How to grow Empire tomato

Every gardener who grows tomatoes dreams of finding a variety with high yields, universal use and low maintenance. It seems that this simply does not happen, but using the example of the Empire tomato, the opposite can be proven.

We offer you the most interesting and useful information about this variety, as well as a description of how to properly grow tasty and juicy tomatoes.

Productivity and characteristics of the variety

The Imperia F1 tomato was bred by Russian breeders (hence the variety’s other name – Russian Empire). The color of the fruit is the usual red. Tomatoes have an elongated shape and look like a plum. Separately, the density of the fruit and the strength of its peel are distinguished. The weight of Empire tomatoes is average - no more than 150 g. But the yield is high: from 1 sq. m you can collect 9 kg of tomatoes.

A distinctive feature of the plant is its large growth: Empire bushes reach 2 m in height. Some specimens can grow up to 2.5 m. The plants have large dark green leaves and simple inflorescences.

Gardeners highlight the excellent taste of Empire tomatoes. They are suitable for fresh consumption, canning, making soups and salads. Thanks to the strong skin, the fruits can be transported without fear of damage.

A photo of Empire tomatoes is presented below.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The Russian Empire variety has many positive qualities, namely:

• the fruits are not afraid of storage and transportation.The high density of the pulp and peel ensures good shelf life for tomatoes and retains their attractive appearance;
• high immunity to most diseases. The only thing the Empire is afraid of is late blight, to which almost all tomatoes are susceptible;
• high yield. The relatively small size of the fruits is compensated by the height of the plants and a significant number of fruits in the cluster (up to 8 pieces);
• unpretentiousness to growth conditions. The Russian Empire grows both at home and in greenhouses, and in open ground (but only in warm regions);
• quite early period of ripening. Already on the 90th day you can pick ripe fruits;
• high taste qualities.

The Empire variety also has a couple of minor drawbacks:

• This is an indeterminate (tall) tomato, so the plants require staking;
• The characteristics of the fruit, namely their density and fleshiness, do not allow preparing tomato juice from them. In addition, the thick skin may not be to everyone's taste.

How to grow a tomato

The rules for planting and growing this variety of tomatoes are not much different from others.

Important! The Imperia F1 variety was bred artificially, and the fruit seeds do not have the genes for growing the next generation of plants. Therefore, every year it is necessary to buy new seeds for planting.

Before planting, the seeds are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. Planting takes place 55-60 days before the expected transplant date to the greenhouse or soil. It is better to plant seeds in separate plastic cups. This will make the picking step easier or even skip it.

Picking is carried out immediately after the leaves appear from the soil. It is done as an intermediate step before planting in a greenhouse and allows you to prepare the root system and strengthen it.

In order not to destroy the seedlings, remember that the temperature in the room should be maintained and the air humidity should be controlled. In addition, daylight hours should be at least 13 hours.

After two months from the date of planting (when the plants reach about 25 cm in height), the seedlings can be moved to the greenhouse. Don't forget to prepare the soil in advance: mix it with humus and treat it with insect repellent. For 1 sq. Plant no more than six Empire bushes per meter. The optimal conditions for healthy growth of tomatoes will be a temperature of +24C and a humidity of about 70%.

Approximately 10 days after transplanting the plants into the greenhouse, pinching should begin. This is the name for removing excess shoots from plants so that nutrients are directed not to growth, but to the formation of fruits.

It is recommended to form no more than two stems. The most important stage of care is also staking the plants. To do this, use strong sticks and twines, as a large number of fruits can break the bush.

Remember to ventilate the greenhouse and provide sufficient light to prevent fungus and rot. Conduct abundant watering two times a week. Don't forget about weeding and loosening the soil.

Within 18 days after moving the plants to the greenhouse, you will be able to observe the appearance of the first flowers. Fruit ripening begins 90 days after the appearance of the first shoots. Thanks to such a short ripening period, the variety is ideal for growing in regions with cold and short summers.

Read also:

The best varieties of tomatoes for the greenhouse, resistant to late blight.

Rating of the 15 best varieties of low-growing tomatoes for greenhouses.

Prevention of diseases and pests

Russian Empire tomatoes have a great advantage over other varieties: they have the strongest immunity against various diseases. However, the possibility of infections still exists. For prevention purposes, you need to periodically treat plants with purchased solutions.

Also, do not forget about ventilating the greenhouse. Do not overwater your tomatoes, as this can create an environment conducive to the development of fungal diseases.

Important! Remember that insects are also a danger. In addition to treating plants with pesticides, do not forget to check the leaves for the presence of beetles and their larvae and collect them or set special traps.

Reviews from gardeners

Always read the reviews of experienced gardeners before growing a particular variety of tomatoes. Let's give you some of them.

Katerina, 33 years old, Primorsk: “I’m incredibly pleased that I decided to grow this variety. Its yield is simply amazing: in good years I collected 12 kg from one bush. The family is large, but the harvest lasted until spring; they ate fresh tomatoes all winter. I kept them in the basement, folded in cardboard boxes. Almost all the fruits survived these conditions; only a few were spoiled. I was also pleased with the ease of care: I tied it up once, and then just watering and loosening.”

Vladimir, 61 years old, Krasnodar: “After retiring, I live in the country from spring until late autumn. I have a lot of free time, I decided to grow tomatoes. I planted several varieties, including Empire. It was she who took root in the garden. Tomatoes are tasty, easy to care for, and store well. The harvest was so large that part of it was sold. Now I am engaged in cultivation on an industrial scale - I get a good income.A good increase in pension with a small investment, I recommend it to everyone.”

Anastasia, 25 years old, Volgograd: “My husband suggested growing tomatoes so as not to buy them at the market. We chose the Empire variety, since we liked it the most. The seedlings were prepared at home: they washed the seeds, planted them in the ground, then planted them and watered them. By spring the plants were ready for planting. There was no greenhouse yet, so we planted the seedlings in open ground. Surprisingly, all of it sprouted and grew rapidly - the variety turned out to be persistent and tenacious.”

Conclusion

The artificially bred variety of Empire tomatoes has long established itself as tasty and unpretentious. The lack of difficulties in growing, as well as the universal use of tomatoes in cooking, have made Imperia one of the most favorite varieties of tomatoes among domestic gardeners.

Try growing these tomatoes to personally appreciate all the advantages of the Russian Empire.