Introduction to Growing Cherry Tomatoes At Home
Here, today in this article we are going to discuss how to grow Cherry Tomatoes at home.
Topics going to cover in this article are listed below;
- Introduction to Cherry Tomatoes
- Benefits of Growing Cherry Tomatoes
- Obtain seeds or seedlings
- Obtain a Cherry tomato cage
- Suitable containers for Growing Cherry Tomatoes at home
- Sunlight requirement for Growing Cherry Tomatoes at home
- Suitable soil for Cherry Tomatoes at home
- Water requirement for Growing Cherry Tomatoes at home
- Fertilizer required for Growing Cherry Tomatoes at home
- Pruning of Cherry Tomatoes at home
- Mulching of Cherry Tomatoes at home
- Common pests and diseases of Cherry Tomatoes
- Harvesting of Cherry Tomatoes at home
- Frequently asked questions for growing Cherry Tomatoes at home
A Step-By-Step Guide for Growing Cherry Tomatoes At Home
Introduction to Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes are small-sized or a bite-sized tomato that grows very quickly, ripen very early, and they are good for you. Cherry Tomatoes are easy to grow and they produce harvest very quickly due to this reason they are one of the most popular plants to grow at home. If you want to grow your vegetables to be organic then you can choose these Cherry Tomatoes. Knowing how to grow Cherry Tomatoes will be great fun for you. To grow Cherry Tomatoes, you will need to prepare your environment. In this article, you’ll know the step-by-step process of growing Cherry Tomatoes at home.
Benefits of Growing Cherry Tomatoes at Home
Cherry Tomatoes have many health benefits. Some are mentioned below:
Cherry Tomatoes are very high in vitamins and minerals that promote excellent health. Vitamin C plays an important and major role in many body functions. So, this vitamin C is highly packed in these Cherry Tomatoes. Based on harvesting the nutrient levels in Cherry Tomatoes can vary.
Other health benefits are:
- Stroke prevention
- Cancer prevention
- Bone health
The Process of Growing Cherry Tomatoes at Home
Obtain seeds or seedlings
You grow Cherry Tomatoes from seeds or seedlings. Growing from seeds is a slow process and growing from a seedling will produce Cherry Tomatoes very faster. You can purchase seedlings or tomato plants from any nursery or in online stores. There are so many varieties of Cherry Tomatoes seeds that you can purchase. Some are listed below:
- The Sun gold tomato plant:
It is a delicious one. This type of cherry tomato produces the first fruit and grows large
- The Sun Sugar tomato plant:
This tomato has 3 times more vitamin A. The Sun Sugar variety is with high sugar content; this is why most people choose them
- The Chadwick and Fox tomato plant:
They belong to heirloom varieties that grow very fast and have a sweet flavor. The size of this plant is like a golf ball
- The Sweet Treats tomato:
This variety has a deep red color, sweet taste, and it helps to resist many diseases.
Obtain a Cherry Tomato Cage
The cherry tomato plant grows very quickly. You need to have something to support the vines of the cherry tomato plant when the plant begins to grow. For this support, you need to use a tomato cage. You will get this cage in a nursery. You need to tie the vine around the cage as it grows.
Using a plastic cage or vinyl cage may be toxic to plants and can expose them to lead. So, better don’t use a plastic cage or vinyl cage.
You need to select a large cage because the vines grow very quickly and may outgrow if you choose a smaller cage quickly.
Suitable Containers for Growing Cherry Tomatoes At Home
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Your container should be at least 14 inches wide and with a depth of 12 inches for Cherry Tomatoes. For larger varieties, you need to use a 20-inch wide pot with a depth of 18 inches.
The root system of cherry tomato plants spread out more than they go deeper. So, containers for Cherry Tomatoes should be more wide than deep and try to avoid using cheap clay pots or other plastic containers because they can dry out faster and they are less durable.
You can use wooden barrels, glazed clay containers, half wine or 10 gallons grow bags are the best option for growing Cherry Tomatoes in containers at home.
Be aware of drainage holes at the bottom of the container. If, your container does not have drainage holes drill ¼ to ½ holes every few inches around the bottom edge and a few holes in the center as well.
Sunlight Requirement for Growing Cherry Tomatoes At Home
Cherry Tomatoes require a lot of sunlight. So, you need to choose a location that your plant will receive at least eight hours of direct sunlight every day. Make sure that your plant should not be shaded by other plants. If your plant does not receive enough sunlight it may not produce good fruit.
Cherry Tomato plants like warm conditions mostly. When the temperature is between 18°C to 29°C is the best growing time in the daytime for Cherry Tomatoes. At extreme cool temperatures like below 12°C will damage the growth of the plants and the fruits and flowers will stun. Because extreme cool temperatures make it difficult for the plants to carry out photosynthesis to convert sunlight into sugar
On the other hand, even high temperatures can cause flowers to drop and result in a barren plant with no fruits.
Suitable Soil for Growing Cherry Tomatoes At Home
Cherry tomato plants are happiest in well-draining soil. They require a pH level of 6.2 to 6.5. If you are using containers to plant, you should not use dirty soil from the garden. Dirty soil from the garden risks transferring pests or diseases to your plant. Instead of using dirty soil buy an organic potting mix for your plant’s healthy growth. Cherry Tomatoes are not super fussy about what type of soil they are grown in. As with most garden vegetables, they do well in well-drained, fertile loamy soil. Mix about 4-8 inches of organic compost or aged animal manure into the upper layer of soil before planting your plant. Your garden soil can have a lot of clay content in it and when you water regularly, the soil will compact & sink hampering the root growth of your cherry tomato plants.
If you want to make your soil for your plant then you need to use 1 part garden soil, 1 part perlite, 1 part Coco coir, and 1 part compost for the mix. For loosening soil and retaining moisture coco coir is a very excellent material. It helps in root growth and allows adequate airflow to roots. If you are buying a readymade soil mix for your cherry tomato plant, you can still add some amount of coco coir to it to further enhance the soil mix.
Water Requirement for Growing Cherry Tomatoes At Home
Newly planted tomatoes need well watering to make sure soil is moist and ideal for growing healthy. Watering plants daily in the morning is better in the growing season. You need to water your Cherry Tomatoes twice a day as temperatures increase. Cherry Tomatoes require 1-2 inches of water per week.
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Fertilizer Required for Growing Cherry Tomatoes At Home
Cherry tomato plants need nutrition to grow and survive, that needy is given by the fertilizer. Even it acts as food for plants. Once a week use an organic fertilizer. First, work it into a few inches of soil with your fingers or with a plastic fork to use the fertilizer. Be aware that the fertilizer stays a few inches away from the stem. Some of the well known organic fertilizers are tomato tone, gardener’s supply, and burpee organic tomato fertilizer. Every fertilizer has a different direction to apply. That means directions vary according to the product.
Chemical fertilizer may burn the roots. Using chemical fertilizer may harm your plants. Use organic fertilizers that release nutrients. You need to add additional fertilizer when your Cherry Tomatoes begin to set fruit.
Spread 1 to 2 inches of composted manure to the plant in spring. Provide a slow release of nitrogen till it in to a depth of 6 inches that will fertilize the plants most of the summer and improve drainage and soil texture of your plant. Spread a handful of manure around the plant and water well. Spread granular nitrogen fertilizer for your cherry tomato plant around the base, at half of the recommended amount. You need to reapply manure or granular fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks until your plants wane in the fall.
How to Prune Cherry Tomatoe Plants
You need to prune your cherry tomato plant to one or at most two main stems and remove lower branches. You need to pinch out the new suckers soon after they appear. The best way to pinch is with your fingers, twisting the sucker until it snaps off. You can even do this with the help of scissors.
Mulching of Cherry Tomatoe Plants
Covering the top layer of the soil around the base of the plant with organic materials is known as Mulching. This will help to hold moisture in the soil regulates soil temperature and disrupt weed growth. For mulching your Cherry Tomatoes you can use dry leaves, hay, coco coir, pine needles, tree bark, and a 1-2 inch layer of wood chips.
Common Pests and Diseases of Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomato plants also get affected by pests, but fungus is often a very large problem. Symptoms of fungus problems are yellowing leaves, moldy blotches, and dark spots. Even the stems of cherry tomatoes may be affected as well. If you notice any of these symptoms you need to pick the leaves off and spray your plant with fungicide immediately. The common pests are Potato beetles and stink bugs. If you found them, then pick them off or use a natural insect spray to repel them from your plant.
- Few brands of fungicides are Plant Doctor, Daconil, and Garden Safe
- Few brands of organic pesticides are Eco Smart and Safer
To avoid all these infections, you need to try watering your plants in the morning directly into the soil. When watering if you water the leaves, or later in the day, it encourages the fungal growth in the plant. If fungus is a recurring problem then remove the cherry tomato plant from the soil because fungus can survive in the soil for many years.
Harvesting of Cherry Tomatoes
A seedling cherry tomato will begin to flower in about a month. For suppose, If you used seeds, you need to wait an additional two more weeks to flower. Then flowers will turn into small, green fruits. After a few more weeks they will be ripe and ready to pick Cherry Tomatoes. The tomatoes should automatically come off of the stems easily. You should not pull or twist the vine to pick a tomato. You need to pick individual fruits off of the vine every day. The plant needs to continue the production of tomatoes until the first frost. Then the freshly picked Cherry Tomatoes should be stored at room temperature; they should not store in the refrigerator because they will rot.
Frequently Asked Questions for Growing Cherry Tomatoes At Home
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How long it take Cherry Tomatoes to bear fruit?
It takes nearly 55 to 65 days to bear fruit. Just because of the small size of the fruit.
Is it hard to grow Cherry Tomatoes?
Cherry Tomatoes grow very easily. You just need to grab a container and some seeds or seedlings. They are amazingly easy to grow.
How many Cherry Tomatoes will one plant produce?
One plant can produce nearly 200 Cherry Tomatoes in a season.
How tall Cherry Tomatoes grow?
They grow to 4 feet in height.
How many times can we harvest the cherry tomato plant?
Over four months, you can harvest them nearly two to three times.
What is the life span of Cherry Tomatoes?
The average life span is considered as 1 season or 6 months.