Red cherry tomato: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow red cherry tomatoes under cover?
Start red cherry tomatoes under cover around six to eight weeks before planting is possible without frost in warmed soil. February or March may suit some regions, but available warm, bright space matters more than a fixed date. Allow enough room for plants as they grow.
Fill pots with drainage holes or a module tray with fine, free-draining seed compost. Moisten it, distribute seeds without crowding and cover with about 0.5 cm of compost according to the packet. Water gently and label the exact cultivar name and date.
Keep the seeds in a warm place, around 18 to 22 °C or at the temperature specified on the packet. Maintain moist compost without saturation. After emergence, remove any cover and provide plenty of light. Ventilate in mild conditions without cold draughts.
At two to four true leaves, move seedlings into individual pots, protecting roots and stems. A few leaves do not mean plants can already go into open ground. Continue growing under cover, increase pot size if roots lack space, then gradually harden off before final planting. Wait for mild nights and no frost risk.
How do you sow red cherry tomatoes outdoors?
How do you plant red cherry tomatoes?
How to care for this plant
-
Remove side shoots
Cherry tomatoes do not all need the same pruning. If you train an indeterminate variety on one or two stems, remove small shoots in the leaf axils that you do not want to keep. Retain flower trusses and your chosen stems. Do not routinely remove side shoots from a determinate bush cherry tomato or a plant you prefer to grow freely. Check the growth habit on the packet or label before pruning.
-
Install plant supports
If your tomato variety needs support, fit a sturdy stake or string when planting. Tie the stem loosely and check ties as it grows. Bush varieties may not need staking.
How do you harvest red cherry tomatoes?
