Pinch out suckers as they appear, to redirect energy into fruit production.Both increase magnesium levels, which can be blocked by high concentrations of calcium and potassium in the soil. To prevent future problems like blossom end rot, mix a small handful of lime or Epsom salts into the planting hole.The buried, stripped stalk will produce more roots for stronger growth. Then bury the plant close to the lowest remaining set of leaves, one to two inches away. When planting, pluck the lowest stems and shoots from the main stalk.If you’re growing container plants on a balcony, tie the stems to the railing to eliminate the need for cages or stakes.Set your cages or stakes in place when planting to avoid disturbing the roots later.Be sure to leave ample room between planting holes – the fruit may be small, but the plants can grow big and bushy.Use a cloche or plant cover to protect new seedlings if adverse weather sets in (i.e. Refrain from planting until the chance of frost is past.They require a full sunlight location – a minimum of six hours per day.Plants are happiest in soil that’s well-draining with a pH level of 6.2 to 6.5.Growing TipsĬherry tomatoes are typically robust and easy to cultivate, but there are a few things you can do to assist with a bountiful harvest: Plant food (use a balanced all-purpose blend, or an 18-18-21 NPK formula for Solanums)įor more detailed information on planting or container cultivation, be sure to check our grow and care guide for tomatoes.Potting soil mix if planting in containers.Bone meal to add to the planting hole for strong root growth.If planting in containers, they need to be at least 5 gallons in size and have drainage holes (a pot 12 inches in diameter and 12 inches tall holds approximately 5 gallons).Depending on the variety, cages or stakes are needed for support along with plant clips, twine, or Velcro ties.This helps to keep fruit off the ground and prevents branches from breaking under the weight – even with determinate varieties.Ĭages come in different sizes and shapes and need to be sturdy enough not to buckle under a large plant, like this set of five galvanized hoop cages available at Wayfair.įor reference, here’s a list of everything you’ll need to get growing: Unless you’ve chosen dwarf or patio varieties, the fruit-laden branches can be heavy and require support in the form of cages or stakes. Once your seedlings have been hardened off and are ready for the great outdoors, it’s time to gather up your planting gear.Īnd don’t be fooled by the size of the fruit – these plants are vigorous and can grow large and bushy. Seeds can be purchased from your local nursery, online sources, and seed catalogs, which usually arrive in January.Īnd if you’re new to starting your own, our guide on how to grow tomatoes from seed has detailed instructions in six easy steps.Īlternatively, you can wait until spring arrives and purchase seedlings from your local nursery or garden shop. You’ll need to collect your own seed from heirloom plants (seeds from hybrids won’t necessarily be true to the parents) or purchase seeds. Transplanting them outdoors usually happens about six weeks after your last frost date, or when the plants are around 12 weeks old. To grow your plants from seed, they need to be started indoors approximately six weeks before your last frost date (LFD). If you’d like to try out one of the new breed, ‘Black Pearl’ is an heirloom hybrid with a deep, rich mahogany color and full, complex flavor – sweet with a rich, tangy bite. And flavor is what many folks find lacking in standard hybrids. This results in plants with outstanding performance along with the deep, rich flavor of heirlooms. They’re bred for qualities such as best color, flavor, shape, and texture as well as disease resistance, early fruiting, and vigor – often using only heirloom parents. It sounds like an oxymoron, but heirloom hybrids are a new breed of tomato created by crossing two heirloom varieties, or an heirloom with a modern hybrid cultivar. However, there’s also a new breed on the block. Varieties are classified into determinate and indeterminate growth habits, and several determinate ones are bred for compact growth in small spaces.Īnd like the standard sized Solanum plants, cultivation is divided into heirloom or hybrid divisions. Those with an oblong shape are called grape tomatoes, but they abide in the same classification. Today’s varieties still bear small, globular fruits, although they typically measure about a half-inch to two inches in size. It traveled from the northern Andes into Mexico, and at some point, morphed into a plant with larger fruits that were suitable for domestication. This ancient forebearer was a weedy plant, with small, blueberry-sized fruit. pimpinellifolium – the wild ancestor of today’s domesticated varieties. cerasiforme are thought to be the direct descendants of S.
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