Contents
Cherry tomatoes were selected in Israel at the end of the last century. On the territory of Our Country, they began to grow these babies quite recently, but cherry tomatoes are quickly winning the love and recognition of domestic gardeners. The name of this type of tomato is translated as “cherry”, which is consistent with the appearance of the fruit.
This article will discuss the features of small-fruited tomatoes, the best varieties of cherry tomatoes are presented.
Varieties of cherry tomatoes
Although tomatoes are named after cherries, this does not mean at all that the fruits of all varieties are painted red and have a round shape. To date, many cherry hybrids have been bred, having a wide variety of shapes and colors. These are pear-shaped, oval, round, elongated and plum-shaped tomatoes, colored in red, yellow, burgundy, purple, green, as well as striped hybrids.
The ovary of cherry tomatoes can also differ in its structure:
- bunches like grapes;
- symmetrical long lashes with fruits;
- small brushes of 5-7 fruits each;
- “umbrellas” resembling viburnum inflorescence;
- single fruits, covering the bush from top to bottom.
Everyone can choose a variety of cherry at their discretion, most of them are acclimatized for the weather conditions in Our Country.
Advantages of cherry tomatoes
There is an erroneous opinion that cherry tomatoes are decorative tomatoes, the main purpose of which is to decorate the garden and gastronomic dishes. But it’s not like that – cherry tomatoes are not only beautiful, but also very tasty and healthy.
The fruits contain a large amount of sugars and nutrients, they contain about twice as many vitamins as in large-fruited tomatoes. The taste of cherry tomatoes is more intense than the taste of ordinary tomatoes. Breeders have bred several varieties with a clear fruity flavor and aroma: melons, raspberries, blueberries.
“Ira F1”
The hybrid tomato is intended for cultivation in an open ground or in a greenhouse. Cherry fruits are sweet and tender, tomatoes do not crack during canning and pickling.
Tomatoes ripen quickly – in just 95 days. The tomato is painted in a burgundy shade, has an elongated shape, the weight of each tomato is approximately 35 grams.
You can harvest in whole bunches – the fruits ripen at the same time. According to taste characteristics, the variety belongs to cherry tomatoes “extra”. Up to 35 tomatoes ripen on each branch.
The variety is resistant to most “tomato” diseases, gives fairly high yields – about 6 kg per square meter. The fruits are delicious both fresh and canned.
“Dr. Green Frosted”
An indeterminate variety of tomato, the height of the bushes of which exceeds 200 cm. The plant must be tied up on a trellis and side shoots removed. Higher yields are achieved if the bush is formed into two or three stems. You can grow a variety in a greenhouse or in open ground.
The fruits are round, small – 20-25 grams. An interesting feature of the variety is the unusual color of the tomato – at maturity they have a rich green hue. The taste of cherry is very sweet, fragrant, with a subtle nutmeg flavor.
The yield of the variety is quite high, tomatoes ripen with whole brushes.
“Yellow date”
Medium-late ripening tomato that can be grown both outdoors and indoors. The bushes are semi-determinate, their height reaches 150 cm, so the plants need to be tied up on a trellis and pinched.
It is most effective to form bushes in two or three stems; in the south of the country, experienced gardeners pinch plants to the first bunch. The yield of the variety is high – all the bushes are literally strewn with small tomatoes.
The fruits of this variety are painted in lemon-yellow color, have dense pulp and strong skin, do not burst or crack. The shape of the tomatoes is oval, the surface is glossy. The mass of an average cherry fruit is about 20 grams. The taste of tomato is sweet, very pleasant, they can be preserved, used to decorate dishes, consumed fresh.
The advantage of the variety is good keeping quality and a long fruiting period – fresh cherry tomatoes can be harvested from August until autumn frosts.
“Ocean”
Cocktail Italian variety of cherry with medium ripening. You can plant these tomatoes both in a greenhouse and in a garden bed. The stems of the plant are powerful, the bushes are high (about 1,5 meters), they must be tied up and pinched.
Tomatoes grow in clusters, each of which contains 10-12 tomatoes. The fruits are painted red, have a round shape, a shiny surface. Each weighs approximately 20 grams. The taste of these tomatoes is very sweet and fragrant.
The Ocean bushes bear fruit for a long time – you can harvest until frost. The plant tolerates low temperatures and various diseases. The fruits can be canned or eaten fresh.
“Elf”
Medium-early tomatoes of indeterminate type, the height of the bushes reaches two meters. The highest yields are achieved when the bush is formed into two or three stems. The brushes are voluminous, 12 fruits each.
The shape of the fruit is an elongated oval, the tomatoes are painted red, have a glossy peel and are small in size (weight of tomatoes is 15-20 grams each). Such tomatoes will decorate any plot or greenhouse.
The pulp of the tomato is fleshy, juicy, very sweet and tasty, there are few seeds inside the fruit, the peel does not crack. Such tomatoes are suitable for any purpose (from canning to decorating dishes).
Tomatoes of this variety are very picky in terms of a sufficient amount of light and frequent fertilizing – without these conditions, you can not count on a good harvest.
“Cherry Blossom F1”
Tomatoes of this variety ripen on the 95th-100th day after sowing seeds for seedlings, so the tomato is considered medium-early. The bushes are powerful, reach a height of 100 cm, the plant belongs to the determinant type.
You can grow cherry tomatoes both in the greenhouse and in the open field. It is better to form plants in three stems. Be sure to tie up and pinch the side shoots.
Tomatoes are small, weighing 25-30 grams, red in color, round in shape. The pulp and peel of tomatoes is dense, does not burst. The palatability is high – like all varieties of cherry tomatoes, these tomatoes are very sweet and fragrant.
The hybrid variety is protected from many diseases, does not require complex care.
“White Nutmeg”
The variety is considered one of the highest yielding among cherry tomatoes. The plant is exotic, of great height, with a powerful stem. Bushes of indeterminate type reach 200 cm in height. Fruit ripening occurs by the 100th day after planting the seeds in the ground.
In the south of Our Country, the White Muscat variety can be grown directly in the garden. But in the middle lane and in the north, this cherry tomato must be grown in a closed greenhouse. The fruits of this tomato are shaped like a pear, painted in a pale yellow hue, their weight is about 35-40 grams.
The variety is resistant to most diseases and viruses.
“Amethyst Cream Cherry”
A very rare variety of tomato, belongs to the indeterminate group – the height of the bushes often exceeds 180 cm. The fruit ripening period is medium. The stem is powerful, the bushes must be formed and tied to a support.
When ripe, cherry tomatoes are cream-colored with purple spots, the shape of the tomatoes is round, the flesh and peel are dense. The mass of one fruit can be only 15 grams. Tomatoes are very tasty, with a strong aroma and a sweetish aftertaste. They are good to use fresh, decorate various salads, dishes, but you can also preserve them.
The fruits of this variety can be stored for a long time. They are often used for sale.
“Margol”
A variety with early maturation, which is preferable to grow in greenhouses. Only in the south of Our Country is it allowed to plant tomatoes in the ground. Bushes indeterminate, tall, powerful. The fruits ripen in clusters. For high yields, it is better to form plants, leaving only one stem.
Clusters with tomatoes are very neat and beautiful, in each of them about 18 tomatoes ripen at the same time. The fruits are dense, red in color, round in shape, with fragrant pulp. The average weight of tomatoes is 15-20 grams.
Tomatoes of this variety do not crack, very rarely get sick.
“Green grapes”
This variety is distinguished by interesting fruits, and the shape and color of which are reminiscent of green grapes.
Tomatoes do not ripen very early – the variety belongs to mid-season. The bushes are indeterminate, tall and strong. Plant height reaches 150 cm, it is better to form it in two stems. It can be planted both in a greenhouse and in open ground.
Each brush weighs from 500 to 700 grams, the weight of one tomato is about 25 grams. The shape of the fruit is round, in a mature state they are painted in a yellow-green hue. The taste of tomatoes is also slightly fruity, with pleasant exotic notes. Tomatoes are juicy and sweet.
Seeds of this variety must be sown for seedlings two months before the intended transplantation of plants into the ground.
How cherry tomatoes are grown
The method of growing cherry tomatoes is practically no different from growing ordinary large-fruited tomatoes. Most of these tomatoes are hybrids, characterized by resistance, good germination, yield, and rapid growth.
Proper care of the bushes consists in a few simple steps:
- In growing tomatoes through seedlings. Only in heated greenhouses and on balconies, you can try to plant cherry tomatoes through seeds, in other cases you will have to grow seedlings.
- In regular watering – like all tomatoes, cherry tomatoes are very fond of water.
- Bushes need to be fed several times a season, using mineral fertilizers.
- Most cherry tomatoes are indeterminate or semi-determinate, so tall plants must be tied up.
- The bushes are mostly powerful, climbing, they must be regularly stepsoned, forming plants.
- Between undersized bushes, it is necessary to leave free space so that the plants have enough light and air.
- Make sure that the leaves of tomatoes and their fruits do not touch the ground.
- Harvest when all the berries from one bunch are ripe.
Today it is very fashionable to grow outlandish fruits and exotic fruits and vegetables at your dacha. You can surprise your family, friends and relatives with cherry tomatoes – not only beautiful, but also very tasty berries, which will not be difficult to grow.
