Cherry Tomato Care

How frequently your Tomatoes need to be watered indoors depends on many factors. Light exposure, soil type, and temperature influence how fast the soil dries and how much water the plant uses. 

Aim to keep the soil slightly moist but never soaking wet. Check the soil every 2-3 days and water thoroughly when you notice it has gone dry; remember that the plant will likely need more frequent watering once it begins to fruit. Remember to empty the cache pot or saucer after watering!

Indoor Tomatoes have the same pruning requirements as outdoor plants. Trim suckers from the base of the plant as it grows taller. It's also best to remove leaves that appear ill or damaged, as these can attract pests and diseases.

Cherry Tomatoes are heavy feeders! Apply a slow-release fertilizer specifically created for Tomato plants according to package instructions. These should have an NPK ratio of 5-10-10 or 10-10-10. Continue to apply granules every 4-6 weeks during the growing season. As the plant begins to produce fruit, it will have a higher need for phosphorus, so using a product rich in phosphorus will be beneficial.

Keep in mind that indoor Tomatoes do not have access to natural pollinators. If you want to enjoy fruit, you'll need to hand pollinate! Luckily, Tomato blooms can pollinate themselves; they just need some assistance. Aid pollination by placing a fan or allowing a soft breeze to pass your plants, and the flowers will pollinate themselves.

Providing enough light is the biggest challenge for indoor Cherry Tomato cultivation. Place your containers in a south-facing window where they receive lots and lots of sunlight. 

If your home does not have enough light, using an artificial grow light is recommended! Keep the lights on for 22 hours for young seedlings. You can reduce the light to 16 hours for mature plants, and when the plant is fruiting, 6 hours is plenty.

Use a loamy, well-drained soil mix that is slightly acidic. A pH of 5.2-6.3 is ideal for indoor Tomatoes. We recommend amending potting soil with plenty of compost and vermiculite for a well-drained, sandy mix.

You can propagate Cherry tomatoes through cuttings. While the mother plant is healthy and growing abundantly, trim a few shoots from the plant. Remove the lowest leaves of the cutting, place them in moist soil, and give them plenty of sunlight. After a few weeks, roots will form, and you'll have a new plant!

The ideal temperature range for indoor Tomatoes is 60-85°F (16-30°C). Try to avoid extreme temperature fluctuations, so keep the plant out of cold drafts and away from air vents.

It is important to provide your Cherry Tomato plant with plenty of space. Use a 12-14 inch (31-36 cm) 3-5 gallon (11-19 liters) pot per plant, and ensure that your planter has drainage holes to allow excess water to drain from the pot. If your space allows, adding a trellis can be beneficial, as Cherry Tomato plants can grow very tall! You might choose compact or dwarf varieties if you grow your tomatoes indoors.

When shopping for Cherry Tomato seeds or plants, you'll find two options: determinate and indeterminate. Determinate plants grow up to 4 feet (1.2 cm) tall, yield all their fruit at once, and die after they're finished fruiting. Indeterminate plants will continue to grow (much higher than 4 feet or 1.2 m!) and continuously produce fruits during their growing season. Which of the two versions you choose is a personal preference.