Cherry tomatoesare gaining more and more popularity due to the relatively easy cultivation, as well as very interesting, small fruits that look great in salads and as an addition to food decorations. The possibility of growing them in pots on balconies and terraces is also important, where small red tomatoes glistening in the sun look lovely. Here are the bestvarieties of cherry tomatoesand therules for growing cherry tomatoes in the groundand in pots.
Cherry tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes - varieties
Allvarieties of cherry tomatoesare small fruits, not exceeding 4 cm in diameter and often as little as 2 cm in diameter. Among thevarieties of cocktail tomatoeswe can find both varieties with slender stems, requiring leading at supports, tethering and pinching the shoots in order to regulate the growth rate, as well as rigid-stemmed varieties, which, due to their small growth and bushy habit is perfect for growing in pots. The reasons for the cultivation of rigid-stemmed varieties are easier care, and the cultivation of limb-stem varieties - the possibility of achieving higher yields and extending the harvest date.
Due to the great popularity of cocktail tomatoes, the number of varieties is quite large. Here are the most interesting of them, which in amateur cultivation usually succeed without the need for chemical protection:
Koralik- a flaccid tomato variety, requiring supports, vigorously growing but ending. Very fertile, it gives birth to a lot of small tomatoes, which we can harvest from August to September. It tolerates unfavorable conditions quite well and rarely develops fungal diseases of tomatoes. Perfect for amateur cultivation, both on balconies and in the ground.
Mirabell- a very yielding variety of cherry tomatoes, characterized by the yellow color of the fruit (the name probably refers to mirabell plums). It grows vigorously, requires supports and a lot of space.
Temptation- an early-yielding variety of cherry tomatoes. It is characterized by slender stems and vigorous growth, which requires staking and trimming. It creates very long clusters, sprinkled with small fruit.
Radana- a variety of cherry tomato with very interesting pear-shaped fruits, gathered several dozen in a cluster.They taste delicious and their skin is thin, almost imperceptible. It requires strong supports and quite a lot of space to grow, which is why I recommend it only for ground cultivation.
Sungold- a cocktail variety that produces orange fruit, extremely sweet (for some it is too much), perfect to eat straight from the bush. Strong growth requires restraint and supports up to 2 m high.
Venus- a variety of cherry tomato with a very small growth, reaching only 30 cm in height. It is suitable for growing even in small pots. Fruits gathered on fairly short clusters, orange-yellow. The fruit yields and flavor are moderate, but these small bushes look great on balconies and terraces, and also have decorative functions.
Pohighest quality cherry tomato seedsvisit our guide. We have found the best varieties for amateur cultivation in gardens and allotments for our readers.
Cherry tomatoes - grown in the open
Cherry tomatoeshave similar requirements to all other tomatoes. So, first of all, they need a lot of heat and rich soil. Choose a sunny and sheltered place forgrowing cherry tomatoes. The soil in the tomato beds is fertilized in the fall by digging it with manure. If we have not done this, we use compost or well-composted manure in spring.
The cultivation of cherry tomatoes in the groundshould start with the preparation of seedlings. We can grow the seedlings ourselves or buy ready-made cherry tomato seedlings. If we grow seedlings ourselves, the seeds should be sown in boxes around mid-March and placed in a warm and bright room. The best medium for growing seedlings is peat with a pH of 6.0-6.5. When the seedlings produce 2-3 true leaves, they can be pierced into pots to make them grow to 15-20 cm in height and produce 5-6 true leaves.
Planting cherry tomatoesshould take place from mid-May, when the risk of late spring frosts is over. Of course, after the seedlings have been hardened (gradually put outside on warm days or ventilated greenhouses or tunnels). Depending on the growth strength of the plants,cherry tomatoes should be planted40 - 60 cm apart in a row and about the same number between the rows, so that the sun shines evenly on the fruit.
Note!When growing tomatoes in the ground, due to the risk of disease transmission, remember to rotate. Tomatoes should not be planted on the same site more often than every 3-4 years.
Remember to keep the substrate moist. It should be watered rarely but abundantly, not allowing the substrate to dry out. On hot days, when there is a drought, we can increase the intensity of watering. It is also worth mulching the ground under the tomatoes so that it does not lose moisture too quickly.
Important!When watering, be careful not to wet the leaves and stems as this can spread disease. It is best to irrigate the tomatoes directly into the soil.
Harvesting cherry tomatoes , depending on the variety and the intensity of its yielding, is carried out from August to September.
Growing cherry tomatoes in pots on the balcony
Cherry tomatoescan be successfully grown on the balcony in pots, but remember to select the best varieties for this purpose, i.e. with limited growth and stiff stems. In this case, the decorative qualities of the fruit may also be important.
Cherry tomato seedlings , bought in a store or grown from seedlings, should be placed in containers on the balcony from mid-May, which is the same as in field cultivation.
Important!The depth of the pot for cherry tomatoes should be at least 20 cm.
Cherry tomatoesfor crates min. 40 cm should be planted one at a time if the variety has strong growth, or two plants if you are planting a variety with moderate growth rate. If we plant a variety with slender shoots, remember to place the stakes on the supports immediately.
A great facilitationgrowing cherry tomatoes on the balconyis the possibility of placing them in pots filled with a substrate specially prepared for growing vegetables. As a result, at the very beginning of the cultivation, we have an idealsubstrate for cherry tomatoesSuch soil can be purchased in garden centers or specialist stores.
When caring forcherry tomatoes in pots , remember to provide adequate soil moisture (important because the soil dries up quickly in small pots and balcony boxes) and generous fertilization. Organic fertilizers are the best, especially self-prepared nettle slurry.You can also use liquid mineral fertilizers for vegetables and tomatoes (rich in phosphorus and potassium), which, after dilution in water, are usually watered plants every 2 weeks (according to the instructions on the fertilizer packaging).
Harvest, as in casecultivation of cherry tomatoes in the groundis carried out from August to September.
Katarzyna Matuszak
