Recently, amazing tiny varieties of cherry tomatoes have begun to enjoy special demand among summer residents. They not only have an unusual appearance, but also boast a delicate tomato flavor. Varieties are divided into low and high, they all differ in productive indicators, but one thing unites them is the miniature size of the fruit.
Appearance story
Today, cherry tomatoes are wildly popular, but until 1980 they knew little about them. Scientists were able to determine that the original varieties appeared in the Andes, over time, the inhabitants of present-day Mexico have learned to grow this culture.
The first tomato trees grew in the wild in small isolated groups, but in the 15th century Europeans learned to grow tomatoes of different tastes and with different sizes of fruits on the territory of modern America. These included cherry.
No one to this day knows who brought cherry from America to Europe. Many historians are inclined to believe that they were representatives of the Columbus expedition. The first mention in the works of Europeans dates back to 1623.
Two places immediately claimed for a small tomato crop in Europe: Israel and Santorini, an island in Greece. The opinions of scientists are divided, some believe that tomatoes could not be brought from America, but bred from Israel by breeders. Others claim the island of Santorini is a great option for growing cherry, and it is the site of the plant.
Despite this, historians agree on one thing - until 1980, few people knew about the plant, and they cultivated tomatoes pointwise in various European countries. The development of cherry tomato began with a wealthy realtor in England who wanted to fill all his shops with delicious, juicy, and most importantly presentable tomatoes.
Scientists in Israel received an order from him and began to improve cherry tomatoes. They managed to make the fruits more sweet. We figured out how best to store tomatoes and created special methods for a more organized process of growing cherry. Miniature tomatoes immediately gained popularity among vegetable lovers, and are still used today.
The main characteristics and appearance of cherry tomatoes
Almost all varieties are hybrids. They perfectly tolerate sudden changes in temperature, climate change. Plants can store and use accumulated moisture for a long time, especially if left without watering.
The largest bushes are divided into three main types: undersized, medium-tall and tall. The fruits gather in clusters. On 1 cyst, up to 22 tomatoes can immediately grow. Rip at the same time, so the crop is cut with the whole brush.
Cherry ripening does not differ from simple tomatoes, they are also early, medium and late. Feature - tomatoes are characterized by an extended ripening period, so the first crop is received only in the middle of summer.
Plants can be grown both in the greenhouse and in open soil. It all depends on the region of cultivation and the type of cherry. In recent years, scientists have been able to create such types of tomatoes that you can grow without hassle on your balcony. The taste of the fruit is excellent, many varieties have a sweet taste characteristic of tomatoes, some have a bitter aftertaste.
The best varieties
Breeders do not stop breeding new varieties of cherry, and today more than a hundred have already been created. Consider the best of them:
Cherry Variety Name | Ripening period | Productivity from 1 sq. m kg | Weight of the 1st fetus, g | Where can I grow | Type of Tomatoes | Feature |
Balcony miracle | Early | 4-5 | 20-30 | Outdoor, balcony and window sill | Determinant | The fruits are similar in color and shape to cherries. |
Blosem F1 | Early | 2,5-3 | 20-25 | Open ground | Determinant | It is considered one of the most sugar varieties of cherry. |
Bonsai tree | Early | 2-3 | 20-25 | Balcony, windowsill | Determinant | Refers not just to early varieties, but ultra-mature. |
Vera F1 | Early | 15-18 | 30-35 | Open ground, greenhouses | Indeterminate | Nematodes are not terrible. |
Black cherry | Early | 3,5-6 | 18-20 | Greenhouses | Indeterminate | It reaches a height of 2-3 m. |
Yellow cherry | Early | 4-6 | 15-20 | Open ground, film greenhouses | Indeterminate | Be sure to destroy the stepsons. |
Red cherry | Early | 3,5-5 | 15-20 | Open soil | Indeterminate | Refers to ornamental plants. |
Ira F1 | Early | 12-15 | 30-35 | Film Greenhouses | Indeterminate | The fruits are slightly elongated. |
Cranberries in sugar | Early | 2-3 | 15-20 | Universal | Determinant | It is not exposed to late blight. |
F1 paints | Early | 5-8 | 20-25 | Open ground, film greenhouses | Indeterminate | The most famous yellow cherry variety. |
Little Red Riding Hood | Early | 2-3 | 15-20 | Universal | Determinant | Does not need plant formation. |
Lyuba F1 | Early | 12-15 | 25-30 | Open ground, film greenhouses | Indeterminate | For a long time retains its presentation. |
Honey drop | Mid early | 4-5 | 25-30 | Universal | Indeterminate | It has good transportability. |
Honey candy F1 | Early | 4-6 | 15-20 | Open ground, film greenhouses | Determinant | It is not exposed to verticillosis, fusarium wilt. |
Pinocchio | Mid-season | 4-6 | 15-20 | Universal | Determinant | Universal use. |
Porpora F1 | Ultra early | 3,6-7 | 20-25 | Universal | Indeterminate | It is not exposed to verticillosis, fusarium wilt. |
Button | Early | 4-4,5 | 10-15 | Universal | Determinant | The yield is not affected by temperature changes or climate change. |
Rose F1 | Early | 10-12 | 30-35 | Open ground | Determinant | It is not exposed to tomato mosaic virus, verticillous wilting, fusarium wilting, apical rot of fruits, cladosporiosis, late blight. |
Date yellow | Medium late | 4-6 | 15-20 | Film Greenhouses | Semi-determinant | Stress resistant. |
Date red | Medium late | 4-6 | 15-20 | Open ground, film greenhouses | Semi-determinant | Great conservation results. |
Black bunch F1 | Early | 13-15 | 35-70 | Universal | Indeterminate | Not exposed to tobacco mosaic virus. |
Dark chocolate | Mid-season | 4-5 | 20-28 | Film Greenhouses | Indeterminate | Very sweet fruits. |
Chio-cio-san | Mid-season | 7-8 | 30-40 | Universal | Indeterminate | Stress resistant. |
Chocolate F1 | Mid-season | 6-6,2 | 30-40 | Universal | Indeterminate | Does not respond to temperature fluctuations. |
Cherry grade Balcony miracle
Tomato Cherry Blossam F1
Cherry grade Bonsai
Cherry tomato variety Vera F1
Variety Cherry black
Variety of tomato Cherry yellow and Cherry red
Tomato Ira F1
Cranberry Tomato Sugar
Grade Tomato Paint F1
Cherry grade Little Red Riding Hood
Tomato Luba F1
Tomato Honey Drop
Tomato Honey Candy
Tomato Pinocchio
Tomato Porpora F1
Tomato Button
Tomato Rose F1
Tomato date yellow
Tomato date red
Tomato variety Black bunch
Tomato variety Dark Chocolate
Tomato variety Chio-chio-san
Tomato Chocolate F1
Cultivation methods
There are two main methods of growing: hanging and seedling. Each of them has certain advantages and disadvantages.
Hanging method
In order for the cherry tomato bush to be grown by this method, it is necessary that the variety possesses these characteristics:
- The presence of long branches and the absence of stepsons.
- Flexible branches that will not break under the mass of tomatoes.
Such varieties are immediately planted in pots, which are used for hanging on open terraces and balconies. Sowing is carried out in early May. Tomatoes will ripen until the colds, so after summer they are brought into the room, and the plants bear fruit, as before, but not as abundantly as in the hot season of the year.
For the hanging method, take only self-pollinated varieties.
Seedling method
This method of growing cherry tomatoes helps to grow any plant variety, regardless of branching, ripening and yield. Seedling method consists in growing plant sprouts in separate pots, and then transplanting a tomato into open soil or a greenhouse.
Features of agricultural technology
Cherry tomatoes belong to those plants that, without proper planting and care, will not be able to bring a rich harvest, so the gardener should adhere to the basic rules and tips regarding the agricultural technology of growing this crop.
Learn from the video what to do for the full ripening of a brush of cherry tomatoes, what agricultural technology to use:
Growing seedlings
Quick and competent preparation of seedlings is the key to a high-quality and juicy crop harvest. For seedlings, cherry seeds are placed in the ground in March.
The basic rules for the growth of healthy seedlings:
- Planting material should only be placed in nutrient and breathable soil.
- To seedlings grow at the same time, cover the pots with seeds with glass.
Read more about how to properly germinate seeds, read here.
- The temperature indicator in the greenhouse with seedlings should be at least +27 Celsius.
- Seedlings should be lit, if there is not enough natural light - use phytolamps.
- In time, prepare a seat in open soil or a greenhouse.
Seedling substrate
The soil for this type of tomato should be fertile, and this applies not only to pots with seedlings, but also to open land. Add nutritional supplements to improve it. The easiest option is to go to the store and buy a suitable mixture, but it is better to make it at home with your own hands.
Mix for cherry consists of:
- soddy soil;
- land from the garden;
- peat;
- sand.
Be sure to disinfect the substrate for planting planting material. Use a mild potassium permanganate solution or put the earth in the oven for a quarter of an hour.
Features and timing
So that in the early days of summer you can enjoy the fruits of cherry, plant the seed in the soil in the last week of February or early March.
Plant tomatoes in a container of 12 cm, do not forget to make a shelter. 5 days after planting, the seedlings will start to hatch, remove the glass. When 2 plates appear on the seedlings, carefully pick the plants in different cups. In separate pots, cherry tomatoes grow before transplanting to the main place.
Make holes in the cups in advance so that excess water drains and does not linger in the soil.
Planting seedlings in open ground
A fully formed seedling looks like this: green leaves, a height of about 0.2 m, the stem is thick and strong. Immediately transplant seedlings in covered or open ground is not possible, otherwise the plant will not withstand the climate, weather and die.
Carry out hardening 10 days before the seedlings are transplanted. At first, the sprouts are taken out into the fresh air for about 2 hours, then the amount of time is increased and on the 8-9th day they can be left for the whole night.
Dig openings in the open earth and place a small part of wood ash in them, water and plant the seedlings of the culture. After that, sprinkle the sprouts with soil and tamp it a little. If the climate has normalized in your area, then you can mulch the sprouts. To do this, use straw, hay or dried grass.
Mulch protects plants from weeds, it also helps to retain moisture in the soil for longer and prevents the formation of a dry crust of the upper layer of the earth.
Transplant seedlings on a cloudy rainy day, and it is better to do this in the evening. This method will help plants grow faster and better in the ground.
This video talks about the experience of growing cherry tomatoes in open ground:
Care Features
A beginner gardener will not be able to grow cherry tomatoes at his site if he does not adhere to all the rules and recommendations for caring for plants.
Care Features:
- Plants cannot tolerate drought, therefore they need constant plentiful watering. It is better to add water every day in the morning or late in the evening.
- Cherry tomatoes are sprawling, so maintain the desired distance between seedlings. It is better that it is at least 1 m, then the plants will be able to receive in sufficient quantities of light and heat.
- If you do not bring in enough water, then the tomatoes become covered with brown cracks. If on the contrary there is a lot of moisture, then the fruits crack and become too watery.
- Do not give up supports, they will help to keep the crop safe and sound, and the branches will not fall on the soil.
- Mulch the earth. Fruits, if they fall, do not get dirty, and the earth does not overheat and dries.
- Harvest when it is fully ripe, otherwise get tasteless tomatoes.
Disease and Pest Prevention
Almost all varieties are hybrids, and scientists specially created them with strong immunity. However, some diseases can be found on plants, such as:
- Mosaic Tomato. The main symptoms: the plant breaks down and all the beds die before our eyes.
- Late blight. As a fight against the disease, the culture is sprayed with chemicals.
- Cracking fruit. Plants get too much water and should be reduced.
As preventive measures, gardeners use a variety of means, the fast effect is brought by Fitosporin, Actofit and Mikosan.
As for pests, the most dangerous insect for the cherry is the bear. She cuts through the stems of tomatoes, destroys the roots of the plant. You can try to get rid of it manually during digging up the garden, but you can use special tools. Do not miss the opportunity to carry out preventive measures, otherwise then you will have to save a bed from diseases and pests for a long time.
Harvesting and storage
The fruits are picked immediately after their full ripening. It is at this moment that the crop has all the beneficial properties. Cherry tomatoes are very difficult to collect one fruit at a time, so gardeners pluck a whole brush. After this, the tomatoes can be torn off one by one from the bunch.
You can rip off unripe specimens and put them in a cardboard box, separate each layer from the previous newspaper. The box is put in a dark place where the fruits ripen. In a cardboard box, the tomatoes turn red, but their palatability deteriorates. Such fruits can not be compared with those taken only from the garden.
Growing recommendations
Proven tips from summer residents will never hurt, they will help to get a big and tasty harvest:
- So that you can eat fresh cherry fruits until the colds, plant rooted shoots a second time in June.
- If there is not enough light, and the plants begin to stretch upwards, then it is possible in a simple way to influence their growth. Take a small soft brush and swipe from time to time along the tops and leaves of the shoots. Such an action will slightly harm the hairs on the surface of the plant, and the tomato will begin to form much more magnificent than before, and grow up more slowly.
- Some summer residents plant this culture in buckets of iron. Such seedlings are not transplanted into open ground. It is better to grow tomatoes in such containers, since it is believed that iron repels phytophthora fungus, and the bushes are not affected by the disease.
Gardeners reviews
Oksana, 42 years old, accountant, Yekaterinburg. Really like these little and tasty tomatoes. 2 years ago I decided to plant in my country house. I was very afraid that the plant would not bring crops in our climate. A friend recommended a variety of Red Cherry, claimed that it was checked not only by her, but also by other friends. I read all the descriptions of the plant that I could only find, decided and bought the seeds. They climbed well, then planted in the greenhouse. In fact, it turned out to be an undemanding variety, plants grew and bore fruit abundantly.
Cyril, 32 years old, programmer, Rostov-on-Don. My wife, and I, too, adore pickling these miniature tomatoes.Over the past 5 years, we have planted a variety of cherry varieties on our site and experimented with preservation and various dishes. Immediately grow a couple of bushes of different varieties, but Red Cherry is a classic option, which we just have not tried, but this planted all 5 years in a row, and have never regretted. Regularly brings a crop, does not get sick, the fruits are tasty and beautiful.
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Healthy and healthy cherry tomatoes can be grown not only in open soil, but also on your windowsill. All you need is knowledge on growing and caring for tomatoes.