Cherry Tomato / Cherry Tomato Plant
Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
description
Cherry Tomato is a productive tomato type bearing clusters of small sweet fruits.
benefits
- Edible
- Suitable for containers
warnings
- Toxic to cats
- Toxic to dogs
How to care for Cherry Tomato
sunlight
Cherry tomatoes fruit best in open, sunny conditions. Give them the brightest spot you have so they can make sturdy growth and sweet, plentiful fruit.
Full sun
Aim for at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily. Outdoors, choose an unshaded spot. Indoors, place it at a south- or west-facing window, or use a grow light for about 12-16 hours a day.
watering
Keep the root zone evenly moist, never waterlogged. Cherry tomatoes are prone to splitting and blossom-end rot when the soil swings from very dry to soaked.
Warm, bright growth and fruiting
Check daily in hot, sunny weather. Water deeply when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, often every 1-3 days in containers and daily during heat. Let excess drain away.
Cooler or lower-light weather
Growth slows, so watering may drop to about every 4-7 days. Check that the upper few centimetres are dry and the pot has lightened before watering. Small pots, porous terracotta, heat, wind, and heavy fruiting make soil dry faster.
humidity
Relative humidity
Cherry tomatoes come from warm regions and grow best with moderate humidity and good air movement. Most homes at 40-60% are suitable, but prolonged air below 40% can stress plants, especially in strong sun or heat.
Very dry air may cause crisp leaf edges, midday wilting even when the soil is moist, and flowers that dry or drop. Humidity above 70% can encourage fungal disease and make pollination less reliable, so avoid stagnant, damp air.
- Group plants nearby or use a small humidifier during heating season.
- Keep the plant away from heating vents and strong air conditioning.
- Provide a gentle fan or open airflow, especially when humidity is high.
temperature
Preferred range
Minimum
Cherry tomatoes are warm-season plants. They grow and set fruit best in steady warmth, while cool nights slow growth and can reduce flowering. Move containers indoors or protect them when nights regularly fall below 13°C (55°F).
nutrition
March - September
Feed every 1-2 weeks while the plant is actively growing, flowering, or fruiting. Use a liquid tomato fertilizer at about half the label strength for young plants, increasing only as the plant is established and well lit. Stop feeding when growth slows in cool, low-light conditions.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen supports leafy growth early in the season. A balanced tomato fertilizer supplies enough without encouraging lots of leaves at the expense of flowers.
Potassium
Potassium supports flowering and fruit development. Choose a fertilizer made for tomatoes once buds appear and fruit clusters begin to form.
Calcium
Calcium supports developing fruit, but the roots can only take it up when moisture is steady. Use a fertilizer that includes calcium and avoid letting the pot swing from very dry to soaked.
soil
Rich, loose, moisture-retentive soil
Cherry tomatoes need steady moisture and plenty of air around their roots to support fast growth and fruiting. Use a fertile potting mix with compost, then add perlite or coarse grit if it feels dense or stays wet for too long.
pH 6,0 - 6,8
This is slightly acidic to near neutral, which helps tomatoes take up nutrients well. Most quality vegetable or multipurpose potting mixes fall close to this range; avoid strongly acidic mixes intended for ericaceous plants.