How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are small, mouth-watering, fast growing, early ripening tomatoes suitable for everyone. They are one of the most popular crops because they are easy to grow and fast to bear fruit. If you want to grow your own vegetables and fruit trees, learning how to grow cherry tomatoes is a great place to start. To grow this plant, you need to prepare the environment for the tree, followed by planting and taking care of the tree. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Table of Contents

Preparing to plant

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Buy seedlings or seeds. Growing cherry tomatoes from seedlings is faster than growing from seeds. You can buy tomato seedlings or seeds at farmers markets or nurseries. Seeds are also available by ad-order, and there are many varieties to choose from. Some varieties of cherry tomatoes can be mentioned: ^{[2] X Research source}

Yellow cherry tomato (Sungpd). This type of tomato grows large and usually bears fruit first. This is a delicious tomato variety.
Sun Sugar Tomato. This variety is very similar to yellow cherry tomatoes, but the tomato skin does not crack easily.
Chadwick and Fox tomatoes are heirloom (older varieties) varieties that grow very quickly and have a great aroma.
Sweet Treats tomatoes have a deep red color, a sweet taste, and are resistant to many diseases.

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Buy tomato cages or wooden stakes. Cherry tomatoes grow quickly, so you need something to support the tomato branches as they grow. You can use tomato cages or wooden stakes. If you’re using a cage, buy a large variety that’s available at nurseries or home supply stores. You should buy the largest metal cage possible. Wooden stakes can also be found at nurseries or hardware stores. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

You need to tie the tomato branches around the wooden stakes as they grow. If using a tomato cage, there is no need to tie it. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
Do not use plastic or vinyl cages. These materials are toxic to plants and can expose plants to lead. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Keeping tomato plants off the ground will help increase air circulation to produce cleaner and healthier tomatoes. ^{[6] X Research Source}
You can also use both the tomato cage and the stake at the same time. Wooden stakes need to be placed in the center of the cage.
It is important to find a large metal cage, as tomato branches will grow quickly and can grow out of the small cage very quickly.

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Grow tomatoes in pots or in the garden. You can grow cherry tomatoes in the garden or in pots. Both methods are equally effective and highly dependent on the location of the plant. If you choose to grow in pots or buckets, the one with a capacity of about 16-24 liters is ideal. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Styrofoam, plastic or fiberglass pots are fine, but anything from terracotta pots to trash cans can be used.

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Choose a location with lots of sunlight. Tomatoes need a lot of sun. Choose a location that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. Do not let the tomato plant be shaded by other plants. Tomato plants that do not receive enough sunlight will be weak and not produce much fruit. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Buy mixed soil or plant in fertile soil. If you grow tomatoes in pots, you should not use soil in the garden. Soil outside has a risk of transmitting plant pests. Instead, buy organic mixed soil. Initially, you should buy a 20 kg bag of soil. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Fertile soils are usually darker and looser when held in the hand. Soil poor in nutrients will clump. ^{[10] X Research Source}
Organic Mechanics is a famous brand of soil for growing crops. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Soil test. If you plan to grow tomatoes in your garden, you should test the soil. This will help you know if you need to change the pH, nutrient levels and porosity in the soil. It is best to adjust the soil at least 2 weeks before planting. ^{[12] X Research Sources}^{[13] X Research Sources}

Dig a hole about 15-25 cm deep at the planting site. To test for porosity, separate a handful of soil the size of a can of soup and crush it with your fingers. The soil should be broken into pieces of different sizes, which do not fall apart like powder and do not form lumps.
Examine living organisms. Good soil will have living things such as insects, worms, centipedes, spiders and other animals. Observe for about 4 minutes and count the number of organisms present in the soil – if there are less than 10 then the soil in that area is probably not ideal.
You may need to use a test kit to check the pH of your soil. You can find it at a gardening store. Scoop some soil into a plastic or glass container, then follow the instructions.

Growing cherry tomatoes

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Start planting when the weather is warm. Cherry tomatoes need warm weather to grow, and they will die if exposed to frost. You need to wait for the last frost for about a week before planting. The weather should be around 21 degrees Celsius when planting seedlings. ^{[14] X Research Source}

If growing tomatoes from seed, you can start growing them indoors 8-10 weeks before frost. Tomato plants need 2 or 3 months in warm or hot weather to grow and bear fruit.

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Make sure the pot has good drainage. If you’re growing your plant in a pot, you’ll need a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom. If the pot does not have a drainage hole, you will need to drill several holes about 0.5 to 1.3 cm wide, a few centimeters apart on the edge of the perineum and several holes in the center of the perineum. If you are growing plants in your garden, you may need to do a little preparation before planting, depending on the results of your soil test. ^{[15] X Research Source}

If you plan to place the potted plant indoors or out on the balcony, you may want to place the dish under the pot so that the water doesn’t drip onto the floor. You can find potting pads at nurseries, home improvement stores, and some supermarkets.
If you grow tomatoes in your garden, make sure you choose a spot that receives constant sun. Adding compost to the soil before planting doesn’t hurt either.

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Attach the cage to the potted plant. This step is for potted cage use only. If using stakes or growing plants outside, you do not need to attach the cage until the plants have been planted. Do not pour potting soil into the pot before attaching the cage. Place the pointed end of the cage in the pot and then pour the soil over it. ^{[16] X Research Source}

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Pour the soil into the pot. Pour the potting mix into the pot. Water until the soil is evenly moist. Then add more soil until it is about 1.3 cm from the mouth of the pot. Level the ground surface. ^{[17] X Research Source}

You can use a cup or watering can to water your plants.

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Dig a small hole in the soil. Dig a small hole in the middle of the pot. If you have a lot of tomato plants in your garden, you will need to dig holes about 60cm apart. Place the tree in the hole. When planting seedlings, you need to plant them deep enough so that only 4-5 leaves emerge after filling with soil. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

The soil hole should be about 10 cm deep.

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Refill the soil. Use the excavated soil to fill in the hole. Only about 4 leaves should be allowed to emerge. Make sure the ground is level when filling is complete. ^{[19] X Research Source}

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Place the cage in the garden. Place the pointed part of the cage around the planting site. Seedlings should be planted in the center of the cage. If using stakes, you can wait until the seeds sprout into seedlings. Place the stake about 7.5 cm away from the seedling. Use a hammer to secure the stake to the ground. ^{[20] X Research Sources}

If you wait until the tree is older to put the cage or stake, you could damage the tree.

Take care of plant

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Water the plants regularly. The plants should be watered every 2-3 days. The soil needs to be kept constantly moist. Whenever the soil feels dry, you need to water until the soil is moist again. Irrigate the soil with water, but do not allow it to become waterlogged. ^{[21] X Research Source}

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Fertilize once a week. Fertilizers provide nutrients for plants to grow and develop and thrive. Basically, fertilizer is like food. Apply organic fertilizer once a week. When fertilizing, you need to use your fingers or a plastic fork to mix the fertilizer into the topsoil up to about 10-15 cm deep. Make sure the fertilizer is about 10 cm away from the stem. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Some well-known organic tomato fertilizer brands are Gardener’s Supply, Tomato-tone, and Burpee Organic Tomato Fertilizer.
Instructions will vary from product to product. You need to follow the instructions on the package when fertilizing.
Organic fertilizers dissolve more slowly than chemical fertilizers. While often cheaper, chemical fertilizers carry the risk of burning plant roots. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

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Prune the tree as needed. As the tree gets older, you’ll need to prune it from time to time. Prune the tree when buds and branches begin to sprout from the main stem and the leaves look dry or dead. Use small tree pliers or scissors to prune the tree. ^{[24] X Research Sources}

You should also push back the branches that have come out of the cage. The tree can fall if you don’t do this. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

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Prevent pests and diseases. Pests can attack tomatoes, but fungi are usually a bigger problem. Symptoms of a fungal infection include yellowing of leaves, moldy patches and black spots. The trunk may also be affected. Cut off the leaves and spray with a fungicide as soon as you notice any of the above symptoms. Potato aphids and mealybugs are common pests. You can catch or spray a natural insect repellent to repel them. ^{[26] X Research Source}

Plant Doctor, Daconil, and Garden Safe are a few brands of antifungal medications. ^{[27] X Research Source}
EcoSmart and Safer are brands of organic pesticides.
When the fungus spreads throughout the plant, it is almost impossible to cure. To avoid fungal infections, you should try to water your plants in the morning and water them directly into the soil. Irrigation on leaves, especially late in the day, can create conditions for fungal growth.
Mushrooms can live in the soil for many years. Pull up tomato plants if the infection recurs. Plant flowers or other plants instead.

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Harvest after 6-8 weeks. Tomato seedlings can flower after 1 month. If you grow tomatoes from seed, you need to add about 2 weeks to that period. The flowers will become small green tomatoes. A few weeks later, the fruit will be ripe and ready for harvest. The tomato fruit will come off the stem easily. Do not pull or twist the branches when picking tomatoes. Pick each tomato off the tree branch every day. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

The tomato plants will continue to bear fruit until the first frost arrives.
Freshly picked tomatoes should be stored at room temperature; They will rot if kept in the refrigerator. Tomatoes can also be canned or dried. ^{[29] X Research Sources}

Things you need

Tomato seedlings or tomato seeds
Woodland
Pots or containers for plants
Fertilizer
Tomato cages and/or stakes
Water
Fungicides
Organic Pesticides

Advice

Plant with seedlings if you want an early tomato harvest.
Wrap an old bed sheet around the plant to prolong the harvest if the weather is unusually cold or frost arrives early. ^{[30] X Research Source}

Warning

Cherry tomatoes are types of tomatoes that grow indefinitely, which means that the branches will continue to grow non-stop. Therefore, you should avoid growing cherry tomatoes in hanging pots because they will quickly grow out.

Steps