Nowadays, growing cherry tomatoes on the balcony is not a problem. The main thing is that there is a balcony, and everything else can be found at the nearest gardening store. This activity is exciting, and the good thing is that you can attract children or older people who already find it difficult to go outside.
Where to begin
You need to start by analyzing tomato varieties. The right variety is not half the success, but a big part of it. Low-growing varieties and medium-sized tomatoes are more suitable for balconies and window sills, and tall ones are more suitable for loggias with a large area.
Once the variety has been selected, you can start preparing containers for planting. When choosing, it is important to consider the characteristics of the pot:
- volume;
- decor;
- material of manufacture;
- presence of drainage holes.
For the plant itself, only the volume of the pot and the presence of drainage holes are important. Two other characteristics must be taken into account if you want to create a cozy place to relax on your balcony (loggia), decorated with picturesque tomato bushes.
Have you chosen the pots, do you know their volume? You can go for the land. It’s better not to go to the dacha, but to the store. High-quality purchased soil for tomatoes matches the mechanical and chemical composition of the plant’s needs. But before planting Cherry, the purchased soil should be treated against fungus. To disinfect, you need to buy a proven fungicide “Fitosporin M”, prepare a working solution and treat the purchased soil.
Choosing a variety
A little about what Cherry tomatoes are. First of all, this is a separate type of tomato with small fruits of spherical or slightly elongated shape. Ripe Cherry fruits come in different colors: yellow, red, black, green.
The main differences between Cherry fruits and classic tomatoes:
- Cherries are sweeter;
- are stored longer;
- the content of nutrients in Cherry pulp is almost 1.5 times greater.
Let's get acquainted with the existing classification of Cherry by type of growth. All varieties of tomatoes are divided into 4 groups:
- Superdeterminant.
- Short.
- Determinant.
- Indeterminate.
The first group is represented by compact plants, the height of the bushes does not exceed 40 centimeters. Cherries in this group are the fastest ripening tomatoes. After the formation of the fifth raceme, the growth of the central stem stops. The second group is low-growing Cherry.
An ideal choice for growing indoors or on the balcony.The third and fourth groups are species that are not very suitable for breeding at home due to their large, tall bushes.
Description of some varieties of Cherry
Let's consider those Cherry tomatoes that grow well not only on the balcony (loggia), but also on the windowsill.
The first variety of tomatoes on the list is Bonsai. An early ripening plant, absolutely unpretentious. The bushes are compact and do not require pinching. Caring for a Bonsai tomato is very simple.
The super early tomato variety Garden Pearl is very interesting. Low bushes are hung with a large number (up to 500 pieces) of small pink fruits. The weight of one Cherry tomato does not exceed 20 g. The purpose of miniature fruits is universal.
Cherry Kira tomatoes have an unusual fruity taste. The weight of one Cherry tomato of this type is 30 g. The fruits are stored for a long time, from 2 to 2.5 months. Cherry Kira tomato bushes planted in large containers (8 - 10 l) can remain fruitful almost until January.
You can pay attention to the Minibel variety. The plant is short (40 cm), unpretentious, strewn with small fruits weighing up to 25 g. The list of suitable Cherry varieties does not end here; it can be continued for a long time.
Home vegetable growers practice growing the following varieties on the balcony:
- Balcony miracle;
- Golden bunch;
- Rowan beads.
Sow seeds for seedlings
Let's consider growing Cherry seedlings from seeds for a balcony step by step. Planting seeds is not a complicated process; you can have a great time and take a break from the bustle of the city.
The first step is pre-sowing preparation of tomato seeds. First, the seeds must be visually inspected, all intact and without damage must be selected. Put them in a glass, fill with water (0.5 cup).Discard the floating seeds, place the remaining seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes, and dry.
The second step is to prepare the container for planting. For this we take a clean, washed plastic container. A deep container is not needed, the optimal height of the sides is 6 cm. Fill the container with purchased soil, water the soil with settled water.
The third step is to sow the tomato seeds. We lay them out in 3 cm increments and cover them with the same soil or clean humus. The thickness of the layer is 1 - 1.5 cm. There is no need to water the soil from above; the seeds have enough moisture in the lower layer of soil. Cover the container with film or glass.
The seeds are sown; if germination is good, they will sprout in 5–6 days. Place the container closer to the heating device. Seedlings will sprout faster if the ambient temperature is 25 – 28 °C.
Seedling care
Remove the film from the container as soon as the first green loops appear, and place the container in a well-lit window. There comes a period when light plays the most important role in the development of Cherry seedlings. With a lack of light, the seedlings will stretch, but the stems will be thin and fragile. It is good to have a lamp for supplementary illumination of tomato seedlings. The ideal option is a phytolamp, the radiation of which contains the entire spectrum of light waves necessary for the plant. If there is no phytolamp, you can supplement the seedlings with a regular fluorescent lamp.
Have the tomatoes been planted, have the first leaves appeared? It's time to prepare cups for tomato seedlings, where each seedling is assigned its own cup. Disposable cups with a volume of 250 ml are suitable. Use the same soil composition as poured into the seedling boxes.
After picking, 10 days will pass, by this time the seedlings will have become stronger and can be watered for the first time with a solution of liquid complex fertilizer. In the future, it is necessary to feed the Cherry bushes no more than once every 10 days.
The exact feeding schedule can be found in the instructions included with the product. Before transplanting the seedlings into a large container, you need to feed Cherry at least twice.
Transplanting seedlings
By April, Cherry seedlings are growing, and a glass will no longer be enough. We need to prepare for the transplant. Wash purchased flowerpots, buckets or other containers with any disinfectant, add a layer of expanded clay to the bottom, and fill the containers with soil mixture.
Using the transshipment method, transplant the Cherry seedlings to a permanent place, water them and take them out to the balcony (loggia). At the time of transplantation, install a support for the bush. At first it is not needed, but during the period of fruit formation it will certainly come in handy. There are many cute bamboo and plastic supports on sale that are decorative as well as functional.
Caring for mature plants
The main thing in care is attention. Monitoring soil moisture, monitoring signs of diseases and pests are activities that need to be carried out regularly. A watering can with water at room temperature should always be ready. Prolonged drying out of the soil can lead to shedding of flowers and ovaries, so you need to water the soil in pots at the first signs of drying out.
Attach the grown tomatoes to a support. Periodically loosen the top layer of soil shallowly. Loosening promotes better oxygen access to the roots and prevents crust formation. Don’t forget about additional lighting for tomato bushes. During the period of active growth, the optimal illumination is 150 lux/m².The better the lighting, the faster the development of the tomato bush.
Fertilizers for Cherry
Fertilizers for Cherry on the balcony are absolutely no different from the fertilizers used by summer residents in the garden:
- urea;
- superphosphate;
- nitroammophoska;
- ash.
It is especially important to feed Cherry bushes during flowering and fruiting. The main thing is not to overdo it with fertilizing. In “overfed” tomatoes, the taste of the fruit deteriorates and the beneficial properties are reduced due to the high content of nitrates in tomatoes. The instructions that come with each drug will help you avoid making mistakes with the dosage.
During the flowering period, tomato bushes can be sprayed with Ovary. The product promotes better pollination. Pollination can be stimulated artificially by gently shaking the flowering bushes.
Harvesting
Harvesting is the most enjoyable job. It is unlikely that you will be able to grow a huge number of tomatoes on the balcony. A small Cherry bush is guaranteed to produce up to 1 kg of delicious tomatoes. This is quite enough to diversify the menu with a light Cherry snack. Fruits should be removed regularly to reduce the load on the plant. Picked tomatoes can be stored for a long time even at room temperature.
Conclusion
Knowing how grow cherry tomatoes and how to properly care for them, you can begin a detailed study of the varieties of Cherry tomatoes and begin to breed them. A tomato bush grown with your own hands will decorate your balcony and delight you with delicious, beautiful fruits.
