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Among the early ripening cherry tomatoes occupy a leading position. Initially, the heat-loving crop was grown only in the south. Thanks to the work of breeders, many hybrids of the famous tomato have appeared that can bear fruit in the central and northern regions. Vegetable growers fell in love with cherry tomato because of the friendly ripening of fruits, excellent taste and small size, convenient for conservation.
The main characteristics of cherry tomatoes
You can grow cherry tomatoes in an open and closed way. Culture adapts even on a balcony or windowsill. Growing such an ornamental tomato in the house, in winter you can get fresh vegetables for the table, but for these purposes it is better to choose undersized varieties. The characteristic of cherry tomatoes is similar to ordinary tomatoes. Culture is indeterminate, semi-determinant and determinant. Most often there are tall varieties.
The seed material of cherry tomatoes is divided into hybrids and varieties. It will not work to collect seeds for planting from hybrids on your own. Plants grown from them will not bear fruit. This means that every year you will have to buy new cherry tomatoes seeds in the store in order to grow seedlings from them. Grains from varietal cherry tomatoes can be harvested for the next planting, you just need to find an even, unspoiled fruit and let it overripe.
When buying seeds, it is important to pay attention to their expiration date, as well as carefully study the characteristics of the crop. Indeterminate and semi-determinate plants are ideal for growing in the garden or in the greenhouse. In such conditions, cherry tomatoes will bring the greatest yield. On a windowsill or balcony, a tall plant will be cramped and dark. The lack of lighting and space will be reflected in the pale leaves of the plant, followed by the fall of the inflorescences.
It is easy to identify such a fruit by the absence of smell, moreover, it will taste unsweetened. If there is a sour aroma in the smell of a tomato, this indicates the appearance of rot in the pulp. A quality cherry tomato has a pronounced fruity aroma and sweet flesh.
Review of the best indoor cherry tomatoes
Indoor varieties of cherry tomatoes are bred specifically for home cultivation. These crops are characterized by low bush growth, unpretentious care and a high yield.
Among fans, the following varieties are popular:
- “Bonsai” – a very tasty little tomato. The red pulp is quite dense, the skin does not crack from light mechanical stress.
- “Rowan beads” represent a variety of mid-season tomatoes. The fruits grow small, weighing 25 g. The color of the vegetable is red.
- “Golden Bunch” more famous for its decorative qualities. Rich orange fruits are used universally. Even at the window, the crop brings a generous harvest.
- Pinocchio ideal for indoor growing. The growth of the bush is limited to a height of 25 cm. Small red cherry tomatoes are suitable for salads and preservation.
Indoor cherry tomatoes will decorate the windowsill no worse than flowers, plus they will bring delicious fruits in winter.
The video talks about growing tomatoes on the balcony:
Large cherry hybrids
Cherry tomatoes are not only small, but also large. The fruits of some crops weigh more than 200 g. Usually hybrids are famous for such results:
- «Diez F1» has a long growing season. To harvest more crops, it is better to grow a hybrid in a closed way. Tomatoes grow large, weighing up to 220 g. The vegetable goes well in freezing and drying.
- Love F1 begins to bear fruit after 120 days. Tomatoes grow large fleshy, the pulp is dense. The mass of mature cherry is about 150 g. The hybrid showed the best results in greenhouse cultivation.
Large cherry tomatoes have all the positive qualities of fleshy tomatoes.
Rating of varieties and hybrids of cherry
Breeders have bred many varieties and hybrids of cherry. A description of crops with a photo will help you get to know each other better, and also see which tomatoes topped the popularity rating among summer residents.
Phoenix Yellow F1
Cherry hybrid in terms of ripening belongs to medium-late crops. A semi-determinant plant is successfully grown in open and closed beds. Due to the small amount of foliage, the 1,5 m high bush looks beautiful on the home plot. The maximum yield can be obtained from a plant formed by 3 or 4 stems. Some vegetable growers have adapted to remove only those shoots that grow below the first brush. Dense clusters of tomatoes are often located throughout the plant, which gives it a special beauty.
Plum cherry grows small, weighing about 20 g. Dense yellow flesh with a golden hue is covered with a strong glossy skin. Tomato does not crack, can be stored for about two months. The maturity of the first fruits of the hybrid occurs in August. The formation of the ovary lasts until the first frost.
Honey Candy F1
The ripening of the first fruits of the cherry hybrid begins after 110 days. The determinant plant is grown in an open way only in the south. In the middle lane, it is optimal to plant a plant under a film. The bush grows up to 1 m in height, rarely covered with foliage, but large. From the inflorescences on the main stem, 6 clusters are formed, with a maximum of 28 tomatoes. The plant brings a high yield when forming 2 or 3 stems.
Small plum-shaped cherry tomatoes weigh no more than 30 g when ripe. The orange vegetable is very sweet and tasty. 1 m2 a maximum of 4 bushes are planted, while receiving 6 kg of crop.
Ocean
The variety comes from Italy in terms of ripening, mid-season, suitable for open and closed cultivation. Intensively growing developed bush reaches 1,5 m in height. As it grows, the plant formed in 2 stems is fixed to the trellis. Beautiful elongated clusters consist of 12 tomatoes. The fruits look like even, bright balls that turn bright red when ripe. The vegetable is small, weighs only 30 g. The long fruiting period allows you to harvest before the onset of frost.
Elf
The cherry variety bears fruit well in greenhouses and in the garden. The plant grows up to 2 m in height, the formation of 2 or 3 stems is optimal. Small elongated tomatoes grow in clusters of 12 each and resemble a brush of lady’s finger grapes. Tomatoes weighing up to 25 g are very fleshy with a small number of grains, saturated with sugar, resistant to cracking during preservation. The culture responds well to nutrient soil, timely top dressing and sunlight. On a plot of 1 m2 planted up to 3 bushes.
Cherry Blossam F1
The French cherry hybrid matures in 90 days. The culture is adapted for open and closed cultivation in unheated greenhouses. The bush is highly developed, but does not grow more than 1 m in height. Formation is recommended by 3 stems. Round small tomatoes weigh about 30 g. Red flesh with strong skin does not crack during preservation. The hybrid is resistant to viruses and rot.
White nutmeg
A varietal cherry tomato of medium ripening is considered exotic. In terms of yield, the tomato occupies a leading position. The bush grows taller than 2 m, while it is desirable to form it with 2 or 3 stems. The shape of the fruit resembles a regular, even pear. A ripe vegetable acquires a rich yellow color. A tomato weighs no more than 40 g. The pulp is very sweet and tasty, suitable for any use. When planting 3 bushes per 1 m2 4 kg of crop is harvested from a plant.
The enthusiasm of the gardener
Varietal cherry tomato bred by German breeders for open and closed cultivation. An indeterminate plant grows up to 1,3 m in height, forms 2 or 3 stems. In terms of ripening, the culture is considered mid-season. Red round tomatoes are highly saturated with sweetness, weigh about 35 g. Fruiting is long, the ovary is formed before frost.
Monisto amber
It is desirable to form an indeterminate plant up to 1,8 m high with 1 stem. Mid-season cherry only in the south will have time to give the harvest from the garden. For the middle lane, landing in a greenhouse is optimal. Stepsons that appear throughout the growing season must be removed. Long brushes consist of 16 small tomatoes weighing up to 30 g. Yellow fruits with an orange tint have a sweet taste and fruity aroma. Housewives fell in love with canned tomato, combining it with brown and pink fruits of other cherry varieties.
Child F1
Very early cherry allows you to eat delicious fruits after 85 days. The undersized standard hybrid is mainly grown in the garden, but planting in flower pots is possible. The plant itself forms a bush, does not require the removal of shoots. The height of the stem reaches a maximum of 50 cm, but is usually limited to 30 cm. The plant is covered with small leaves, from under which beautiful clusters with 10 tomatoes are clearly visible. Elongated red tomatoes weigh a maximum of 20 g. The vegetable does not crack during harvesting and storage. The culture unanimously manages to give the entire crop before being hit by phytophthora. From 1 m2 it turns out to collect up to 7 kg of tomatoes.
Amethyst cream-cherry
Seeds of this mid-season cherry variety are rarely found in seed stores. Indeterminate culture is intended for open and closed land plots. Bushes grow up to 2 m in height, it is optimal to form 2 or 3 stems. Be sure to fasten to the trellis. Round tomatoes resemble cherries only cream-colored. The weight of a small vegetable is not more than 20 g.
The video provides an overview of cherry tomato varieties:
Cherry tomato is considered an exotic vegetable, however, it has adapted so well to us that it is easily grown in the house, greenhouse and garden. Even in a small area for a strange tomato, you can take a place.