Cherry Tomato

Light

  • Full Sun
    • 8+ hours of direct light

Hardiness

  • Zone 3 - 9

Water

  • Requires at least 2 inches of water per week, watering every 3 - 5 days or when 1” of topsoil is dry.

  • Newly transplanted tomatoes will need water every 1 - 2 days for the first two weeks
  • Make sure the watered area is not soggy or mushy from overwatering
  • Water in the morning to prepare tomato plant for the midday sun and absorb nutrients
  • Place mulch to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool

Container

  • Perfect for a garden or a 5+ gallon pot

Transplanting

  • Plant in June
  • Dig a hole 8 - 12 inches deep and 6 inches wide. Bury half or two-thirds of the stem in the ground to allow roots to develop and reinforce the plant.

Spacing

  • Between Plants: 18 - 24 inches
  • Between Rows: 36 - 60 inches

Size

  • Height: 4 - 5 feet
  • Width: 24 inches

Harvest time

  • 65 - 75 days

Soil

  • Loosely packed, well-drained soil composition:
    • ½ compost or humus
    • ¼ drainage and aeration material (perlite or vermiculite)
    • ¼ loam (sand and silt. Small amount of clay)
  • Preferred pH: 5.5 - 6.8

Fertilizer

  • Fertilize soil before initially transplanting with 5-10-10 NPK (dry fertilizer only), compost or aged manure
  • Fertilize with a 5-10-5 NPK once fruit starts to form
  • Fertilize every 2 weeks with 5-10-5 NPK until the plant has stopped producing fruit (or first frost)
  • Tomatoes require adequate levels of calcium, magnesium and sulfur for the best harvest. Apply these supplements after the first fruits have started forming.

Taste

  • Produces fruit in clusters similar to grapes. Firm skin and savory flavor makes these tomatoes great for salads, pickling, preserves and snacking.

Friends

  • Plant next to asparagus, basil, beans, borage, carrots, celery, dill, lettuce, melons, onions, parsley, peppers, radishes, spinach and thyme

Foes

  • DO NOT plant next to broccoli, brussels, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, kale and potatoes

Rotation

  • DO NOT plant peppers, tomatoes, potatoes or eggplants at the same location where peppers were planted last year

  • Consider planting any of the following where you planted peppers the previous year:
    • Carrot (Umbelliferae) - celery, carrots, parsley
    • Legume (Leguminosae) - peas, beans, lentils
    • Mustard/Brassica (Cruciferae) - broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, radishes
    • Sunflower (Compositae) - lettuce, artichokes
    • Cucurbit (Cucurbitaceae) - pumpkins, melons, squash, gourds, cucumbers
    • Allium (Amaryllidaceae) - onions, garlic, leeks
    • Goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) - spinach, Swiss chard, beets

Tips

  • Tomatoes are susceptible to a variety of leaf fungi. Avoid getting the leaves wet when watering.
  • When the plant is about 6 - 8 inches tall, support the plant with stakes or a cage.
  • Cherry tomatoes will continue to produce fruit until the first frost.
  • Trimming the suckers (the shoots between the stem and the leaves) will allow the plant to grow taller and produce more fruit.