Cherry Tomato

Cherry Tomato Care

Solanum lycopersicum cerasiforme

What is the plant

If you've never had fresh, homegrown tomatoes, you will be amazed at how tasteful, juicy, and sweet plain old tomatoes can be. Cherry Tomatoes are some of the easiest plants to grow at home; they require little maintenance, are forgiving, and can grow in various conditions.

Cherry Tomato plants are native to Peru and Ecuador, where indigenous people used the plant for centuries. They were introduced to the Western world when Spanish colonizers brought the fruits back to Europe. Ever since then, Cherry Tomatoes have been grown and loved in countries worldwide.

The Cherry Tomato plant can grow 4-8 feet (1.2-2.5 m) tall, depending on your variety. The fruits of Cherry Tomatoes mature much faster than regular tomatoes because of their small size, its main identification feature. They are also sweeter than larger tomato varieties.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

15°C - 20°C

Hardiness zone

2 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
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!
Pruning
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.
Fertilizer
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.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
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.
Soil
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.
Propagation
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!

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Temperature
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.
Container
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.
Fun fact
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.