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Cherry tomatoes selected in Israel at the end of the last century. They began to grow these babies in Russia quite recently, but cherry tomatoes are quickly winning the love and recognition of domestic gardeners. The name of this type of tomato translates as “cherry", which is quite consistent with the appearance of the fruit.
This article will discuss the features of small-fruited tomatoes and present the best varieties of cherry tomatoes.
Varieties of cherry tomatoes
Although tomatoes were named after cherries, this does not mean at all that the fruits of all varieties are colored red and have a round shape. Today, 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 vines with fruits;
- small clusters of 5-7 fruits each;
- “umbrellas” resembling a viburnum inflorescence;
- single fruits strewing the bush from top to bottom.
Everyone can choose the cherry variety at their own discretion; most of them are acclimatized for the weather conditions of Russia.
Advantages of cherry tomatoes
There is a misconception that cherry tomatoes are decorative tomatoes, the main purpose of which is to decorate the garden and gastronomic dishes. But that's not true - cherry tomatoes are not only beautiful, but also very tasty and healthy.
The fruits contain a large amount of sugars and nutrients; they contain approximately twice as many vitamins as large-fruited tomatoes. The taste of cherry tomatoes is richer than that of regular tomatoes. Breeders have developed several varieties with a distinct fruity taste and aroma: melon, raspberry, blueberry.
"Ira F1"
Hybrid tomato is designed for growing in open ground or in a greenhouse. Cherry fruits are sweet and tender, tomatoes do not crack when canning and pickling.
Tomatoes ripen quickly - in just 95 days. The tomato is colored burgundy, 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 its taste characteristics, the variety belongs to “extra” cherry tomatoes. Each branch can bear up to 35 tomatoes.
The variety is resistant to most “tomato” diseases and produces fairly high yields - about 6 kg per square meter. The fruits are tasty both fresh and canned.
"Dr. Green Frosted"
An indeterminate variety of tomato, the height of the bushes exceeds 200 cm. The plant must be tied to a trellis and the side shoots must be removed. Greater yields are achieved if the bush is formed into two or three stems.The variety can be grown in a greenhouse or in open ground.
The fruits are round, small – 20-25 grams. An interesting feature of this variety is the unusual color of the tomatoes - at the ripe stage they have a rich green hue. Cherries taste very sweet, aromatic, with a subtle nutmeg aftertaste.
The yield of the variety is quite high, tomatoes ripen in whole bunches.
"Date yellow"
A 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 to a trellis and pinched.
It is most effective to form bushes with 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 lemon-yellow in color, have dense pulp and strong skin, and do not burst or crack. The shape of the tomatoes is oval, the surface is glossy. The weight of an average cherry fruit is approximately 20 grams. The taste of tomatoes is sweet, very pleasant, they can be canned, used to decorate dishes, or eaten fresh.
The advantage of the variety is considered to be good keeping quality and a long fruiting period - fresh cherry tomatoes can be harvested from August until autumn frosts.
"Ocean"
Cocktail Italian cherry variety with medium ripening. These tomatoes can also be planted in greenhouse, and to the garden bed. The stems of the plant are powerful, the bushes are tall (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 colored red, have a round shape, and a shiny surface. Each weighs approximately 20 grams. These tomatoes taste very sweet and aromatic.
“Ocean” bushes bear fruit for a long time - you can harvest until frost. The plant withstands low temperatures and various diseases. The fruits can be canned or eaten fresh.
"Elf"
Mid-early tomatoes of indeterminate type, the height of the bushes reaches two meters. The highest yields are achieved when the bush is formed with two or three stems. The clusters are voluminous, with 12 fruits each.
The shape of the fruit is an elongated oval, the tomatoes are colored red, have a glossy peel and are small in size (the weight of the tomatoes is 15-20 grams). These tomatoes will decorate any plot or greenhouse.
Tomato pulp fleshy, juicy, very sweet and tasty, there are few seeds inside the fruit, the peel does not crack. These tomatoes are suitable for any purpose (from canning to decorating dishes).
Tomatoes of this variety are very picky in terms of sufficient light and frequent fertilizing - without these conditions you can’t count on a good harvest.
"Cherry Blossam F1"
Tomatoes of this variety They ripen on the 95-100th day after sowing the seeds for seedlings, so the tomato is considered mid-early. The bushes are powerful, reaching a height of 100 cm, the plant belongs to the determinant type.
Cherries can be grown both in a greenhouse and in open ground. Shape Plants with three stems are best. Be sure to tie up and pinch the side shoots.
The tomatoes are small, weighing 25-30 grams, red, round in shape. The pulp and peel of tomatoes are dense and do not burst.The taste is high - like all varieties of cherry tomatoes, these tomatoes are very sweet and aromatic.
The hybrid variety is protected from many diseases and does not require complex care.
"White Muscat"
The variety is considered one of the highest yielding cherry tomatoes. The plant is exotic, of great height, with a powerful stem. Indeterminate bushes reach 200 cm in height. Fruit ripening occurs by the 100th day after planting the seeds in the ground.
In the south of Russia, the White Muscat variety can be grown directly in the garden. But in the middle zone and in the north, this cherry tomato must be grown in a closed greenhouse. The fruits of this tomato are shaped like pear, painted in a soft yellow tint, their weight is approximately 35-40 grams.
The variety is resistant to most diseases and viruses.
"Amethyst cream-cherry"
A very rare variety of tomato, it belongs to the indeterminate group - the height of the bushes often exceeds 180 cm. The ripening period of the fruits is average. The stem is powerful, the bushes need to be shaped and tied to a support.
When ripe, cherry tomatoes are cream-colored with purple spots, the tomatoes are round in shape, and the flesh and skin are dense. The weight of one fruit can be only 15 grams. Tomatoes are very tasty, with a strong aroma and a sweetish taste. They are good to eat fresh, to decorate various salads and dishes, but they can also be preserved.
The fruits of this variety can be stored for a long time. They are often used for sale.
"Margol"
An early ripening variety that is preferable to grow in greenhouses. Only in the south of Russia is it allowed to plant tomatoes in the ground.The bushes are indeterminate, tall and powerful. The fruits ripen in clusters. For high yields, it is better to form the plants, leaving only one stem.
The bunches of tomatoes are very neat and beautiful; in each of them about 18 tomatoes ripen at the same time. The fruits are dense, red, round in shape, with aromatic pulp. The average weight of tomatoes is 15-20 grams.
Tomatoes of this variety do not crack and very rarely get sick.
"Green grapes"
This variety is distinguished by interesting fruits, the shape and color of which resemble the berries of green grapes.
Tomatoes do not ripen very early - the variety is classified as mid-season. The bushes are indeterminate, tall and strong. The height of the plant reaches 150 cm; it is better to form it into 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 approximately 25 grams. The shape of the fruits is round, when ripe they are colored yellow-green. The taste of tomatoes is also slightly fruity, with pleasant exotic notes. The 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 to grow cherry tomatoes
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, productivity, and rapid growth.
Proper care of bushes consists of a few simple steps:
- In growing tomatoes through seedlings. Only in heated greenhouses and on balconies can you try to plant cherry tomatoes through seeds; in other cases you will have to grow seedlings.
- Regular watering - like all tomatoes, cherry tomatoes love water.
- The 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 need to be regularly pinched to form plants.
- Between low growing bushes It is necessary to leave free space so that the plants have enough light and air.
- Make sure that the leaves of the tomatoes and their fruits do not touch the ground.
- Harvest when all the berries from one cluster are ripe.
Today it is very fashionable to grow strange 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 are not difficult to grow.
