Cherry Tomato Plant Carepruning cherry tomato plants. The first step to cherry tomato plant care is to provide a warm, sunny spot for the tomatoes to grow. Areas with a southern exposure receive the most sunlight and are the best location for cherry tomato plants. Seedlings should be planted when the night temperatures do not dip below 55°F. Before planting, pinch off the bottom set of leaves to allow a deeper set planting which results in a strong root system. The cherry tomato is often called salad tomatoes. All cherry tomato plants produce an abundance of small tomatoes. In a growth comparison, the Tiny Tim dwarf cherry tomato plant remains compact while a Sweet 100 cherry tomato plant can grow to be seven feet tall. Miniature tomato plants grow to the height of one foot or less and produce many tiny cherry tomatoes. Cherry Tomato Plant Care Once the seedling has been planted, feed with a mild liquid fertilizer such as a fish emulsion. No additional fertilizing should be necessary for a few weeks, afterwards fertilize every other week. Check plants daily to be sure that the soil is not too dry. Tomatoes may only need to be watered every third day during mild weather. Under hot and dry conditions, cherry tomato plant care calls for daily watering. Consistent water practices prevent plants from developing blossom end rot or experiencing stress, which can lead to stunted growth. Varieties that do well in hot climates include Sweet 100, Grape Tomatoes, Husky Cherry Red, and Matt’s Wild Cherry.
To Prune or not There are two outlooks on pruning tomato plants and each has its own advantages. The first approach is to prune the plant by pinching away the suckers that do not contain blossoms and the shoots that grow between the leaf stalk and the stem. Pruning should be done once a week to keep the plant free of suckers. Pruned tomato plants require less space but produce a smaller harvest. Once cherry tomato plants are pruned, there is less foliage to protect the soil from drying out by the sun so more water will be required. If you decide not to prune, the cherry tomato plant care is lessened because the plants require less water. The plants that are not pruned will produce more fruit. However, the plant will need more room to grow and the fruit will be a smaller size. The removal of new flowering and unripe fruit at the end of the season helps to speed up the process of maturing fruit. Pruning is not an absolute necessity. Cherry tomatoes do fine left running wild, although fruits touching the ground are more susceptible to rot, insects, or disease. Pruning results in cleaner produce, but yields could be lower from being subjected to sun damage due to reduced foliage protection. Different varieties have differing reactions to pruning. Experiment with your chosen variety before deciding whether to prune or not. A good idea is to grow cherry tomatoes in cages. No pruning is needed and harvests are larger. This is an added expense but well-built cages last for years. In addition, cherry tomato plants can be grown in containers. On the other hand, tomatoes planted in container gardens need frequent watering. Dwarf cherry tomato plants are an ideal choice for hanging baskets. Cherry tomato plant care continues until the tomatoes are ready for harvest about six weeks after they begin to blossom. The final step is to enjoy the bite size cherry tomatoes!
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