Features of growing cherry tomatoes: 20 best varieties with photos

Features of cherry tomatoes

The type of miniature tomatoes appeared in the countries of South America, but today the culture is spread almost all over the world. The name comes from the English word cherry, which translates as "cherry". Indeed, the fruits resemble cherries, the weight of which fluctuates in the region of 20–35 g.

A characteristic feature of these tomatoes is a delicate sweetish taste, in which there is no sourness inherent in an ordinary tomato. Some varieties are characterized by unusual fruit flavors such as melon or strawberry.

Despite its fragile appearance, cherry blossoms are resistant to many adverse environmental factors: low temperatures, lack of sunlight, lack of regular feeding. The culture is grown mainly in the open field, but there are options for planting tomatoes right on the balcony of a residential apartment.

Characteristics and benefits of tomatoes

Most of the cherry tomatoes are hybrids, which explains their frost resistance and ease of care. A culture is classified according to several criteria, one of which is the size of the stem:

• undersized (determinant);
• medium-sized (semi-determinant);
• tall (indeterminate).

The fruits ripen on peculiar bunches. Each of the brushes grows about 15–25 tomatoes. Given that the degree of maturity is the same for all fruits on a bunch, the harvest is harvested by cutting off the branches.

By the timing of ripening, cherries are divided into:

• early;
• medium;
• late.

A feature of cherry is considered to be a lower yield than ordinary tomatoes. However, this is fully compensated by the taste and unusual appearance of miniature tomatoes.

The beneficial properties of mini tomatoes are due to the high concentration of vitamin C. In addition, the composition of the fruits is rich in:

• potassium;
• sodium;
• phosphorus;
• gray;
• calcium;
• iodine;
• fluorine;
• iron;
• vitamins A, B, E.

In terms of sugar content, cherry tomatoes are several times higher than ordinary tomatoes. However, despite this, miniature fruits are considered a dietary product, because their calorie content does not exceed 20 kcal per 100 g.

Determinant varieties

Undersized varieties are called determinant, the height of which does not exceed half a meter. They are completely undemanding to care for, they do not need to be cut. This procedure is carried out only if the culture is growing very strongly.

Only branches should be pruned, not leaves.Otherwise, it will significantly reduce the fertility of the plant.

Determinant varieties are characterized by fast ripening periods: from the moment the first shoots appear to full maturity, it usually takes 60–85 days. The crop yield is quite high - about 25 fruits are formed on one cluster.

Balcony miracle

The peculiarity of the variety is its early maturity - ripening occurs after 80–90 days. The shrub is low - up to 40 cm, slightly leafy. The tomatoes are round, with a thin and smooth skin. The weight of each fruit fluctuates in the region of 35–45 g. The culture is resistant to a lack of lighting and is intended for growing on loggias.

Bonsai

The hybrid belongs to the dwarf species, as it grows up to 30 cm in height. The fruits ripen within 90 days and are characterized by a low weight (20-25 g). The yield of each shrub is about 0.5–0.8 kg.

Baby sweet

An early ripening variety that does not require particularly careful care. Easily adapts to weather conditions. Tomatoes are very sweet and juicy.

Cranberries in sugar

The variety is characterized by early ripening and unpretentious cultivation. The fruits are sweet, have a dark red hue and are actively used in home preservation.

Minibel

The shrubs reach a height of 40 cm, have strong clusters with many small fruits. Tomatoes are sweet and sour, weighing 20 g.

Pygmy

From the moment the shoots appear to fruiting, 85–90 days pass. The crop is undersized and has a high yield. Pygmy is practically not susceptible to fungal diseases and perfectly adapts to the cold.

Pinocchio

One of the most popular varieties for growing on balconies. Ripe tomatoes are quite large, have firm skin and sweet taste.

Garden pearl

Belongs to undersized crops, the height of the bush reaches half a meter. The fruits are smooth and have a characteristic pinkish tint. The weight of each tomato, as a rule, reaches 18–20 g.

Cherry Keira F1

Kira f1 is an early maturing variety with massive clusters. Each of them ripens about 15-25 orange fruits.

Indeterminate varieties

Tall varieties are called indeterminate. Often they are grown in summer cottages, but planting of these varieties in flower pots is practiced.

Barberry

An early ripe variety that grows up to 2.5 m in height. The fruits are small (which explains the name of the variety), but very sweet and juicy. Tomatoes are shaped like fingers.

Gold

A characteristic feature of the variety is the color of the tomatoes - rich yellow. They are round and smooth.

Ildi

The variety has a high yield level. Tomatoes are yellow, sweet, small in size.

Kishmish orange

The hybrid is resistant to many fungal diseases and is intended for indoor use.

Madeira F1

The culture has early ripening and frost resistance. Tomatoes are small, about 25 tomatoes are formed on each cluster. Fruiting before the onset of frost.

Dance with the Smurfs

The description of the variety is similar to the previous ones, but it has one feature - the fruits are dark, almost black in color. This makes the variety extremely popular among culinary specialists.

Black cherry

The shrub ripens in 65–70 days, growing up to 4 m tall. The fruits are dark red, sweet.

Semi-determinant varieties

These are medium-sized shrubs characterized by early ripening. Crops are grown both in the open field and in the so-called indoor conditions.

Bourgeois prince

The variety is high-yielding and has rich scarlet tomatoes. The shrub easily adapts to weather conditions, resistant to fungal diseases and pests.

Honey drop

The shrubs reach a height of 1 m, form strong clusters with many fruits. Tomatoes are medium in size and yellowish in color.

Beach cherry

Considering the feedback from gardeners involved in the cultivation of Beach Cherry, this variety can be considered one of the most unusual. Tomatoes have a dark red hue and a characteristic wine flavor.

Cherry Lycopa

This hybrid was developed in Russia. It has a medium ripening period and is resistant to cold. Cherry Lycopa fruits are small, bright red in color.

Video "Secrets of growing cherry tomatoes"

This video tells you how to properly grow tomatoes in the open field.

Cherry tomato agrotechnology

The technology for growing hybrid varieties is similar to growing ordinary tomatoes, but there are still some differences.

Landing dates

Often the plant is cultivated in seedlings. Seeds are sown in prepared containers in early March. This is the optimal time for the maturation of full-fledged planting material. The ground is slightly moistened and covered with a film to create greenhouse conditions.

Site and soil selection

Tomato beds should be done in a sunny area. The best predecessors are legumes, onions, beets, radishes.

The characteristics of an ideal soil for cherry trees include several points:

1. Nutritional value. The substrate can be prepared from turf, sand and humus. To increase the fertility of the soil, top dressing is added to the soil: superphosphate, wood ash, potassium sulfate.
2. Moisture. The soil should be moderately moist.
3. Looseness. The soil must be porous. It is this factor that will provide free access to oxygen.

Seed sowing rules

Sowing seeds is recommended only after warmer weather sets in. This period begins in mid - late spring. The air temperature should not be lower than 20 ° C. The day before planting, the seeds are treated with a manganese solution in order to exclude the likelihood of contamination of the plantings with an infectious disease. After processing, the seeds are thoroughly dried.

Sow seeds in slightly damp soil. After distributing the material along the furrow, sprinkle it with a thin layer of soil and carefully tamp it. Until the first shoots appear, the soil must be regularly loosened, watered and weeded.

Transplanting seedlings into open ground

Seedlings are transplanted into open ground when they reach 20–25 cm in height. The stem and leaves must be strong. Before planting the plant in the soil, hardening is carried out. For this, containers with tomatoes are taken out into the street for 2-3 hours. This procedure is repeated for 12-14 days, after which the culture is planted in the garden bed. It is important to observe an interval of 0.5 m between the bushes.

The holes should be fertilized with wood ash, slightly moistened. After planting seedlings, the ground in the root area is carefully tamped. With the onset of warm weather, plantings are mulched with dry grass.

It is recommended to plant seedlings in open ground on a cloudy day or in the evening. Then the chances that the culture will take root increase significantly.

In addition to traditional beds, undersized crops are grown on windowsills or loggias. To do this, the gardener must comply with certain conditions:

1. Place the plant on sunny windowsills.
2. For planting, choose only those varieties that are intended for growing in an apartment.

Tomato care

When the planted bushes have already grown, they should be formed into one stem. Support is made for tall crops. Important care procedures are:

• watering;
• loosening;
• top dressing;
• weeding.

Protection against diseases and pests

Common diseases of cherry tomatoes are:

• mosaic;
• late blight;
• cracking of fruits.

And the bear is considered the most dangerous pest of culture.The main damage is caused to the root system of shrubs, because the bear bites through the stems of plants. The most effective way to combat it is considered to be mechanical, when, while digging up a plot of the pest, it is simply collected by hand.

Also, gardeners often resort to using insecticides. The preparations prevent the appearance of pests, heal the plant and promote the growth of yields. The most common remedies:

• "Anti Bear";
• Fitoverm;
• Aktara.

Collection, storage and use of the crop

Only fully ripe tomatoes are harvested. Otherwise, the gardener will not feel the delicate sweet taste of cherry. Store the crop in the refrigerator. The advantage of the culture is that most cherry tomatoes (for example, the Ira variety) retain their taste even after freezing. The same cannot be said about large tomatoes, which crack in such situations.

Given the low calorie content of the product, cherry is actively used in the preparation of salads and snacks. In addition, dishes are decorated with miniature fruits, used in home preservation, dried and dried.

Often housewives close a kind of assortment for the winter - small tomatoes with large ones. In this case, the maximum filling of the can occurs.

Cherry tomatoes have filled supermarket shelves and our refrigerators. This is due to the taste of the product and the long shelf life of the fruit. In addition, many gardeners grow miniature fruits in their beds. New varieties, which are bred by breeders, allow you to get a bountiful cherry harvest even in northern regions with a harsh climate.