Cherry tomatoes They are actively grown not only in summer cottages, but also on balconies and window sills. Many varieties of different shapes and colors have been bred, but the most popular are red cherries. The Red cherry variety is distinguished by its unusually beautiful bushes and rich, sweet taste of the fruit.
Features of the variety
The original name of the tomato variety is Red Cherry. This is an early ripening variety of indeterminate type. The period from the moment of germination to the full ripening of the fruit is from 95 to 100 days.
Description of the variety:
- bush height from 120 to 180 cm;
- Long brushes strewn with small tomatoes give the plant a special attractiveness and decorative appearance.;
- from 20 to 40 berries are formed on each brush;
- yield - from 1 to 6 kg per 1 sq. m;
- Tomato has increased resistance to fusarium and verticillium blight.
Fruit characteristics:
- round, smooth shape;
- weight from 10 to 20 grams;
- the skin is soft and dense, does not crack;
- bright red tomatoes;
- the flesh is fleshy and juicy;
- Due to the increased sugar content, tomatoes have a sweet, dessert taste;
- They are stored for a long time and are resistant to mechanical damage during transportation.
Red cherry tomatoes are intended for whole canning and fresh consumption, and are also ideal for decorating various dishes.
Growing and care
After reading the reviews, you can find out that Red cherry tomatoes have been grown for many years not only in Russia, but also in neighboring countries. The variety is recommended for cultivation in greenhouses and tunnel-type film shelters, as well as in open ground. Agricultural technology:
- Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out from early March to mid-April.
- The substrate for sowing cherry tomatoes can be used ready-made from the store or prepared yourself. To do this, you need to take equal parts of turf and garden soil, sand and peat.
- The prepared soil must be disinfected: poured with a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate or calcined in the oven for 20 minutes at a temperature of 200 degrees.
- In the prepared soil, make grooves 1–1.5 cm deep and place the seeds in them. Then sprinkle soil on top and pour plenty of warm water.
- Cover the containers with film and place in a warm place. The optimal temperature for germination is +25–28 degrees.
- After 2–5 days, when friendly shoots appear, the film is removed and the containers are placed in a lighted place.
- The room temperature should be maintained within +20–22 degrees, and the tomatoes should be provided with additional lighting. This way the young shoots will not stretch out and become thinner.
- Seedlings must be watered regularly, with warm water at the root.
- When the first pair of true leaves is formed, the sprouts are planted in separate containers. In this growth phase, tomatoes can already be moved to the balcony, provided that the air there has warmed up to +15–17 degrees.
- A week before the intended planting, tomatoes begin to harden so that the bushes quickly adapt to new conditions and become more resistant to the vagaries of nature. To do this, containers with seedlings are taken out into the fresh air or a window is opened, avoiding drafts.
- Tomatoes are planted in greenhouses and film shelters in May, and in open ground no earlier than June, when the threat of frost has passed. To plant seedlings for permanent residence, it is better to choose the evening or a cloudy day. This will allow young tomatoes to endure stress more easily and quickly take root in a new place.
- The best predecessors for tomatoes: dill, carrots, parsley, zucchini, cucumbers and cauliflower.
- Planting pattern - 50x40 cm or 3-4 bushes per 1 square. m.
- In a pre-prepared bed, make holes 10 cm deep, pour wood ash into them and spill with warm water.
- The seedlings are taken from the container and, together with a lump of earth, placed in a hole, deepening the roots and stem. Then they are sprinkled with earth, compacted and mulched with dry grass.
- As the tomatoes grow, they will need to be tied to a support and the bush formed into one stem.
- Next, you should adhere to standard care for tomatoes: promptly remove weeds, regularly water at the roots, loosen the soil and feed the plants with mineral and organic fertilizers. If tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse, then it is necessary to open windows or doors from time to time for ventilation.
Tips for beginners
Cultivation of cherry tomatoes is in many ways similar to agricultural methods that are applied to other types of tomatoes. But there are also some features that must be taken into account in order to get a rich harvest:
- Cherry tomatoes do not tolerate drought, the leaves wither and the berries may crack. Therefore, they need to be watered every day, but in moderation. Since excess moisture creates a favorable environment for the development of fungal diseases and rot.
- Seedlings should be planted strictly according to the scheme, without increasing the planting density. Cherries love space and are dependent on light.
- The bushes need to be tied up, especially tall ones like Red Cherry, otherwise the tomato bunches will bend towards the ground and the stems may break.
- Tomatoes should be removed from the branch only in a fully ripe state, then they will have a rich taste and retain all their beneficial properties.
Reviews
Anna, Taganrog: “I really love cherry tomatoes. In a small summer cottage there is always room for tomato babies. I’ve been growing tomatoes for a long time and have tried many varieties, but I haven’t found one better than Red Cherries yet.”
Natalya, Angarsk: “Our family loves pickled cherry tomatoes. We grow several bushes of different varieties of tomatoes, experimenting every year, including with multi-colored ones. But Red cherry is a classic; we have been planting them for several years in a row. A consistently productive variety, the tomatoes are beautiful and sweet.”
Olga, Mr.Rostov-on-Don: “Last summer I grew Red cherry. Tall, graceful tomato bushes with scarlet clusters of baby tomatoes. It’s nice to admire and eat deliciously.”
Margarita, Yekaterinburg: “Last year I decided to plant cherry tomatoes for the first time. I was afraid that they would not bear fruit in the Ural climate. Friends recommended the Red cherry tomato as a variety proven by people and time. I studied the characteristics from the manufacturer and made my decision. It turned out to be a very unpretentious variety. The seedlings sprouted together, did not experience any difficulties in development and bore fruit abundantly.”
Tatyana, Krasnodar: “I’m sharing my experience: the seeds sprouted together, the seedlings quickly took root and did not get sick. The bushes have grown tall and need to be tied up. The Red cherry variety is early ripening, we tried the first tomatoes already in June.”
