Emma Choice tomatoes offer home gardeners a unique combination of visual appeal and flavor. Understanding their characteristics helps growers cultivate them successfully.
Emma Choice Tomato Characteristics
The Emma Choice tomato, often referred to as ‘Awesome Emma’, is a cherry-type variety known for its striking appearance and complex flavor. These small fruits typically measure between 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter and display a vibrant yellow skin with captivating indigo splashes, particularly noticeable on their shoulders. The interior flesh is juicy, offering a balanced taste profile that combines sweetness with a pleasant tartness, described as having spicy undertones.
This plant has an indeterminate growth habit, continuously producing fruit until frost. It is vigorous, with regular foliage, capable of reaching heights of approximately 2 meters. Emma Choice is known for its abundant seasonal production and resilience to common diseases.
Growing Emma Choice Tomatoes
Cultivating Emma Choice tomatoes requires attention to several environmental factors and care practices to ensure a healthy and productive plant. Providing the right conditions from the start helps these vigorous plants thrive.
Soil and Site Selection
Emma Choice tomatoes flourish in locations that receive ample sunlight, ideally a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sun daily. Well-drained soil is important, as tomatoes do not tolerate waterlogged conditions. An optimal soil pH range for tomatoes is between 5.5 and 7.5. Preparing the garden bed by incorporating organic matter can improve both drainage and nutrient availability.
Planting Instructions
Planting should occur after the last frost date, when soil temperatures have warmed. If starting from seedlings, space Emma Choice plants at least 50 centimeters apart to promote good air circulation. When transplanting, bury a portion of the stem below the soil line to encourage additional root development. Initial watering immediately after planting helps settle the soil around the roots.
Watering and Fertilizing
Consistent and deep watering is beneficial for Emma Choice tomatoes, especially during flowering and fruit development. Irregular watering can stress plants and impact yield. Providing water at the base helps prevent foliar diseases. Fertilization should be tailored to the plant’s growth stage, starting with a balanced fertilizer and transitioning to one higher in phosphorus and potassium once flowering begins.
Staking and Pruning
Emma Choice tomato plants require robust support due to their indeterminate growth and heavy fruit load. Staking, caging, or trellising systems prevent sprawling and keep fruit off the ground. Pruning, such as removing suckers, redirects the plant’s energy towards fruit production and improves air circulation. This practice also makes harvesting easier and reduces disease risk.
Harvesting Emma Choice Tomatoes
Knowing when and how to harvest Emma Choice tomatoes ensures the best flavor and encourages continued production. These small fruits ripen relatively quickly once they begin to change color.
The optimal time to harvest Emma Choice tomatoes is when their distinct yellow and indigo coloration is fully developed and the fruit feels firm to the touch. Gently twisting or snipping the tomato from the vine, leaving a small portion of the stem attached, helps prevent damage to the fruit and the plant. Harvesting regularly, every few days, encourages the plant to produce more fruit. Once picked, Emma Choice tomatoes can be stored at room temperature for immediate enjoyment or short-term use.
Common Issues and Solutions
Even with proper care, Emma Choice tomato plants may encounter common gardening challenges. Being able to identify and address these issues promptly can help maintain plant health and productivity.
Blossom end rot, characterized by a dark, sunken spot on the bottom of the fruit, is a common physiological disorder linked to inconsistent watering or calcium uptake. Ensuring consistent soil moisture and, if necessary, supplementing with calcium can mitigate this problem. Fungal diseases like early or late blight can cause dark spots on leaves and stems, leading to defoliation. Good air circulation, proper spacing, and preventative fungicidal sprays help manage these issues.
Pests such as tomato hornworms can rapidly defoliate plants, while aphids cluster on new growth, sucking plant sap. Regular inspection allows for early detection. Hand-picking hornworms or applying organic insecticidal soaps for aphids are effective control measures. Maintaining overall plant vigor through proper cultural practices enhances the plant’s natural resistance to pests and diseases.