Many gardeners have no idea how to grow cherry tomatoes correctly. These dwarf varieties are preferred for their size and extraordinary taste. There are many types ranging from the smallest to the larger sized tomatoes. Growing them on site is not difficult. You need to learn all the nuances of growing and caring for cherry tomatoes.
Cherry tomatoes are mainly grown using seedlings. Their features are that seedlings are germinated from seeds in early spring at home. It is grown to the required size, then planted on the site.Sowing seeds in the garden in the middle zone is impossible, since they simply will not have time to bear fruit due to the rapid onset of cold weather. Tomato seeds can be purchased at specialty garden supply stores.
Types of cherry
The name for tomato was not invented by chance. It literally translates as “cherry”. But this does not mean that all fruits are small, round and red. There are thousands of different types of these tomatoes. They are oval, oblong, green, and yellow. The characteristics of their breeding are different, depending on the regions grown and the type of variety.
Cherries grown in the garden mostly have tall bushes of two meters or more.
According to weight criteria, they are divided into two types:
- Berry. The tiniest weighing from 4 grams. They have the sweet taste of berries and tomatoes at the same time. They are grown mainly for salads or desserts.
- Cocktails They weigh from 20 to 50 grams. It tastes like sweet and sour tomatoes, but there are exclusive varieties.
The most famous cherry varieties:
- Ocean.
- Elf.
- White nutmeg.
- Cherry blossoms.
- Green grapes.
- Balcony miracle.
- Sweet cherry.
- Strawberry.
- Fingers.
Small varieties are chosen for their compactness, sugary taste, and rich taste. You need to learn how to plant them correctly.
Seed treatment and planting
Every summer resident who dreams of having a bountiful harvest of these varieties should know when to plant cherry tomatoes and how. Seeds begin to be sown in March or April. They are sown in specialized containers, which should be spacious and comfortable. The soil is taken from the store. It must first be loosened, watered, and fertilized before planting the seed.Fertilizers include peat and special chemical minerals to accelerate growth. The soil can be sprayed with a manganese solution to prevent fungus.
The height of the container should be at least 13 centimeters so that the roots are not cramped to develop. Smooth furrows are made with a sharp object, and small depressions of three centimeters are made in them for planting seeds. It is advisable to plant tomato seeds of the same variety and type in one container. After everything has been planted and watered, cover with film until the seedlings hatch.
The film is removed when the first shoots appear. Until the seedlings are planted in the garden, they require careful care at home. It is necessary to provide all the necessary conditions to make the plants comfortable.
How to care for seedlings at home
Cherry tomatoes love greenhouse conditions. When they grow at home, they need to be carefully looked after.
Seedlings need long daylight hours. Therefore, it is kept on the windowsill, and, if possible, provided with additional artificial lighting. There should always be at least 15 hours of light for high-quality growth of seedlings.
In order for the seeds to hatch, they need warmth, the room temperature should be from 25 to 30 degrees. At this time, they can be placed near radiators, stoves, heating devices, and removed higher, where it is hot. The film will help provide the desired greenhouse effect and warmth. As soon as the seedlings sprout, you can remove the film; the temperature can be up to 23 degrees, but not lower than 15, otherwise the fruit may not set in the future.
When several leaves appear on the seedlings, they need to be planted in separate pots. Tomatoes do not like crowded conditions; they will not be able to eat and develop normally.During transplantation, roots that are too long can be trimmed. This way it is possible to develop a strong root system. Picking should occur when 4-5 strong leaves appear. Fertilizing with sodium humate at this time is simply necessary. Also, do not forget to loosen the soil and water.
Watering on the windowsill is always carried out as soon as dry soil is noticed. You need to feed once every two weeks. Must be taken out tomatoes for the street or balconyso that they can harden there and get used to the fresh air. Already strong seedlings with a thick stem and healthy dense foliage are planted on the plot. This period usually occurs in May-June. When all the seedlings are planted, they will need to be tied up and secured so that they do not fall under the weight of the tomatoes.
Planting in open ground
Few people know about growing cherry tomatoes in open ground. Cherry tomatoes grown in open ground require more care than those grown in greenhouses. After all, the environmental impact there is very extensive. There is a difference between growing cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse and the open method. Planting and caring for cherry tomatoes in open ground is described in detail on gardening websites.
Plant seedlings in warm weather in late spring, when the ground has warmed up enough and the nights are no longer so cold. It is planted keeping a distance of 40 centimeters. The width between rows is 50 centimeters. Before planting, water the soil abundantly. It is more convenient to fix the stem of seedlings in moist soil. When everything is planted, it is necessary to install support brackets to which the bushes will be tied. In addition, they will serve as a support for the material with which the tomatoes will be covered.
High-quality watering is very important for tomatoes.They do not tolerate long droughts; the leaves dry out and the fruits crack. But it’s also important not to overdo it with water. Otherwise, the bushes will begin to rot and the tomatoes will taste watery. It is better to water once a week, before loosening, with warm water. It is better to do this not on a hot sunny day. The water should stand for some time in the barrel. Water consumption is approximately a large bucket per bush.
It is important not to forget about fertilizers. They should be varied and contribute to the normal growth and development of bushes. Cherry tomatoes love manure, chicken droppings, potassium, phosphorus, and ammonium nitrate.
Also, sometimes it is necessary to spray tomatoes against harmful insects and various diseases.
How to grow cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse
Growing cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse requires creativity. Cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse need sufficient humidity, abundant watering and nutrition.
Seeds are sown in a greenhouse only if there is heating and it is warm enough. In all other cases, seedlings are germinated at home, and then they are planted in a greenhouse, already strong and hardened. Nights in spring are cold, even in greenhouses.
Growing cherry tomato varieties in a greenhouse requires careful care and fertile soil.
The greenhouse should be regularly ventilated and watered efficiently, but in moderation. Watering is carried out with warm water from barrels twice a week. On dry days much more often as the soil dries out.
It is important to provide tomatoes in a greenhouse with the necessary lighting. You should not plant other shrubs or tall plants next to them, and plant tomatoes at a decent distance from each other so as not to block the light.
Once every two weeks, fertilizing with fertilizers is required. These are vitamins and organic matter.Tomato pinching is also done, that is, excess shoots are cut off, which interfere with the normal ripening of the fruit. It is necessary to regularly loosen the soil to remove weeds. High yields in a greenhouse depend largely on how the cherry tomatoes are cared for there.
Growing cherry tomatoes in open ground or in a greenhouse using seedlings is accessible even to a beginner in gardening. You can gain experience, study the characteristics of cherry tomatoes, and grow various varieties of these exotic fruits. They will look so great on plates with cold cuts, as well as in jars of pickles. Happy sowing!
