Tomatoes of the EM Champion variety have many advantages. Among them, high productivity can be noted. In this case, plants can be planted in unprotected soil and greenhouses. This variety is very old and has been very popular and in demand throughout its existence. So, it was bred back in 1982 by Siberian specialists.
Description of the plant
The EM Champion tomato is a mid-early variety. The fruits ripen in 3.5 months. A determinate and standard plant is mainly intended for planting in unprotected soil. But I also planted it in a greenhouse. The low-growing plant grows no more than 70 cm in height.This makes it possible to grow tomatoes on balconies in apartments. It is also worth noting that this variety is highly resistant to fungal and other diseases.
Tomato EM Champion is a very productive variety. If you approach the cultivation of the plant correctly, you can get up to 7 kg of fruit from one bush. At 1 m2 beds can plant no more than four bushes. As a result, it can harvest 28 kg of tomatoes or more.
Advantages and disadvantages of the plant
EM Champion tomatoes have many advantages, among which are:
- the ability to grow tomatoes on balconies;
- quite high yield (7 kg of fruit per bush);
- good resistance to various diseases and pests;
- resistance to sudden temperature changes.
As for the disadvantages, these include the short shelf life of ripe tomatoes. They spoil pretty quickly. Therefore, they are often grown for preservation.
Features of the fruit
The characteristics and description of the variety will allow you to decide how effective it is to grow the plant in your garden plot or on the balcony. And it’s worth starting with their size and weight. On average, one fruit weighs 400 grams. But there are facts when tomatoes reached a mass of 600 grams.
It is quite easy to distinguish EM Champion tomatoes from other varieties. The round and slightly flattened fruits have a crimson hue. One fruit contains 4 or 5 seed chambers. The amount of dry substances is 5%. It is recommended to immediately preserve or eat the collected tomatoes, as they are not suitable for transportation or storage.
Due to this drawback, farmers are not very fond of growing EM Champion tomatoes on their plots.Otherwise, all fruits are immediately sent for processing. It is worth noting here that this variety successfully combines acids and sugar. As a result, you can get delicious pastes and juices.
Fresh fruits are used to decorate the table and various dishes. For canning, it is better to use small tomatoes. As for large tomatoes, they can be pickled in a barrel or processed, resulting in a tasty juice or paste.
Growing tomatoes
Although the bush is small in size, it needs a garter. This also applies to the branch. They prop up because the fruits are large in size and weight. If the plant is grown in unprotected soil, then there is no need to trim the stepsons.
In the case of planting a tomato on a balcony, the bush must be formed from one or two stems. This will prevent its growth. It is recommended to use complex fertilizers for fertilizing.
In the south of the country, tomatoes can be safely grown in unprotected soil. As for the northern regions, it is better to plant plants in greenhouses. This will ensure high yield of the variety.
Before planting, the seeds of the variety are soaked in a growth stimulator. This allows you to significantly speed up their germination. Thus, the seeds can be planted in pots within a few days. Until they germinate, the containers must be kept in a warm place. For irrigation, it is recommended to use warm water with the addition of a small amount of fertilizer.
For growing in open ground, it is recommended to use seedlings. This will ensure high yields. It is worth noting here that improper sowing of seeds in unprotected soil increases the risk of their failure to germinate. As a result, crop yields are at risk.
Pests and diseases
As the description shows, this tomato variety is highly resistant to various diseases and pests. However, the plant may be susceptible to black bacterial spot. To get rid of it, experts recommend using a special product “Fitolavin” and similar analogues.
Plants can also be affected by a disease such as tomato blossom end rot. To eliminate this problem, use a solution of calcium nitrate. The bush is thoroughly sprayed with it.
Here you need to take into account some features. Equally important is reducing the humidity of the environment, which speeds up the recovery of the plant. During illness, you should stop using nitrogen fertilizers.
As for pests, in the middle zone the danger to plants is posed by whites, sawflies and codling moths. To combat them, the common remedy “Lepidocide” is used. The tomato can also be attacked by the nightshade leaf miner. Experts recommend using the effective and fast-acting remedy “Bison” against it.
EM Champion tomatoes, which are grown on the balcony, are practically not subject to diseases and pest attacks.
