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Cherry is the common name for all small-fruited tomatoes. But strictly speaking, this is not true. When these cherries first entered the culture, their diversity was not so great, which is why they were united into one group - cherry.
But cooks and ordinary tomato lovers quickly tasted their excellent taste and appreciated their beautiful appearance. A large number of new varieties and hybrids of small-fruited tomatoes have been developed. And now their classification has become much wider.
Classification of cherry tomatoes
First of all, a distinction is made between the so-called technical varieties, suitable for canning, and table or salad varieties. The latter varieties, in turn, are divided into the following groups:
- cocktail tomatoes - fruit diameter is from 3 to 4 cm, the taste is bright, rich, can be vegetable, that is, slightly sour and fruity, with a high fructose content;
- cherry – half the size of cocktail ones and definitely much sweeter – the sweetest of the whole group;
- kleisters - small-fruited cluster-type tomatoes, all the fruits on the cluster ripen at once;
- currant tomatoes - they are the ones that have the most of a wild tomato, including their size, they gave the name to the group, they are no larger than large currants.
Each group, except the last, has a wide variety of colors, shapes and tastes. Different varieties differ in growth type. The sizes of the bush are very diverse - from three-meter giants to tiny ones that grow well even in a flower pot.
The history of cherry tomatoes
The history of the appearance of cherry tomatoes is interesting and controversial. Most often, their homeland is called Israel. There, experiments were carried out to create varieties best suited for growing in hot climates. The result of breeding work was the first cultivated varieties of cherry tomatoes. But in various sources there are references to small-fruited tomatoes brought from America at the end of the 16th century. Until the late 70s of the last century, cherry tomatoes were not common and were grown only in some regions. They grew especially well on the Greek island of Santorini, where unique climatic conditions developed for their growth. Now the most famous chefs in different countries of the world cannot do without these tomatoes. And the start was given to them by Israeli breeders, who created the first commercial variety for the Marks & Spencer company. This happened in 1973.
Forming cherry tomatoes
Formation of tomatoes Cherry involves regulating the fruit load by removing excess shoots or stepsons. Such a shoot grows from each leaf axil. They are removed onto a stump about 3 cm high. It is also necessary to lighten the bush after the brush begins to sing. To do this, remove the leaves that are under it, doing this in several stages.An important operation is pinching the top of the stem or tweezing. It is needed so that all the tomatoes have time to fully form and ripen. It is produced a month before the temperature begins to drop below plus 8 degrees.
Care and formation will be different for each group of varieties. But there are general features that need to be taken into account.
- Cherry tomatoes tend to give many stepchildren, therefore pinching tomatoes must be thorough and regular;
- The harvest of small-fruited tomatoes is less than that of their large-fruited counterparts, but this is more than compensated by the amazing taste of cherry tomatoes; this must be taken into account when choosing the type of formation;
- The stem of this variety of tomatoes is thinner than that of large-fruited varieties, and in indets it has a vine-like shape. Be sure to tie up all types of cherry tomatoes. Trellis for them should be placed more often than for large-fruited varieties.
- A cherry tomato bush can bear fruit for up to 6 months if you create suitable conditions for it.
In such structures, tomatoes can be planted earlier, and they finish the growing season later than in film greenhouses.
Low growing tomatoes
Low growing cherry tomatoes can be attributed to determinant type. Therefore, their formation is carried out in the same way as all determinants. Among the determinate varieties and hybrids of cherry tomatoes, a special group with miniature bush sizes stands out. They look like standard tomatoes and in essence they are. The number of brushes on the main stem is no more than 3, there are very few stepsons. The bushes are compact and have almost no branches.
These kids don't need any forming. The most common and most often grown varieties: Pinocchio, Children's Sweet, Bonsai, Pygmy, Balcony Miracle - have red fruits, Garden Pearl - with pink tomatoes, Golden Bunch - ampelous tomato with yellow-orange fruits. These varieties cannot boast of a large harvest, but they ripen very early, some already 3 months after the appearance of the first shoots.
The next group is true determinants, whose growth ranges from 50 cm to 1 m. Their formation is the same as that of large-fruited determinate varieties.
- In one stem. All the stepsons break off, fruiting occurs only due to the formation of flower clusters on the main shoot. Such tomatoes will ripen earlier, but the harvest will not be very large.
- In two stems. One is the main stem, the second is the stepson in front of the first flower cluster. It is recommended to pinch it after the third flower cluster is formed, leaving two leaves above it.
- If the summer is hot, you can grow these tomatoes in three stems, the third being the stepson above the first flower cluster.
Scheme of the formation of a cherry tomato into one, two and three stems.
Among the determinant cherry varieties, the following can be noted:
Irishka F1
Hybrid cocktail tomato with early ripening. The fruits are red. The stepson grows moderately. Height 60 cm.
Honey candy F1
A cluster hybrid with a medium-early ripening period, produces plum-shaped fruits of yellow-orange color. The height of the bush is about a meter. Form into two or three stems.
Blossam F1
Early-medium hybrid. The fruits are round and red. Height 1 m. The bush is powerful, it is better to grow it in two stems.
Medium-sized tomatoes
Such plants are prone to premature completion of the growth of the main stem, i.e., apexing. The formation of such tomatoes can be carried out in one or two stems, but with the obligatory leaving of a reserve stepson, to which the growth of the tomato can be transferred if it is prematurely topped. A reserve stepchild is left under each newly formed brush, removing the previous one.
The best semi-determinate varieties and hybrids of cherry tomatoes:
Date red F1 and Date yellow F1
Fruitful mid-late hybrids, red and yellow, respectively. The fruit is cream. Fruiting is extended. The bush has few leaves, so it can form 3 stems. Grows up to one and a half meters.
Pink jumper
A very early and beautiful tomato variety. It has elongated pink fruits. Feels good in open ground. Grows up to 1.2 m. Can be formed into 3 stems.
Tall or indeterminate tomatoes
Such cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse can grow up to 3 m. Most often they are formed into 1-2 stems. But the greatest yield can be obtained when forming 3 or even 4 stems, which is only possible in regions with warm and long summers. Pinching greenhouse tomatoes cherry tomatoes are planted later than in open ground.
All other stepsons need to be broken out.You can watch the video on how to care for cherry tomatoes:
Varieties of tall cherry tomatoes:
This group of varieties is the most numerous.
Barberry F1
Indet is up to 2 m high. An early ripening variety with a long fruiting period. The fruits are oval, beautiful pink color and very good taste. Form into 2 or 3 stems.
Cherry
An early raceme variety with a liana-like stem. The red round fruits have a small weight, only 10 g, which is compensated by their number in the brush - up to 40 pieces. Formed into 2 stems.
Cherry yellow and red
Early ripening varieties that grow up to 1.8 and 2 m, respectively. They have round fruits with a sweet taste. The yield of the red-fruited variety is higher. Form into two stems.
Gold
Mid-season indet with small round fruits of very sweet taste. Form into two stems.
Honey drop
Mid-early indet with very sweet yellow pear-shaped fruits. The number of fruits in a cluster is up to 25. Potato leaf. Forms many stepsons. Form into 2 stems.
Blush
Mid-season indet with very beautiful elongated fruits. Their color is pink-yellow with barely noticeable stripes. The taste has fruity notes. Form into 4 stems.
Superbrush varieties
Among cherry tomatoes there are record holders that form huge clusters, the number of flowers in them reaches up to 300. A blooming tomato of this type is a stunning sight. These tomatoes ripen gradually and there are both flowers and ripe fruits on one cluster. Such tomatoes are indets. They need to be formed into one stem, leaving no more than 3 tassels.
Varieties: Necklace red and yellow.
Conclusion
Plant cherry tomatoes. This is a favorite delicacy not only for children, but also for adults.
