Few summer treats are as delicious as a sweet, juicy cherry tomato. Luckily, growing cherry tomatoes is fairly easy, and their small size makes them perfect for container gardening in compact spaces and even on balconies. You just need a sunny location, good soil, food, and water.
There are many different types of tomatoes to choose from, but most gardeners like to include at least one bush of scrumptious cherry tomatoes. If you're just learning how to grow tomatoes, then they're a great place to start due to their fast maturity rate and high yields. Cherry tomatoes are also some of the sweetest tomatoes to grow, and they’re so delicious when left to ripen on the vine.
Choosing the Best Variety
There are many varieties of cherry tomato from which to choose, with over 100 cultivars in a range of colors of fruit ranging from classic red to orange, yellow, and even “black". There is even variety in shape, with pear tomatoes that add character to the plate. They range from heirloom tomatoes to hybridized varieties.
While cherry tomatoes are small, the plants themselves vary. The plants can be either dwarf or standard-sized, which is important to consider if you're growing in a small space.
You also need to decide between determinate or indeterminate tomatoes, as cherry tomatoes come in both types. Indeterminate tomatoes are vining plants that require the most training and maintenance, but they continue to grow throughout the season until the first fall frosts. Determinate tomatoes are more compact, bushy plants that produce their fruit in one big glut over the space of a couple of weeks.
The best cherry tomato varieties to grow include:
- Sweet Cherry – large red fruit
- Black Cherry – large fruit tinged mahogany
- Sweet 100 – small red fruit
- Yellow Pear – teardrop-shaped golden fruit
- Green Envy – pear-shaped green fruits
- Sun Gold – medium-sized orange fruit
- Small Fry – small plant with diminutive fruit
- Sunchola – delicate chocolate-tinged fruit
Starting From Seeds or Seedlings?
From seed to harvest, most cherry tomatoes take 50-65 days. This makes them a very popular summer fruit to grow from seed, because you will be eating these tomatoes long before most larger types. Cherry tomatoes are some of the best early tomatoes you can grow, and are a great way to kick off the season. Growing from seed is also cheaper than buying seedlings and offers a wider selection of varieties than those sold as plants.
Starting tomato seeds indoors eight weeks before your local last frost date is ideal if you want the longest possible cropping period. Tomato seeds benefit from being soaked overnight before being planted to speed things up. Use a good seed-starting mix and sow seeds into small pots or seed trays. Keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy.
Once germination has occurred, place the seedlings in a warm, well-lit area. Using a plant set for 14 hours per day will encourage growth without producing leggy seedlings. Harden off seedlings before transplanting them outdoors.
Planting Cherry Tomatoes
Whether plants were purchased or started from seed, they cannot be planted in the garden until the chance of frost has passed. Tender seedlings will die if they get too cold. When to plant tomatoes depends on your local climate; your last frost date will be any time from early to late spring.
You also need to wait until your little plants are 6 to 10 inches tall (15-25cm) before planting them out, as at this stage they will be strong enough to survive the shock of being transplanted.
Before planting tomatoes, weed the site and remove large stones and debris. When digging your planting holes, be sure you leave at least a couple of feet between them, as cherry tomatoes can grow big and bushy.
Sprinkle a handful of lime into the bottom of each hole, and use a little tomato fertilizer to give your plants a strong start. Well-rotted manure works well too. Amending the soil will help prevent some common problems.
Look at your cherry tomato seedling in its little container. You can pluck all the small stems and shoots from the bottom of the seedling’s main stalk up to a few inches above its current soil line.
When you remove it from its small pot, gently ruffle the existing roots. To plant, bury most of the bare stalk deeply in the soil, right up to the first remaining stem. This will give the plant a chance to make lots of extra roots and become strong and robust as it grows.
Cherry Tomato Care
Light
Tomato light requirements are fairly high, as with other members of the nightshade family. Cherry tomatoes will require 6 to 8 hours of sun daily. In areas where they will receive less light, the plant will get leggy and floppy, and fruit production will be spotty.
Select a location in the garden that receives full sun, or plant the tomato in a container on casters that can easily be moved to follow the sunshine during the day.
Water
As you might imagine, given the juiciness of tomatoes, the plants need quite a bit of water. That being said, excess water can cause the fruit to split. How often to water tomatoes depends largely on the weather, but bear in mind cherry tomatoes are happiest with a heavy soaking when needed, rather than frequent light watering.
While the plant is still young and only producing vegetative growth, keep the soil moderately moist. After the first month, water deeply when the soil feels dry to the touch to a depth of 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8cm).
Temperature & Humidity
As they are frost tender, tomato plant temperature tolerance is low. Wait to plant outdoors until all danger of frost has passed. Nighttime temperatures below 55°F (13°C) can cause blossom drop, but so can temperatures above 75°F ( 24°C) at night with hot day temperatures.
These fruits do not enjoy high humidity. Excess air moisture can diminish fruit quality and yield. The optimal humidity levels are between 65-70 percent in the night and 80-90 percent during the day.
Soil
Tomatoes can be a bit fussy about their soil. Rich, nutrient-dense, well-draining loam is the best soil for tomatoes, and they are happiest with a pH balance of 6.2 to 6.5. In areas with heavy or clay soil, incorporate plenty of compost or other organic matter deeply to enrich and loosen the site. Container-grown plants will do well in a quality purchased potting soil that percolates well.
Fertilizer
Cherry tomatoes are heavy feeders. In order to get high yields of good-quality fruit, prepare the bed or container soil with compost or aged manure for a slow release of nitrogen. After a month, most plants respond to gentle, regular feedings.
The best fertilizer for tomatoes is slightly lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus, such as a 10-20-10 plant food. You can also use fish emulsion, compost tea, or kelp. Homemade tomato fertilizer is also very effective, and may contain common kitchen ingredients such as eggshells and banana peels.
Problems, Pests & Diseases
Many of the common tomato plant problems that plague other varieties can also affect cherry tomatoes. However, their fast growth rate means they are less likely to suffer. Issues to look for include:
- Under and overwatering can cause various problems in tomato plant growth. Watch the plants carefully for signs of water stress.
- Cherry tomatoes are notorious for becoming a tangle if left unmanaged. Provide string or stakes to help stems grow separately.
- Aphids and other insects enjoy snacking on the sap and fruit of the plant. Use organic sprays to combat.
- Caterpillars are also a concern and may be hand picked from the plant.
- If possible select varieties with disease resistance. The most common diseases are Verticillium wilt, Fusarium, Tobacco mosaic virus, and Septoria leaf spot.
- A very common issue is blossom end rot. This is caused by a lack of available calcium. There are fertilizers made for tomatoes that will have calcium to prevent fruit loss.
Pruning
Pruning is very important in cherry tomato development, especially when growing indeterminate varieties. Continued care involves pinching off tomato suckers that pop up when growing cherry tomatoes. Each of these has the capacity to develop into a new shoot. If all the suckers develop, the result is a tangled mess and the plant diverts too much energy to each stem. This leads to less fruit production.
Look at where the branches meet the stalk and form a “V.” Removing the small suckers at these junctions and at the bottom of the main stalk will let your plant to use more of its energy to make fruit.
Propagation
Seed is the most common method of propagation. However, existing plants can be used to start new plants from their cuttings.
Harvesting Cherry Tomatoes
Picking fresh ripe cherry tomatoes for salads, snacks and hors d’oeuvres is definitely one of the highlights of gardening. Depending on your weather, it should take about a couple months for your cherry tomatoes to ripen.
Most tomatoes are red and should be picked when their color is bright and the fruit is still fairly firm but has some yield. It can be difficult to decide when to harvest cherries that are yellow, orange, or “black”. Taste the fruit to determine which color and texture is the most flavorful.
When they’re ready, they’ll come away with the gentlest tug. Every day or two in peak season you’ll have more ripe cherry tomatoes to harvest.
Growing Cherry Tomatoes in Pots
Cherries are a dream for those with little gardening space. They are perfect for containers, provided the pot has enough space for the mature plant. Make sure the container has plenty of drainage holes and the soil percolates well. Some varieties of cherry tomato make lovely trailing specimens in a hanging container. Container plants should be watched carefully, as they need more frequent watering than those in the ground.
Supporting Cherry Tomatoes
If your cherry tomato plant starts to become bushy, you may want to sink a stake a few inches away for support, and to keep the fruit from lying on the ground. Tie the plant’s main stalk gently to the stake with a piece of yarn or soft string, and plan to rearrange it as the plant grows.
Want even more information on growing delicious tomatoes? Download our Complete Guide to Tomatoes today.
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