We grow candy tomatoes on our site: Sweet cherry tomato
Breeders create new tomato varieties and hybrids every year. Their fruits come in a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes. On store shelves, there are tomatoes both with a small pumpkin and cherry-like in size. The latter are especially popular.
Small-fruited cherry tomatoes often have a richer flavor and composition than their regular sized counterparts. Therefore, they are appreciated by adherents of proper nutrition and connoisseurs of refined salads and main courses. Gardeners willingly grow such tomatoes on their plots. Sweet cherry tomato is also popular. It produces miniature berries with great flavor and ease of growing. What are the disadvantages of this hybrid and is it worth your attention - read on.
The content of the article
Description of Sweet cherry tomato
Sweet cherry is a first generation tomato hybrid... This is evidenced by the F1 mark. You cannot use seeds obtained from your own harvest of this tomato. Plants with parental traits will grow from them.
It is interesting! In the original, the name of the hybrid sounds like Sweet cherry, which means "candy cherry". The tomato received this name for its unusual fruits that resemble multi-colored candy the size of large cherries.
Sweet cherry tomato is not included in the Russian register... Despite this, many tomato seed producers have been producing it for a long time.
Features of the hybrid
Sweet cherry has an unusual appearance... Its bushes are covered with colorful berries. The fruits of this hybrid are orange, yellow and red.
It is interesting! This hybrid is also called the Candy Tree. Its bushes grow up to 2 meters. Brushes with 30-50 fruits are formed on them.
Uncharacteristic trait for cherry tomatoes - early maturity Sweet cherry. The berries of this hybrid ripen at the end of June.
Main characteristics
Even a novice gardener can handle the cultivation of Sweet cherry tomato... It has good immunity and ease of maintenance. This tomato also has negative characteristics.
Description of Sweet cherry tomatoes:
| Parameter | Indicators |
| Bush type | Indeterminate hybrid. In height without limiting the growth point reaches 2 m. The stems are strong and powerful. The bushes form a large number of stepchildren. Leaves are medium in size, dark green, simple, without pubescence. The first inflorescence is formed in the axil of 8-9 leaves, the rest - after 2-3 leaves. The fruits are collected in clusters, 20-50 pieces each. Up to 6 brushes grow on one bush. |
| Growing method | The hybrid is unstable to temperature extremes and cold snaps. In the northern and central regions, it is cultivated only in greenhouses. In the southern part of the country, outdoor cultivation is possible. This tomato is also grown on the balcony. |
| Yield | Average. The maximum yield from 1 bush is 2.5 kg. From 1 sq. m collect up to 7 kg of fruit. |
| Fruit | Small cherry tomatoes. The weight of one berry varies between 10-20 g. The berries are multi-colored. One bush grows yellow, orange and red fruits. The color of the shell matches the color of the pulp. The tomatoes are round. No ribbing or flattening at the base.The taste is sweet, with a subtle sourness. The concentration of dry substances and sugars is close to 12%. The pulp is firm, but juicy. The skin is glossy and shiny. Inside each berry there are 2 chambers with a small amount of seeds. |
| Transportability | High. The fruits have a dense skin. It allows them to be transported over long distances and stored for a long time. |
| Ripening terms | The hybrid is early maturing. The berries ripen 80-90 days after the first shoots appear. Fruiting continues until frost. |
| Disease resistance | It is immune to major tomato diseases. Even late blight does not affect him. |
Growing seedlings
Tomato seedlings begin to grow in 55-60 days before landing at its permanent place. Seedlings of early ripe tomatoes are especially important not to overexpose in pots, since after the appearance of ovaries, tomatoes do not tolerate picking well.
Seeds are sown in March provided growing tomatoes in the garden. At home, the hybrid is able to grow all year round.
Read also:
Why Cherry Tomatoes Are So Good
Seed treatment
Seeds are checked for germination before planting.... To do this, they are soaked in salted water. The floating planting material will not germinate; it is collected and thrown away.
To reduce the likelihood of plant contamination, the seeds are pickled. Sometimes this is done by the manufacturer himself. There are several ways to self-disinfect planting material:
- A weak solution of potassium permanganate (2 g of potassium permanganate per 200 ml of water). In this composition, the seeds are soaked for 30 minutes, and then washed.
- Hydrogen peroxide... The planting material is processed for 15 minutes, then washed.
- Soda solution (1 tsp baking soda for 1 tbsp. Water). The planting material is immersed in the product for 12 hours. It additionally stimulates seed germination.
- Aloe juice (in a ratio with water 1: 1). The seeds are soaked for 12 hours. The product stimulates their germination.
Planting material is treated with a growth stimulator... It accelerates germination and increases resistance to negative environmental conditions. Purchased preparations (sodium humate) or homemade products (honey solution) are used as a stimulant.
If the seeds were treated with soda solution or aloe juice, it is not necessary to treat them with a growth stimulant. In this case, supporters of germination wrap them in pieces of gauze, place them in a saucer and pour them over with warm water.
Compilation of soil mixture and preparation of containers
Shallow wide containers are suitable for sowing seeds.... For picking, take pots with a volume of at least 300 ml. They are bought in a store or made from scrap materials.
Selected containers are disinfected, soaking for 30 min. in a solution of potassium permanganate.
Advice! It is most convenient to use peat pots for picking tomatoes. In this case, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place along with the container.
For tomatoes, choose a light but nutritious soil.... Suitable potting mixes are available at the store. Gardeners often prepare them themselves. There are several compositions of soil for growing tomato seedlings:
- Peat with ash... Ash is added to reduce the acidity of the soil.
- Garden soil and sand... The ingredients are taken in equal quantities.
- Chernozem, humus, peat and coconut substrate... All ingredients are taken in equal proportions. If the acidity of the mixture is increased, ash is added to it.
Soil for tomatoes needs to be disinfected, for example, pour with a strong solution of potassium permanganate, copper sulfate or boiling water.
Sowing seeds in general containers and individual containers
Tomato seeds are often sown in one common container.... The soil is poured into it in such a way that a free space of 2-3 cm remains to the edge. Seeds are laid out in rows on the soil. It is important to leave a gap between the seeds of 2-3 cm.
The planting material is sprinkled with a centimeter layer of soil... The soil is moistened with warm water from a spray bottle and covered with foil. The container with planting material is placed in a place with a temperature of at least 25ºC.
Some gardeners prefer to avoid picking.... In this case, the seeds are sown immediately into individual containers:
- Peat tablets... Billets with peat are folded with the hole down into one large container and filled with hot water. When the peat tablets are swollen, they are turned over, and the excess water is drained. A hole is made in the peat with a toothpick, into which the seed is placed.
- Individual cups... A layer of broken ceramics, brick or expanded clay is poured onto the bottom of the container. The rest of the volume is filled with soil, which is abundantly moistened. A depression is made in the soil into which the planting material is placed.
- Cells in a drawer... One large container is divided into spacious cells. For this, cardboard or plastic partitions are used. 1 seed is placed in each cell.
After sowing seeds using any of the above methods the soil is moistened with a spray bottle. The containers are covered with foil and placed in a warm place.
Seedling care
Novice gardeners often purchase ready-made seedlings., considering the process of its cultivation difficult. Unscrupulous sellers offer overgrown or diseased plants, which becomes the reason for the disappointment of gardeners in the new variety.
In order not to face such a problem, it is worth trying to grow seedlings yourself... Moreover, this is not difficult to do. You just need to follow simple rules:
Watering. The soil is moistened as it dries with settled water at room temperature. The liquid should not get on the ground part of the plants. This will increase your risk of developing diseases.- Shine. After the first shoots appear, the film is removed. Seedling boxes are rearranged on the windowsill. If natural light is not enough, fluorescent lamps are used. At this stage, tomatoes need a 16 hour workday.
- Top dressing. Seedlings are fed with growth stimulants, vermicompost or complex mineral fertilizers the first two times. Use half the portion indicated on the package for one tomato. The last time they take drugs containing phosphorus and potassium.
- Picking. Tomatoes are planted in individual containers after the first true leaves appear. Watering and feeding seedlings after such a procedure should not be earlier than 10 days.
- Hardening. 2 weeks before transplanting to a permanent place, tomatoes begin to be put on the street or on the balcony. The first time they are taken out for only half an hour, then the time is gradually increased.
Agrotechnics
Sweet cherry tomatoes are planted in a permanent place in early May... In the southern regions, picking into open ground is possible, and in the central and northern regions - into the greenhouse.
When growing tomatoes on the balcony and the windowsill use containers with a volume of 3 liters. In this case, the plants are sent to a permanent place 2 months after sowing the seeds.
3 days before the pick to a permanent place, seedlings are watered and fed. This helps the plants to tolerate the pick easier.
Planting seedlings to a permanent place
Choose a well-lit place for tomatoes... If the site has a soil with a high clay content, tomatoes are planted on a hill.
In autumn, the selected area of the garden is cleared of weeds and cultivated plants.... For 1 sq. m make 1 bucket of humus, 1 tbsp. l. ammonium nitrate, 2 tbsp. l. potassium nitrate and 2 tbsp. l. superphosphate. Dry lime is used to reduce the acidity of the soil.
In the spring, the beds are dug and cleaned from plant roots. Chicken droppings are used to enrich the soil. Many gardeners also add crushed eggshells to the soil. It is believed that it protects plants from the bear.
The holes are dug in rows in a checkerboard pattern... The distance between rows should be 60-70 cm, and between plants - 50-60 cm. For 1 sq. m fits 3 plants.
A handful of ash is poured into each hole or long-acting granular fertilizers. Plants are placed in grooves, forming roots towards the center. The holes are covered with earth. 1 liter of water is poured onto each plant.
Cherry tomato preparations:
Basic rules of care
Indeterminate hybrid Sweet cherry needs to be tied... For these purposes, wooden supports or plastic trellises are used. The thread with which the bush is tied up as it grows must be synthetic.
Forms Sweet cherry bushes into 1-2 stems... The more stalks remain, the more abundant the harvest will be, but the later it will ripen.
When pinching plants remove not only unnecessary stepsons, but also the lower leaves. No more than 3 leaves are cut at a time. All withered greens are also removed. The procedure is carried out no more than 1 time a week on cloudy days.
Water the tomatoes 1-2 times a week... The first time after transplanting seedlings to a permanent place, the soil is moistened after 14 days.
Top dressing is applied 3-4 times per season... The first time tomatoes are fertilized 2 weeks after the pick. The second - after another 14 days. For the first 2 dressings, an infusion of plant residues and ammonium nitrate is used.
The rest of the dressing is applied with a break of 2 weeks.... For them, drugs are used that include potassium and phosphorus. Boric acid solution is used as foliar dressing. They are sprayed with plants on cloudy days.
Experienced gardening tips
To avoid difficulties in growing tomatoes, you need to know some of the nuances. The list contains some useful tips from gardeners:
- When watering tomatoes, it is importantso that water does not fall on the greens of the plants. Therefore, the liquid is poured directly under the root. Gardeners who constantly grow tomatoes install a drip irrigation system.
- Before applying top dressing tomato beds are watered abundantly. This will prevent root burns.
- After the appearance of fruits on the brushes, tomatoes are watered more often, but less water is used. This helps to avoid cracking the fruit.
- To speed up fruit formation, bushes of tomatoes with inflorescences are shaken regularly.
- Tomatoes are stepchildren and watered in the early morning or at sunset. It is convenient to carry out the formation on cloudy days.
Diseases and pests
Sweet cherry tomato is immune to most tomato diseases... It is rarely affected by late blight, despite the fact that the fruiting of this hybrid continues until the end of summer.
To reduce the likelihood of plant infection, you need to follow the basic rules of prevention.:
- Disinfecting not only seeds and containers for growing seedlings, but also a garden tool with which the plants will interact. Tomato beds also need disinfection.
- Weed tomatoes regularly... Weeds contribute to the development of diseases and plant pests.
- It is important not to violate watering rules... The soil should not dry out, but plants should not be flooded either.
- Plants need to be protected from pests... For this, tomatoes are sprayed with soapy water or celandine broth. Large beetles are collected by hand.
Features of cultivating a hybrid in the garden and at home
When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse it must be borne in mind that the infection spreads faster indoors. To maintain moisture and reduce the likelihood of plant infection, greenhouses are regularly ventilated. In the greenhouse, the plants form a larger number of stepchildren. Tomatoes are formed more often in such conditions.
In the open field tomatoes need protection from night frosts, so in the evening they are covered with foil. During cold snaps, the film is also used in the daytime.
At homeJust like in heated greenhouses, Sweet cherry is grown all year round. In this case, the structure is regularly ventilated. Lack of light is compensated by fluorescent lamps.It is important to take into account that the hybrid reaches a height of 2 m. When growing at home, you will have to limit the growth point earlier.
Harvesting and application of the crop
The first harvest of Sweet Cherries is harvested at the end of June... Tomatoes are picked both individually and with whole brushes.
At the end of summer, you need to really assess whether all the fruits will have time to ripen... It is better to remove excess ovaries - this way the formed berries will ripen faster.
The hybrid is gastronomically versatile, good in salads, pizzas and other dishes. Sweet cherry berries do not crack even when pickled as a whole. Their concentrated taste makes them suitable for drying. The dense pulp allows you to freeze them whole.
Advantages and disadvantages
Sweet cherry benefits:
- high immunity to tomato diseases;
- early maturity;
- long-term fruiting;
- friendly ripening of fruits;
- unpretentious care;
- the possibility of growing in greenhouses, in the open field and at home;
- great taste of berries.
Of the shortcomings, they note average yield of tomatoes and the need for pinching.
Farmers reviews
Reviews of the Sweet cherry hybrid are contradictory... Some gardeners are not satisfied with its low yield.
Irina, Yekaterinburg: “I have been growing Sweet cherry for several years in an unheated greenhouse. I shape in 2 brushes. The yield is average. There are cherry trees with higher rates. I plant several Sweet bushes only because of the early maturity. Already in June, their tomatoes with excellent taste are on the table. ".
Kirill, Klin: “I grow sweet cherry at home. There is no greenhouse at the dacha, so this variety is not suitable for our conditions. In winter, I additionally use fluorescent lamps. I collect up to 1 kg of berries from 1 bush. Taste qualities of tomatoes are on top. Good in salads and hot dishes. In addition, colorful beads on the bushes always decorate the apartment ".
Conclusion
Novice gardeners who want to grow miniature tomatoes on their site should pay attention to the Sweet cherry hybrid. It will not surprise you with a high yield, but it will allow you to try small berries with an excellent taste at the end of June.
This hybrid is easy to care for. All that is required from the owner of the site is to form plants in a timely manner and follow simple rules of care.