Growing Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are one of the most popular of salad garnishments and
are also handy for tossing into wrapped sandwiches or as just a snack.
They are small, tasty, and easy to grow indoors or out. Here are the
basics of what you need to know about growing cherry tomoates.
Growing Conditions for Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes, like most other tomato varieties, require direct
sunlight (outdoors or in a window) and warm temperatures (70F or higher
is best). They also require nutrient-rich soil, plenty of water, and
some care. If you can meet the heat and light requirements, have access
to good potting soil, and remember to water them often, you can easily
grow cherry tomatoes.
How to Plant Cherry Tomatoes
When planting outdoors, cherry tomatoes should be planted in small
groups (3-4 seeds per hole) at about three feet apart. When the sprouts
come through the soil, thin the plants to one per position and when the
plants get a few inches high, add a stake or training trellis to keep
them upright.
If growing indoors, you’ll want to use the same planting method in
pots about the size of a large coffee can (roughly a gallon). Tomatoes
have fairly deep roots and need a lot of nutrition, so you’ll need
enough soil to support that. Your tomatoes will need to be grown in
direct sunlight once the sprouts appear and will require watering every
other day once the plant is established. Again, supports or tomato cages
will be needed.
Care of Cherry Tomatoes
Once the plants establish, care will mostly involve watering and
adjusting the plants occasionally on their supports. Felt or other
gardener’s ties to attach the plants to poles are most common and will
need to be undone and re-attached as the plant grows through them. Most
tomato varieties are fairly viney can be trained onto wire trellises as
well.
Most cherry
tomato plants
are bushes and are meant to trail along the ground in nature (hence the
supports). This means they’ll be top-heavy, so plan to not only provide
support, but also to spend a little time trimming as the plant grows.
Lower stems on the plant should be pinched or cut back to keep them from
spreading and wasting plant energy. Upper branches will likely produce
fruit on every other stem, but do not pinch or cut back the non-bearing
limbs as they will contain the leaves needed to catch sunlight to grow
the tomatoes.
Cherry Tomatoes Pests and Diseases
Most common tomato pests will also attack cherry tomato plants. They
are also more susceptible to birds, who sometimes find the red cherries
irresistible. Many growers spray their tomato plants liberally with
soap-based insecticides (which are biodegradable and non-toxic) to keep
mites, caterpillars, and other pests at bay.
Indoor growers will have few enemies to contend with, though
over-watering or too-humid air could lead to mold on the undersides of
leaves. This can be easily avoided by being careful about watering.
Harvesting Cherry Tomatoes
Tomatoes will begin to ripen after about two to three months,
depending on growing conditions. They can be picked when they are almost
entirely red and will not likely all ripen at the same time on all
plants. Often, you can harvest two or even three times from one plant
over a four month period.
Harvest the cherries by grasping them just above the stem where it
enters the tomato and pushing upwards, at an angle from the stem. A
natural break point is present, just as on full-sized tomatoes, and will
snap off keeping the stem intact to the fruit. Cherry tomatoes should
be handled gently.
Choosing Cherry Tomato Varieties
Best Cherry Tomato Varieties for the Garden
Nearly any type of cherry tomato variety is good for the garden. Be
leery of those made for indoor growth, however, as they may not be as
hardy in the rigors of outdoor life. Sun gold is probably the most
common outdoor variety grown.
Best Varieties for Container Gardens
Any cherry tomato can be grown indoors. The most popular is the Sweet
hundred variety, especially amongst hydroponics growers and others who
don’t mind the wide bush this plant can become.
You might remember seeing this simple yet crowd-pleasing trick performed
on the early '90s TV show Twin Peaks. It takes some practice to perfect
but once you know how to do it, tying a cherry stem while it's inside
your mouth can be a lot of fun at a party! 
