Cherry Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme

The cherry tomato is a small-fruited, extra-sweet tomato and one of the most rewarding fruiting crops for the windowsill, balcony and hydroponics. It grows as a vine, fruits long and heavily, and forgives beginner mistakes more readily than big beefsteak tomatoes.

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Important notes

leaves, stems & unripe green fruit: Leaves, stems and green unripe fruit contain tomatine/solanine and are toxic to cats, dogs and horses — ripe fruit in small amounts is safe. ↗

green fruit & foliage raw: Only eat the ripe fruit. Leaves and green unripe tomatoes contain tomatine and can cause stomach upset in larger amounts. ↗

Light

Full sun — at least 6–8 hours of direct light; indoors use a strong grow light (high PPFD).

Watering

Keep evenly moist, never let it dry out and never waterlog. Swings cause blossom end rot and split fruit.

Temperature

Optimum 18–26 °C. Below 10 °C growth stalls; above 30 °C fruit set suffers.

Humidity

Likes 60–70 % relative humidity. Dry indoor heating air invites spider mites.

Target values by method & stage

Soil
Stage pH EC (mS/cm) Water °C Air °C Humidity % Light h Duration (days)
Germination 6–6.8 — — 21–27 65–75 16 8
Seedling 6–6.8 — — 18–24 60–70 16 21
Vegetative 6–6.8 — — 18–26 60–70 16 30
Flowering 6–6.8 — — 18–26 60–70 16 20
Fruiting 6–6.8 — — 18–26 60–70 16 40
Hydro
Stage pH EC (mS/cm) Water °C Air °C Humidity % Light h Duration (days)
Seedling 5.8–6.3 0.8–1.2 18–22 18–24 60–70 16 21
Vegetative 5.8–6.3 2–2.5 18–22 18–26 60–70 16 30
Flowering 5.8–6.3 2.5–3 18–22 18–26 60–70 16 20
Fruiting 5.8–6.3 2.5–3.5 18–22 18–26 60–70 16 40
Coco
Stage pH EC (mS/cm) Water °C Air °C Humidity % Light h Duration (days)
Vegetative 5.8–6.2 1.8–2.4 — 18–26 60–70 16 30
Flowering 5.8–6.2 2.4–3 — 18–26 60–70 16 20
Fruiting 5.8–6.2 2.5–3.5 — 18–26 60–70 16 40

Common problems

Blossom end rot (uneven watering/calcium), split fruit (water swings), poor fruit set (no pollination indoors), whitefly and spider mites.

Space & Size

Final height
180 cm
Final width
50 cm
Spacing
50 cm
Root depth
45 cm
Min. container (Soil)
≥ 12 L
Min. container (Hydro)
≥ 15 L
Min. container (Coco)
≥ 12 L

Pests & diseases

Pest / Disease Symptom Organic treatment
Whitefly white flies under leaves, sticky honeydew yellow sticky traps, beneficials (Encarsia), neem
Aphids curled shoot tips, sticky leaves rinse off, ladybirds, soft-soap spray
Spider mites fine webbing, stippled leaves in dry air raise humidity, predatory mites, neem
Blossom end rot dark sunken patch at the blossom end of the fruit water evenly, ensure calcium supply (a calcium/uptake issue, not just fungus)
Late blight brown leaf blotches, rotting fruit in damp weather water at the base, keep foliage airy, remove affected parts
Powdery mildew white powdery coating on leaves improve airflow, milk/baking-soda spray, remove affected leaves

Edible parts

  • Fruit · edible from Fruiting — fully ripe fruit only — sweet and aromatic

Yield techniques

Grow cordon types single-stemmed: tie to a cane/string and pinch out side-shoots regularly to push energy into fruit. Bush (determinate) types can be left to branch.

Propagation & pollination

Method
seed
Germination time
8 days
Germination temp
21-27 °C
Sowing depth
0.5 cm
Pollination
self
Hand pollination needed
no

Germinates fast and reliably; side-shoots also root easily as cuttings in water.

Companion planting

🟢 Good neighbours: Basil, Chives, Parsley

Not yet linked: Solanum tuberosum, Foeniculum vulgare

Flavor

sweet, fruity, slightly tangy

Storage

keep at room temperature, not in the fridge — cold destroys the flavour

History

The wild cherry tomato comes from western South and Central America and is regarded as the ancestor of all cultivated tomatoes. Spanish sailors brought the tomato to Europe in the 16th century, where it was first grown as an ornamental.

Nutrition

Rich in vitamin C, potassium and the antioxidant lycopene; the small fruits are often sweeter and more aromatic than large tomatoes.

Sources

Florabase

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