Growing Cherry Tomatoes

Growing cherry tomatoes is becoming increasingly popular and it is no surprise when you consider just how versatile they are.

Not only are they among the earliest to ripen and sweetest taste, perhaps their most practical quality is that they will grow in the smallest of spaces depending on the variety.

Growing cherry tomatoes is becoming increasingly popular and it is no surprise when you consider just how versatile they are.

Not only are they among the earliest to ripen and sweetest taste, perhaps their most practical quality is that they will grow in the smallest of spaces depending on the variety.

Even if you only have a balcony or window-box it is still possible to be successful. As we approach the time when it is too late to sow seeds, Tomato Plug Plants are ideal for planting in May – just keep protect until after last frost in your area.

When it is safe for them to stay outside, containers, large pots, hanging baskets and grow bags are the best way to grow tomatoes. If you plant them directly into the garden soil, they will probably be attacked by all sorts of diseases and bugs that will nibble on your toms!

Knowing which variety to grow and how much root space they need is the key, so below I have grouped the varieties that I’ve grown and can recommend for the following spaces.

Bush Varieties

Balconi Red, Minibel, Vilma and Micro Tom are excellent choices for the smallest of spaces and can all be grown in a 6 inch pot.

Hundreds and Thousands – 100s and 1000s will produce an amazing crop of tomatoes. Although they are a small cherry, their taste is excellent and well worth a try this season.

Seeds for Hundreds and Thousands are available from:
www.tomatoseedsuk.co.uk a new seed company that I’m very happy to recommend.

In my experience Tumbler (below) and Red Alert excel in a container with plenty of room for their roots and you will be rewarded with a good size cherry.

If you are interested in growing tomatoes upside down, such as in a Topsy Turvy Planter, the cherry varieties above should do well. The cherry variety Tumbling Tom would be a good choice and it comes in both red and yellow types!

Tips on Hanging Baskets and Containers

Tomato plants are very clever and will work hard to flower and produce fruit when their roots tell them that they are running out of space!

This means that if you put too many plants in a hanging basket or small container, your tomatoes may ripen smaller than expected. If you are growing cherry tomatoes or even grape size tomatoes, you may end up with very small fruit indeed!

One of the great advantages of cherry varieties is that they are more likely to ripen in a poor summer – they have less growing to do.

All of the above varieties are bush types but there are many other cherry tomato varieties available, especially among the tall/cordon varieties.

Tall Varieties

Of the tall varieties, Sungold is in my experience the sweetest. It can be grown in grow bags up against a wall or in the greenhouse. (pic below).

In 2008 I grew Black Cherry which produces dark brown coloured tomatoes. It yielded a good amount of fruit on a tall plant, vigourous plant but it can be a little difficult to know when the fruit are fully ripe because of the colour (but don’t let that put you off!) I’ll grow it again this year.

One of the best and most balanced for taste (acid/sugar content) is Gardener’s Delight. It is a red cherry and it has truly delighted gardeners for many years … very dependable.

So why don’t you have a go in 2011 … it is very rewarding!

Balconi Red is about 10 inches tall and is very compact. Easily grown in a pot.

Large pots & containers are perfect for growing cherry tomatoes. In the pot on the right (15inch)  I would grow two or even three plants depending on their root requirements.

Micro Tom (above) produces tomatoes the size of grapes and is very easy to grow on a sunny windowsill indoors.
Use stakes to support the main stem.

This season I’m growing Vilma which produces a slightly larger cherry than Micro Tom.