedlings in open beds:
- A cloudy day is chosen for the procedure.
- The holes are made at a distance of at least 30 cm.
- The roots are placed on a mound of earth in a hole and covered with soil. The plant is buried about 2 cm.
- After planting, water with warm, settled water.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Em Champion variety
Em Champion tomatoes have many advantages: they do not take up much space and produce a good harvest in any weather. However, like all representatives of the culture, this variety also has disadvantages.
Em Champion tomatoes have more advantages than disadvantages
Pros:
- possibility of growing in open ground;
- ease of care;
- high yield in all weather conditions;
- compactness and good ventilation of the bushes;
- large size and good taste of the fruit;
- no need for stepsoning;
- good resistance to diseases and temperature changes;
- possibility of collecting seeds yourself.
Minuses:
- impossibility of long-term storage;
- the need to tie bushes to supports.
Attention! Care during harvesting will help extend the shelf life of tomatoes.
Reviews
According to reviews from amateur vegetable growers, the variety confirms almost all the positive characteristics stated by the authors: it is very productive, resistant to late blight, and has a good taste.
Vegetarian Angelina from Rybinsk notes that these tomatoes can grow with a characteristic bandage in the middle of the fruit (it is clear that such tomatoes are not included in advertising photos for bags of seeds).
Em Champion has earned its popularity among summer residents: although it is not completely universal and has a noticeable drawback (storage problems), its advantages clearly outweigh this drawback. Weighty, tasty, heart-shaped tomatoes will certainly please the gardener who grew them and will make him want to continue working with this variety of tomatoes.
Planting and caring for Em Champion tomato
Em Champion tomatoes are planted in open ground 60-65 days after the seeds hit the ground. This must be taken into account when determining the time for sowing tomatoes for seedlings. In most cases, in the southern regions this is done in the second half of February, and in cooler regions - in March.
After two true leaves appear, the seedlings are planted in separate cups and planted in open ground when the soil warms up to 10 °C and the threat of return frosts has passed. This is around the end of April or beginning of May.
The algorithm for planting Em Champion tomatoes can be seen in the video.
Attention! The optimal distance between tomato bushes is 30 cm, between beds – 50 cm.
Subsequent care of plants comes down to the following activities:
- Watering. Excess moisture can cause the development of fungal diseases, such as late blight. In this regard, tomatoes should be watered only when the top layer of soil dries out.
- Loosening the soil and removing weeds. Ideally, the soil should be treated after each watering. Weeds are removed as necessary.
- Feeding. It is recommended to fertilize tomatoes every two weeks. Mineral and organic compounds are used alternately.
- Prevention and treatment of diseases. For fungal diseases, a week before planting seedlings in open ground, the prepared beds are spilled with a solution of copper sulfate prepared at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. drug per 10 liters of water. A couple of days after the first treatment, the beds are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate (it should be dark crimson). To treat fungal diseases, fungicidal preparations such as Fitosporin, Fundazol are used, and to control pests (before the ovary appears) - insecticides (Aktara, Avant, etc.)
- Stepsonning and garter. Sagging under the weight of the fruit, the thin shoots of the Em Champion tomato can become deformed, so during the fruiting period it is recommended to tie them to supports. Em Champion tomato bushes are low-growing, so there is no particular need to remove side shoots. However, pinching up to the first fruit cluster will help increase crop yield and prevent the development of fungal diseases.
Advice! Garlic, marigolds, calendula and decorative wormwood planted between the beds will protect tomato bushes from pests.
In addition, low-growing varieties do not require pinching the central stem and part of the brushes, as is done with tall crops. After the formation of a certain number of fruit clusters, the growth of the bush stops, and all the tomatoes have time to ripen.
The exception is those cases when it is planned to speed up the ripening period of tomatoes or to obtain especially large fruits. In this case, 1-2 fruit clusters are left on the bushes.
The process of growing tomatoes is not particularly difficult
Diseases and pests: control methods and prevention
Despite the high resistance of the crop to diseases of the nightshade family, tomato is still susceptible to bacterial black spot and blossom end rot. These are fungal diseases, the pathogens of which successfully reproduce at high humidity and air temperature.
Prevention against them includes monitoring moisture in the beds, timely loosening the soil and removing weeds with roots. For treatment, use a calcium nitrate solution by spraying diseased plants. The drug “Fitolavin” helps against bacterial spotting.
To protect the crop from attacks by insect pests (whiteflies, mole crickets, slugs, cutworms), plants are sprayed with infusions of fragrant herbs once a week. It is also good to plant sharp-smelling herbs next to tomatoes.
Crushed cloves of garlic and fish heads buried in the beds help against pests. The Colorado potato beetle and slugs are collected by hand, and the soap solution used to treat the stems saves from aphids.
Among the industrial insecticides, the preparations “Zubr” and “Lepidotsid” are used. But do not forget that chemical treatment is possible only until the first ovaries.
Reference. Tomatoes grown on balconies, as a rule, do not get sick and are not attacked by parasitic insects.
