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Among early ripening tomatoes, cherry tomatoes occupy a leading position. Initially, the heat-loving crop was grown only in the south. Thanks to the work of breeders, many hybrids of the famous tomato have appeared that can bear fruit in the central and northern regions. Vegetable growers fell in love with cherry tomatoes because of the smooth ripening of the fruit, excellent taste and small size, convenient for preservation.
Main characteristics of cherry tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes can be grown open or closed. Culture even adapts on the balcony or windowsill. By growing such a decorative tomato at home, in winter you can get fresh vegetables for the table, but for these purposes it is better to choose low-growing varieties. The characteristics of cherry tomatoes are similar to regular tomatoes. Culture can be indeterminate, semi-determinant and determinant. Most often, it is the tall varieties that are found.
Cherry tomato seed material is divided into hybrids and varieties. It will not be possible to collect grains for planting from hybrids on your own. Plants grown from them will not bear fruit. This means that every year you will have to buy new ones at the store. cherry tomatoes seedsto grow seedlings from them. Grains from varietal cherry tomatoes can be collected for the next planting; you just need to find a smooth, unspoiled fruit and let it overripe.
When purchasing seeds, it is important to pay attention to their expiration date, and also carefully study the characteristics of the crop. Indeterminate and semi-determinate plants are optimal for growing in the garden or in greenhouse. In such conditions, cherry tomatoes will produce the greatest harvest. On a windowsill or balcony, a tall plant will be cramped and dark. Lack of lighting and space will be reflected in the pale leaves of the plant, followed by the fall of the inflorescences.
It is easy to identify such a fruit by its lack of odor, and it will also taste unsweetened. If the smell of a tomato has a sour aroma, this indicates the appearance of rot in the pulp. A high-quality cherry tomato has a pronounced fruity aroma and sweet pulp.
Review of the best indoor cherry tomatoes
Indoor varieties of tomatoes Cherries are bred specifically for home growing. These crops are characterized by low bush growth, unpretentious care and high yield.
The following varieties are popular among fans:
- "Bonsai" - a small, very tasty tomato.The red flesh is quite dense, the skin does not crack from light mechanical stress.
- "Rowan beads" represent a variety of mid-season tomatoes. The fruits grow small, weighing 25 g. The color of the vegetable is red.
- "Golden Bunch" more famous for its decorative qualities. The rich orange fruits are used universally. Even on the window, the crop brings a generous harvest.
- "Pinocchio" ideal for indoor growing. The growth of the bush is limited to a height of 25 cm. Small red cherry tomatoes are suitable for salads and canning.
Indoor cherry tomatoes will decorate the windowsill just as well as flowers, plus they will bear delicious fruits in winter.
The video talks about growing tomatoes on the balcony:
Large cherry hybrids
Cherry tomatoes are not only small, but also large. The fruits of some crops weigh more than 200 g. Hybrids are usually famous for such results:
- "Sharp F1" has a long growing season. To reap more harvest, it is better to grow the hybrid indoors. Tomatoes grow large, weighing up to 220 g. The vegetable is excellent for freezing and drying.
- "Lubava F1" begins to bear fruit after 120 days. The tomatoes grow large, fleshy, and the flesh is dense. The weight of a mature cherry is about 150 g. The hybrid showed the best results when grown in greenhouses.
Large cherry tomatoes have all the positive qualities of fleshy tomatoes.
Rating of cherry varieties and hybrids
Breeders have developed many varieties and hybrids of cherry. A description of the crops with photos will help you get to know each other better, and we’ll also see which tomatoes top the popularity rating among summer residents.
Date yellow F1
In terms of ripening time, the cherry hybrid belongs to the medium-late crops. The semi-determinate plant is successfully grown in open and closed beds.Due to the small amount of foliage, the 1.5 m tall bush looks beautiful on the home plot. The maximum amount of harvest can be obtained from a plant formed with 3 or 4 stems. Some vegetable growers have adapted to removing only those shoots that grow below the first cluster. Dense clusters of tomatoes are often located throughout the plant, which gives it a special beauty.
Plum-shaped cherries grow small, weighing about 20 g. The dense yellow pulp with a golden tint is covered with a durable glossy skin. The tomato does not crack and can be stored for about two months. The first fruits of the hybrid mature in August. The formation of the ovary lasts until the first frost.
Honey candy F1
The ripening of the first fruits of the cherry hybrid begins after 110 days. The determinate plant is grown openly only in the south. In the middle zone, it is optimal to plant the plant under film. The bush grows up to 1 m in height, rarely covered with foliage, but large. The inflorescences on the main stem produce 6 clusters, with a maximum of 28 tomatoes. The plant produces a high yield when formed with 2 or 3 stems.
Small plum-shaped cherries weigh no more than 30 g when ripe. The orange vegetable is very sweet and tasty. At 1 m2 a maximum of 4 bushes are planted, thereby obtaining 6 kg of harvest.
Ocean
The variety, originally from Italy, is mid-season in terms of ripening and is suitable for open and closed growing methods. The intensively growing developed bush reaches 1.5 m in height. As it grows, the plant, formed into 2 stems, is fixed to the trellis. Beautiful elongated clusters consist of 12 tomatoes. The fruits look like smooth, bright balls that become bright red after ripening. The vegetable is small, weighs only 30 g.The long fruiting period allows you to harvest before the onset of frost.
Elf
The cherry variety bears fruit well in greenhouses and in the garden. The plant grows up to 2 m in height; the optimal formation is 2 or 3 stems. Small, elongated tomatoes grow in clusters of 12 each and resemble a cluster of lady's finger grapes. Tomatoes weighing up to 25 g are very fleshy with a small amount of grains, rich in sugar, and resistant to cracking during preservation. The culture responds well to nutritious soil, timely fertilizing and sunlight. On a plot of 1 m2 plant up to 3 bushes.
Cherry Blossam F1
French hybrid cherry ripens in 90 days. The culture is adapted for open and closed cultivation in unheated greenhouses. The bush is highly developed, but does not grow more than 1 m in height. The recommended formation is 3 stems. Round small tomatoes weigh approximately 30 g. Red flesh with strong skin does not crack during preservation. The hybrid is resistant to viruses and rot.
White nutmeg
The mid-ripening varietal cherry tomato is considered exotic. In terms of productivity, tomato occupies a leading position. The bush grows tall, more than 2 m, and it is advisable to form it with 2 or 3 stems. The shape of the fruit resembles a regular, even pear. A ripe vegetable acquires a rich yellow color. The tomato weighs no more than 40 g. The pulp is very sweet and tasty, suitable for any use. When planting 3 bushes per 1 m2 4 kg of crop is harvested from the plant.
A Gardener's Delight
The varietal cherry tomato was bred by German breeders for open and closed growing methods. The indeterminate plant grows up to 1.3 m in height, formed with 2 or 3 stems.According to the ripening period, the crop is considered mid-season. Red round tomatoes are highly saturated with sweetness, weigh about 35 g. Fruiting is long, the ovary is formed before the onset of frost.
Monisto amber
It is advisable to form an indeterminate plant up to 1.8 m high with 1 stem. Mid-season cherry tomatoes only in the south will have time to harvest from the garden. For the middle zone, planting in a greenhouse is optimal. Stepchildren that appear throughout the growing season must be removed. Long clusters consist of 16 small tomatoes weighing up to 30 g. Yellow fruits with an orange tint have a sweet taste and fruity aroma. Housewives fell in love with canned tomatoes, combining them with brown and pink fruits of other cherry varieties.
Children's F1
Very early cherry tomatoes allow you to eat delicious fruits after 85 days. Hybrid short standard is mainly grown in the garden, but planting in flower pots is possible. The plant forms a bush itself and does not require removal of shoots. The height of the stem reaches a maximum of 50 cm, but is usually limited to 30 cm. The plant is covered with small leaves, from under which beautiful clusters of 10 tomatoes are clearly visible. Elongated red tomatoes weigh a maximum of 20 g. The vegetable does not crack during harvesting or storage. The crop manages to yield the entire harvest before it is affected by late blight. From 1 m2 It turns out to collect up to 7 kg of tomatoes.
Amethyst cream-cherry
The seeds of this mid-season cherry variety are rarely found in seed stores. Indeterminate culture is intended for open and closed land plots. The bushes grow up to 2 m in height; it is optimal to form them with 2 or 3 stems. Securing to a trellis is required. Round tomatoes resemble cherries but are cream-colored. The weight of a small vegetable is no more than 20 g.
The video provides an overview of cherry tomato varieties:
The cherry tomato is considered an exotic vegetable, however, it has become so adapted to us that it can easily be grown in the home, greenhouse and garden. Even in a small area you can set aside a place for an unusual tomato.
