Hybrid tomato "Empress": instructions for growing on your site from sowing to harvest

The Empress tomato is a super-yielding hybrid. Appeared on the seed market relatively recently. Nevertheless, it has already gained popularity among farmers due to its high yields, unpretentious care and resistance to diseases.

In the article we will talk about the pros and cons of the hybrid, the features of agricultural technology in closed and open ground, and share the reviews of farmers.

Description of the hybrid

The mid-early hybrid Empress F1 is a product of the selective work of Russian biologists of the SeDeK agricultural firm... It was included in the State Register for the Russian Federation in 2011. The culture was specially bred for cultivation in film-type greenhouses in regions with a cold climate, but at the same time it feels great in open ground in the southern regions.

The bushes are indeterminate, they require pinching and garters to the trellis or supports. Abundant foliage, powerful root system.

In the photo - the fruits of the Empress hybrid.

The table shows the distinctive characteristics of the hybrid.

How to grow seedlings

The hybrid is grown through seedlings. Sowing work is carried out from March to April 60-65 days before transfer to the ground.

Seed preparation

The seeds of the Empress F1 hybrid are treated with disinfecting compounds and growth simulators in production, so they do not need such manipulations at home.

However, experienced farmers advise to check the germination of each seed by calibration. For this, the seeds are poured with a salt solution (25 g of rock salt per 100 ml). After two hours, empty particles float to the surface. They are thrown away. Seeds of medium and large size are washed and dried.

The second way to determine germination is by germination and sowing in the ground. A test batch of ten seeds is laid out on a cotton cloth and filled with water at room temperature. After 24 hours, the fabric, along with the seeds, is placed on a plate, stretched with cling film on top and left in a warm, dark place.

The seeds will hatch in 3-4 days at an air temperature of +23 ° C. The percentage of germination is determined by the number of germinated seeds. For example, if 7 seeds hatched out of ten, then germination is 70%.

Reference. As practice shows, the germination of the seed of the Empress hybrid is close to 100%.

Soil preparation and sowing

The soil for growing tomato seedlings from gardening shops marked "universal", as a rule, has a balanced composition and contains mineral fertilizers.

If desired, you can prepare the soil yourself.The optimal recipe: mix two parts of peat, one part of land from the garden, 0.5 parts of river sand, one part of compost. Add 1 glass of ash to a bucket of the finished mixture to adjust the pH, since peat has a higher acidity. 40 g of superphosphate, 15 g of potassium, 10 g of urea are used as fertilizers.

The substrate is disinfected in an oven or microwave. One of the most effective methods, according to gardeners, is steaming in a double boiler, in which most of the fungi, bacteria and weed seeds die. The soil is spread in cheesecloth, folded in several layers, and then in the bowl of a double boiler. The process takes about an hour.

After the soil has cooled, it is watered with settled warm water and the seedling boxes are filled. The seeds are placed in 1.5 cm depressions, sprinkled on top with a layer of earth 1 cm and watered with a syringe. Film is pulled over the boxes and taken to a warm place. The optimum temperature for germination is + 23 ° C. The film is periodically removed to ventilate the soil.

Seedling care

The rules for caring for tomato seedlings Empress F1 provide for long daylight hours (at least 16 hours) and moderate watering.

After the appearance of the first 5-6 leaves, the seedlings dive into separate pots made of peat or plastic. The seedlings grow strong and do not need additional feeding.

A week before transferring to the ground, the seedlings are taken out to fresh air for hardening. To begin with, leave for 15-20 minutes, then increase the time daily by 10 minutes.

Cultivation of tomatoes

The rules of agricultural technology for the hybrid are standard: pinching, forming bushes, abundant watering, applying organic and mineral fertilizers.

Disembarkation

Before planting in the ground (late May-early June), the roots of the seedlings are immersed in a root stimulator "Kornerost". For 1 liter of warm water, 0.05 g of the substance is needed. The solution is brought to the working volume. For example, 20 seedlings require 1 liter.

reference... The Kornerost stimulator is completely safe for plants and people.

The Empress hybrid loves nutritious, loose soil with a pH of 6-6.5. The acidity level is determined using litmus papers or a special device with a long probe. Dolomite flour will help balance acidity.

Application rates per 1 m² depend on soil pH:

• acidic (pH below 4.5) - 500 g;
• medium acid (pH 4.5-5.2) - 450 g;
• slightly acidic (pH 5.2-5.6) - 350 g.

2-3 bushes are planted on 1 m². Wells are dug to a depth of 20 cm and filled with a strong hot solution of potassium permanganate. To each add 3 g of superphosphate.

Care

A week after planting, the bushes are tied to a trellis so that the stems do not settle under the weight of the fruit. The plant is stepchild and formed into 1-2 stems, which increases productivity. Old leaves are periodically removed.

Tomatoes are provided with moderate watering 1-2 times every 7 days. During the period of active flowering, it is increased up to 3-4 times.

Reducing the number of weeding and loosening will help mulching beds with black agrofibre, sawdust or hay.

The Empress hybrid is fed with organics and mineral complexes:

• after planting the bushes, organic fertilizers are applied;
• before and during flowering and the formation of ovaries - potassium-phosphorus fertilizing;
• during fruiting - potassium-phosphorus with a small amount of nitrogen.

Top dressing options:

1. One part mullein to 5 parts water. Insist 12-14 days and dilute with water in a 1: 2 ratio. The bushes are watered at the root after transferring the seedlings to the ground during flowering and fruiting.
2. 500 g of wood ash per 10 liters of water. Insist 3-4 days, strain and water at the root.
3. 20 g of superphosphate per 1 liter of hot water. Insist 24 hours and bring the volume to 10 liters.
4. For 10 liters of water - 10 g of diammophoska (26% potassium and phosphorus, 10% nitrogen). Use for watering 1 m².
5. For 10 liters of water 1 tbsp. l. nitroammofoski (16% potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen each). Use 0.5 l for 1 m².

The interval between fertilizers is 10-14 days. Two weeks before harvesting, feeding is stopped.

Diseases and pests

Tomatoes Empress F1 are immune to verticillium, apical and root rot, tobacco mosaic virus, but susceptible to brown leaf blight and late blight.

Brown spot or cladosporiosis appears as yellow spots of various shapes on the obverse of the leaves. On the back side, a light bloom forms, which eventually becomes brown. Without treatment, the leaves gradually die off, and the spores of the fungus spread to the tomato ovary. This results in a significant loss of yield.

To prevent the disease, the soil is spilled with a solution of "Fitosporin" before planting seedlings. For treatment, drugs "Bravo", "Fitolavin" or a pink solution of potassium permanganate with ash are used (for 2 liters of water - 300 g of ash, potassium permanganate at the tip of a knife, boil for 15 minutes, then bring the volume to 10 liters).

Late blight tomatoes are known to every gardener. The disease is recognized by brown-gray spots on plants and a whitish bloom on the back of the leaves.

For prevention:

• greenhouses are fumigated with sulfur bombs in autumn;
• in the spring the soil is treated with copper sulfate;
• the beds are covered with mulch (straw, sawdust, agrofibre);
• cut off the lower leaves, avoiding contact with the soil;
• maintain an optimal level of humidity.

To overcome the disease will help:

• biological products: "Gamair", "Fitosporin", "Baxis", "Ecosil", "Alirin";
• solution of copper sulfate (2 tbsp. l. per 10 l of water) for a single treatment of bushes before flowering;
• milk with iodine (for 1 liter of low-fat milk - 15 drops of iodine) for processing once a week;
• whey (diluted with water in equal parts) - a means for daily spraying.

In the fight against aphids, whitefly, spider mite, which most often attack tomatoes, such drugs are effective: "Kleschevit", "Biotlin", "Aliot", "Tanrek", "Fitoverm".

The nuances of growing indoors and outdoors

The hybrid is undemanding to care, needs only moderate watering and fertilization.

Slight pollination difficulties can arise when cultivating in greenhouse conditions. For successful pollination, it is enough to shake the bushes and trellis twice a week, keep the vents open to provide access to insects.

When cultivating outdoors, it is recommended to pinch the growing point so that the tomatoes have time to ripen before the onset of frost.

Harvesting and application of the crop

Tomatoes ripen approximately 95 days after germination. Fruits with dense pulp are used for making juice, pasta, sauces, soups, adjika. They make the perfect jerky snack in aromatic herbal oil.

Tomatoes do not have a pronounced tomato flavor, for which they are often called "plastic", but tomatoes are best suited for pickling, canning in their own juice and pickling. The hard skin does not crack during heat treatment.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the Empress hybrid:

• forms ovaries under any cultivation conditions;
• resistant to most "tomato" diseases;
• bears fruit abundantly;
• has an excellent presentation and transportability;
• tough skin is not prone to cracking;
• universal use in cooking.

Disadvantages:

• necessity garters and the formation of a bush in 1-2 stems;
• poor taste and too dense pulp.

Reviews

Farmers are divided on the hybrid. Some appreciate the culture for its unpretentious care and abundant fruiting, others are dissatisfied with the taste and dense structure of the fruit.

Margarita, Starodub: «The characteristic and description of the Empress tomato corresponds to the information on the package. I grow a crop in a film greenhouse for sale. The plant is tall and requires a garter. I form it into one stem, I cut off the lower leaves so that they do not come into contact with the soil. So it is possible to protect tomatoes from late blight. Does not need special care, bears fruit abundantly. Tomatoes are mature and can be transported over long distances. "

Ivan, Michurinsk: “Empress Tomatoes are best suited for cultivation in greenhouses. Before that I tried to plant in the garden, the yield was lower than the declared one. Tomatoes - not for everyone, the pulp is firm, not too juicy. More suitable for canning. "

Olga, Khotynets: “Last year, on the recommendation of a friend, I planted these tomatoes in a greenhouse. Crop care is standard - moderate watering, pinching and feeding. But I didn't like the taste of the tomatoes at all. Hard pulp and skin, no usual aroma and juiciness. Not suitable for fresh consumption. "

Conclusion

Empress F1 is considered to be one of the best growing tomatoes for sale. The dense skin does not crack during maturation and transportation. The universal fruit is suitable for fresh consumption and canning.

The culture does not need special care, it is immune to most nightshade diseases.