We grow candy tomatoes on our own plot: “Sweet cherry” tomato
Breeders create new tomato varieties and hybrids every year. Their fruits come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. On store shelves you can find tomatoes both the size of a small pumpkin and those resembling cherries in size. The latter are especially popular.
Small-fruited cherry tomatoes often have a richer taste and composition than their regular-sized counterparts. Therefore, they are appreciated by adherents of proper nutrition and connoisseurs of delicious salads and main courses. Gardeners willingly grow such tomatoes on their plots. The Sweet cherry tomato is also popular. It produces miniature berries with great flavor while being easy to grow. What are the disadvantages of this hybrid and is it worth your attention - read on.
Description of Sweet cherry tomato
Sweet cherry is a first generation tomato hybrid. This is indicated by the mark F1. You cannot use seeds obtained from your own harvest of this tomato. They will grow into plants with parental characteristics.
This 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, which resemble multi-colored candies the size of a large cherry.
Sweet cherry tomato is not included in the Russian register. Despite this, many tomato seed manufacturers 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 come in orange, yellow and red shades.
This is interesting! This hybrid is also called the Candy Tree. Its bushes grow up to 2 meters. They form clusters with 30-50 fruits.
An uncharacteristic trait for cherry tomatoes – early ripeness of Sweet cherry. The berries of this hybrid ripen already at the end of June.
Main characteristics
Even a novice gardener can cope with growing Sweet cherry tomatoes.. It has good immunity and ease of care. This tomato also has negative characteristics.
Description of Sweet cherry tomatoes:
| Parameter | Indicators |
| Bush type | Indeterminate hybrid. The height without limiting the growth point reaches 2 m. The stems are strong and powerful. The bushes form a large number of stepsons. The leaves are medium sized, 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 on each. Up to 6 brushes grow on one bush. |
| Growing method | The hybrid is not resistant to temperature changes and cold snaps. In the northern and central regions it is cultivated only in greenhouses. In the southern part of the country, cultivation in open ground is possible. This tomato is also grown on the balcony. |
| Productivity | Average. The maximum yield from 1 bush is 2.5 kg. From 1 sq. m harvest 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. Yellow, orange and red fruits grow on one bush. The color of the shell matches the color of the pulp. Tomatoes are round in shape. There is no ribbing or flattening at the base. The taste is sweet, with barely noticeable sourness.The concentration of dry substances and sugars is close to 12%. The pulp is dense but juicy. The skin is glossy and shiny. Inside each berry there are 2 chambers with a small number of seeds. |
| Transportability | High. The fruits have a thick skin. It allows them to be transported over long distances and stored for a long time. |
| Ripening time | Early ripening hybrid. The berries ripen 80-90 days after the first shoots appear. Fruiting continues until frost. |
| Disease resistance | Has immunity to major tomato diseases. Even late blight does not affect it. |
Growing seedlings
Tomato seedlings begin to grow in 55-60 days before its disembarkation to its permanent location. It is especially important not to keep early-ripening tomato seedlings in pots, since after the ovaries appear, the tomatoes do not tolerate picking well.
Seeds are sown in March, provided growing tomatoes in the garden. At home, the hybrid can grow all year round.
Read also:
Why are cherry tomatoes 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 infection, the seeds are treated. Sometimes this is done by the manufacturer himself. There are several ways to independently disinfect planting material:
- 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, after which they are washed.
- Hydrogen peroxide. The planting material is processed for 15 minutes, then washed.
- Soda solution (1 tsp soda per 1 tbsp water).Planting material is immersed in the product for 12 hours. It additionally stimulates seed germination.
- Aloe juice (in a 1:1 ratio with water). 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 drugs (sodium humate) or homemade products (honey solution) are used as a stimulant.
If the seeds were pickled with soda solution or aloe juice, it is not necessary to treat them with a growth stimulator. Proponents of germination in this case wrap them in pieces of gauze, place them in a saucer and water them with warm water.
Preparation 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 minutes. 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 light but nutritious soil. Suitable soil mixtures are sold in the store. Gardeners often prepare them themselves. There are several soil compositions for growing tomato seedlings:
- Peat with ash. Ash is added to reduce soil acidity.
- 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 over a strong solution of potassium permanganate, copper sulfate or boiling water.
Sowing seeds in common containers and individual containers
Tomato seeds are often sown in one common container.. Soil is poured into it so that there is 2-3 cm of free space left to the edge. Seeds are laid out in rows on the soil. It is important to leave a gap of 2-3 cm between seeds.
Planting material is sprinkled with a centimeter layer of soil. The soil is moistened with a spray bottle with warm water and covered with film. 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 in individual containers:
- Peat tablets. The peat blanks are placed with the hole down in one large container and filled with hot water. When the peat tablets swell, they are turned over and excess water is drained. Use a toothpick to make a hole in the peat into which the seed is placed.
- Individual cups. A layer of broken ceramics, bricks or expanded clay is poured into the bottom of the container. The rest of the volume is filled with soil, which is abundantly moistened. A hole is made in the soil into which the planting material is placed.
- Cells in a box. One large container is divided into spacious cells. For this purpose, cardboard or plastic partitions are used. 1 seed is placed in each cell.
After sowing the seeds using any of the above methods The soil is moistened with a spray bottle. Cover the containers with film and put them in a warm place.
Seedling care
Beginning gardeners often purchase ready-made seedlings, considering the process of growing it difficult.Unscrupulous sellers offer overgrown or diseased plants, which causes gardeners to be disappointed in the new variety.
To avoid such a problem, It’s worth trying to grow seedlings yourself. Moreover, it 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 fall on the above-ground part of the plants. This will increase the risk of developing diseases.- Light. After the first shoots appear, the film is removed. The boxes with seedlings are moved to the windowsill. If natural light is not enough, fluorescent lamps are used. At this stage, tomatoes need a 16-hour working day.
- Feeding. The 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. After this procedure, you need to water and feed the seedlings no earlier than 10 days later.
- Hardening. 2 weeks before transplanting to a permanent place, tomatoes begin to be placed outside or on the balcony. The first time they are taken out for only half an hour, then the time is gradually increased.
Agricultural technology
Sweet cherry tomatoes are planted in a permanent place in early May. In the southern regions it is possible to plant in open ground, and in the central and northern regions - in a greenhouse.
When growing tomatoes on the balcony and on 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 In a permanent place, the seedlings are watered and fed. This helps the plants tolerate picking more easily.
Planting seedlings in a permanent place
Choose a well-lit place for tomatoes. If the site has soil with a high clay content, tomatoes are planted on a hill.
In autumn, the selected area of the garden is cleared of remnants of weeds and cultivated plants.. For 1 sq. m add 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 soil acidity.
In the spring the beds are dug up and cleaned from plant roots. Chicken manure is used to enrich the soil. Many gardeners also add crushed eggshells to the soil. It is believed that it protects plants from mole crickets.
Holes are dug in rows in a checkerboard pattern. The distance between rows should be 60-70 cm, and between plants - 50-60 cm. Per 1 sq. m fits 3 plants.
A handful of ash is poured into each hole. or long-acting granular fertilizers. Plants are placed in depressions, 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 up. For these purposes, wooden supports or plastic trellises are used. The thread used to tie the bush as it grows should be synthetic.
Form Sweet cherry bushes with 1-2 stems. The more stems left, the more abundant the harvest will be, but the later it will ripen.
When pinching plants They remove not only unnecessary stepsons, but also the lower leaves.No more than 3 leaves are cut at a time. All withered greenery is also removed. The procedure is carried out no more than once a week on cloudy days.
Water tomatoes 1-2 times a week. The first time after transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place, the soil is moistened after 14 days.
Fertilizing is applied 3-4 times per season. The first time tomatoes are fertilized 2 weeks after picking. The second – in another 14 days. For the first 2 dressings, an infusion of plant residues and ammonium nitrate is used.
The rest of the fertilizing is applied with a break of 2 weeks.. For them, drugs are used that include potassium and phosphorus. A solution of boric acid is used as foliar feeding. Plants are sprayed with it on cloudy days.
Advice from experienced gardeners
To avoid difficulties when growing tomatoes, you need to know some nuances. The list contains some useful gardening tips:
- When watering tomatoes it is importantso that water does not fall on the greenery of the plants. Therefore, the liquid is poured directly under the root. Gardeners who regularly grow tomatoes install a drip irrigation system.
- Before fertilizing Tomato beds are watered abundantly. This will prevent burns on the roots.
- After fruits appear on the clusters, tomatoes are watered more often, but use less water. This helps avoid cracking of the fruit.
- To speed up fruit formation, tomato bushes with inflorescences are shaken regularly.
- Tomatoes are planted and watered early in the morning or at sunset. It is convenient to carry out 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 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:
- Disinfect not only seeds and containers for growing seedlings, but also a garden tool with which plants will interact. Tomato beds also need disinfection.
- Weed tomatoes regularly. Weeds contribute to the development of diseases and damage to plants by pests.
- It is important not to violate the rules of watering. The soil should not dry out, but the plants should not be flooded either.
- Plants need to be protected from pests. To do this, tomatoes are sprayed with a soap solution or a decoction of celandine. 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 taken into account that the infection spreads faster indoors. To maintain humidity and reduce the likelihood of plant infection, greenhouses are regularly ventilated. In a greenhouse, plants form a larger number of stepsons. It is necessary to form tomatoes more often in such conditions.
In the open ground tomatoes need protection from night frosts, so they are covered with film in the evening. When it gets cold, the film is also used during the daytime.
At home, as in heated greenhouses, Sweet cherries are grown all year round. In this case, the structure is regularly ventilated. The lack of light is compensated with fluorescent lamps. It is important to consider 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
The first Sweet cherry harvest is harvested at the end of June. Tomatoes are picked either individually or in whole clusters.
At the end of summer, you need to realistically 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 universal in gastronomic terms, good in salads, pizzas and other dishes. Sweet cherry berries do not crack even when marinated as a whole. Their concentrated flavor makes them suitable for drying. The dense flesh allows them to be frozen whole.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of Sweet cherry:
- high immunity to tomato diseases;
- early ripeness;
- long fruiting;
- friendly ripening of fruits;
- ease of care;
- possibility of growing in greenhouses, open ground and at home;
- wonderful berry taste.
Among the shortcomings noted average tomato yield and the need for pinching.
Farmer reviews
Reviews about the Sweet Cherry hybrid are contradictory. Some gardeners are not satisfied with its low yield.
Irina, Ekaterinburg: “I have been growing Sweet cherry for several years in an unheated greenhouse. I form it into 2 brushes. Productivity is average. There are cherry tomatoes with higher performance. I plant several Sweet bushes only because of their early ripeness. Already in June, tomatoes with excellent taste are on the table.”.
Kirill, Klin: “I grow sweet cherry tomatoes 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. From 1 bush I collect up to 1 kg of berries. The taste of tomatoes is excellent. Good in salads and hot dishes. In addition, multi-colored beads on the bushes always decorate the apartment.".
Conclusion
Beginning gardeners who want to grow miniature tomatoes on their plot should pay attention to the Sweet cherry hybrid. It will not surprise you with high yields, but it will allow you to taste small berries with 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 the plants in a timely manner and follow simple rules of care.