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Some grow tomatoes exclusively for fresh consumption, to enjoy their exceptional tomato flavor. For some, fresh taste and the suitability of tomatoes for harvesting are equally important. And someone is happy to grow tomatoes of different colors, shapes and sizes, then to enjoy their diversity and prepare colorful cocktails and salads from them.
In this sense, the direction in tomato breeding called cherry tomatoes is very interesting. These tiny tomatoes, weighing no more than 20-25 grams, taste more like fruits than vegetables, and for good reason, they are often used to decorate various dishes and make desserts. Cherry tomatoes contain two to three times more sugars and solids than ordinary tomatoes. But that’s just the exactingness of growing conditions they also have at the level of exotic fruits – cherry tomatoes love the sun, warmth and increased nutrition. Under the conditions of the middle lane, these tomatoes will most likely acquire their unique sweet taste only in greenhouse conditions. One of the most typical varieties of -made cherry tomatoes is the Red Cherry tomato, a description of the variety and characteristics of which you can find in this article.
History of the variety
Cherry Red tomato was obtained by breeders of the well-known seed-growing agricultural company Gavrish back in the early 90s of the XX century. In 1997, this tomato variety was successfully included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Our Country. It is recommended for cultivation in any area of our country in open or closed ground conditions.
For the Gavrish company, this variety was one of the first cherry tomatoes that they presented to the public, so its name immediately determines its belonging to this dessert tomato group. From the same series, manufacturers can also find a Yellow Cherry tomato with very similar characteristics, but with yellow fruits.
And many still sometimes confuse it with various cherry hybrids, such as Winter Cherry. Therefore, it should be clarified that the Red Cherry tomato is precisely a variety and seeds obtained from fruits grown by oneself can be used in the future for crops while maintaining all the original parental qualities.
Also, this variety should not be confused with small-fruited tomatoes, such as Balcony Miracle, Pinocchio and others. Similar varieties of tomatoes are bred more for decorative purposes and for growing in rooms and on balconies. At the same time, their fruits are large – 30-40 grams, and the plants themselves have completely different characteristics than cherry varieties.
Variety description
Red Cherry tomato seeds can be purchased in the packages of the manufacturer, the Gavrish company: in the “Seeds from the Author” or “Successful Seeds” series.
Plants of this variety are typically indeterminate, have unlimited growth and, under favorable conditions, can grow up to 3 meters in height. The bushes branch to an average degree, the leaves do not grow too much, the growth power of the shoots is average. It is best to form these tomatoes in two, maximum three stems.
Small dark green rather smooth leaves have a traditional shape for tomatoes, stipules are absent. The inflorescence is of an intermediate type. The first flower brush is laid above 8-9 leaves, the next inflorescences – every 2-3 leaves.
In terms of ripening, Red Cherry tomato can be safely attributed to one of the earliest cherry varieties. The fruits begin to ripen 95-100 days after full germination.
When picking tomatoes at the stage of technical maturity and ripening at room conditions, the taste of the fruit will be far from perfect.
Considering this moment, Red Cherry tomato has a great advantage – due to early ripening, almost the entire crop will most likely have time to fully ripen on the bushes even in regions with a short summer.
Tomato yields are quite low for ordinary varieties, but cherry tomatoes in general do not have high yields. From one bush, on average, 1,0-1,5 kg of tomatoes can be harvested per season, with enhanced agricultural technology, this amount can be increased to 2-2,5 kg.
Disease resistance in cherry varieties is quite high, but red cherry is particularly susceptible to cladosporiosis, and can be affected by tobacco mosaic virus and fusarium under adverse conditions. Therefore, when growing this variety of tomato, mandatory preventive treatments are required. It is advisable to use for this purpose biological preparations such as phytosporin, glyocladin, trichodermin, phytolavin.
Characteristics of tomatoes
The fruits of the Red Cherry tomato ripen on the bushes traditionally in the form of long brushes, each of which can contain from 10 to 40 tomatoes.
Round tomatoes with smooth skin.
When mature, they have a rich red hue.
Despite their suggestive name, tomatoes are, of course, larger than cherries. The weight of one fruit averages 15-20 grams. Rather, the mature brushes of this variety resemble bunches of grapes.
The fruits contain 2-3 seed chambers, the pulp is dense and juicy at the same time.
Taste qualities are rated as “good” and “excellent”.
For some reason, it is the taste characteristics of this tomato that cause the most discrepancies in the reviews of gardeners. Some consider them one of the sweetest cherry tomatoes, while others refuse to grow them precisely because of the “sour” taste of tomatoes. Either there is a large percentage of regrading in the seeds, or the accumulation of sugars in the fruits of this variety depends very much on the growing conditions. Indeed, as mentioned earlier, the taste of cherry tomatoes depends to a large extent on three factors:
- Good solar illumination.
- Sufficient heat.
- Stability and variety of dressings.
If at least one of these factors is not up to par, the taste of the Red Cherry tomato can greatly disappoint you.
Tomatoes of this variety are often used fresh, as a treat for children, to decorate a variety of summer salads, and canning them in jars of any volume.
For storage and transportation, they are of little use, since the skin of the fruit is thin, and they quickly begin to expire with juice.
Testimonials from truck drivers
Reviews of gardeners who grew red cherry tomato in their plots are very contradictory. Some admire the taste and beauty of this tomato variety, while others frankly do not recommend this variety for cultivation.
Conclusion
Cherry red tomato, despite the conflicting reviews, is worthy of at least trying to grow it. And then evaluate on your own experience how its characteristics correspond to the declared ones.
