Tropical Style

Cherry Tomato Plant Information

Cherry tomatoes, loved for their sweet, bite-sized fruit, create intimately, with one cherry tomato plant producing enough fresh fruit for the average family, notes Sonoma County Master Gardeners. Fruits ripen in approximately 65 to 75 days from planting, based on the variety. Cherry tomatoes are suitable for putting in hanging baskets, containers or in the ground.

Cherry Tomato Types

Most cherry tomatoes are vining, indeterminate varieties, but you may also purchase determinate varieties. Indeterminate cherry tomatoes continue to grow and set fruit throughout the summer until the plant is killed by frost in fall. While red cherry tomatoes are the most frequent, but also come in orange, yellow, orange and multicolored.

Plant Size

Cherry tomato crops are available in all shapes, from dwarf plants to full-size plants growing around 7 ft tall. Smaller plants are better suited for container growing, but all cherry tomato varieties grow well in garden soil.

Container Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes work well for container growing. Midget, patio or dwarf varieties are best for containers due to their compact size and smaller root system. Hanging baskets are suitable for indeterminate varieties. Hanging them high enough to keep the vines from the ground eliminates the need for a trellis or other support. Container-grown tomatoes need regular water and a sunny place to thrive.

Growing Information

Cherry tomatoes grow best in loose, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Compact, healthy crops which are 6 to 8 inches tall are best for transplanting after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. A program of dilute fertilizer at planting gets the plants off to a fantastic start. Fertilize again using a 10-10-10 fertilizer once the first fruits set. Regular, deep watering to keep the soil moist, but not soggy encourages deep roots and a healthy plant. Indeterminate cherry tomatoes need assistance out of a cage or trellis to keep them away from the ground.

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