How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes at Home
Cherry tomatoes are easy to grow in a container on your porch or balcony. They require little care, and yield more fruit than regular tomato plants. Cherry tomatoes taste good right off of the vine, and are perfect for salads and pasta sauces. If you get them started in the early summer, you will have cherry tomatoes all through the summer and into the fall. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Cherry tomato seedlings
- Organic potting soil
- Container
- Fertilizer
- Mulch
Instructions
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Choose a container for your plants. Many varieties of cherry tomatoes will thrive in a 3-gallon container, but if you have the space, set up a 5-gallon or a 10-gallon container. Your tomato plants will bear more fruit in the larger container. Plastic, fiberglass and foam are all good choices, as these materials do not allow the water to evaporate from the roots easily. Make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the container.
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Place the container in a location with plenty of sun. The tomato plants should get at least a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight daily.
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3
Use an organic potting soil mix to fill the container. Mix in compost or rotted manure to make the soil nutrient rich. Plant 1 to 2 tomato plants per container.
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4
Apply 1 to 2 inches of mulch to your tomato plants to help retain soil moisture and to discourage weed growth. Wood chips or shredded leaves are good choices.
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5
Fertilize your tomato plants after planting. Dilute a liquid nitrogen-based fertilizer to half-strength. Re-apply the fertilizer every two weeks.
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Water your plants to keep the soil moist but not soggy. You may need to water daily---or even 2 times a day during hot weather---to ensure that the soil does not dry out.
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Harvest your cherry tomatoes when they are firm and fully colored. During hotter temperatures (90 degrees Fahrenheit or more), pick your tomatoes every 1 to 2 days when the color has started, and allow them to ripen indoors at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Tips & Warnings
The best time to get cherry tomato plants from the nursery or garden center is after the last frost in the spring.
References
- Photo Credit cherry tomatoes image by Curtis Sorrentino from Fotolia.com
