Cherry tomatoes or cocktail tomatoes are popular snack vegetables. They have a particularly intense aroma and a slightly sweet taste. In addition, the mini tomatoes are ideal for salads or pasta dishes and are very easy to grow on the balcony, terrace or in the garden. With our tips on cultivation and care, no green thumb is required.
Variety of varieties
Cherry tomatoes, cherry tomatoes or cocktail tomatoes, as they are also called, are available in numerous different varieties. The fruits differ in size, color, shape and taste. They can be round or egg-shaped, yellow to purple and even striped, but also classic red. The weight of the individual fruits is between 10 and 50 grams.
Due to the variety offered, the right taste can be found for everyone. More important than the size and shape of the fruit, however, is the suitability of the plants for the intended location. Because there are also considerable differences in the shape and size of the plants. There are numerous varieties from 40 to 200 centimeters in height. While the small varieties are ideally suited for cultivation in pots or tubs and can also be cared for in the apartment, the larger plants are ideal for outdoor cultivation.
Location
Regardless of the variety, the nightshade cherry tomatoes require a lot of light and warmth. You should therefore get a sheltered and sunny location. Places next to house walls, sheltered corners on the balcony or terrace or a location close to the window on south-facing windows are ideal. In either case, the final size of the particular plant must be taken into account.
Substrate
Cherry tomatoes need a loose, nutrient-rich substrate to thrive. A simple option is to use special tomato soil from specialist shops. However, garden soil mixed with well-rotted compost or plant soil are also suitable. It is important that the soil is loose and that the water can drain off well. In the case of very loamy or solidified substrate, the soil should therefore be loosened with sand or coconut fibers.
Bucket culture
In the bucket culture of the cherry tomato attention should be paid to several points. It refers to:
drainage
So that the plants are not exposed to waterlogging, the plants need drainage in the planter. For example, coarser gravel, pottery shards or stones at the bottom of the pot are suitable. This drainage layer allows the water to flow off better and prevents
that the roots are too much in the water and could rot as a result.support
Even the small varieties of cherry tomatoes can bring in significant yields. Although the fruits only weigh a little when viewed individually, they can be a great burden for the plant as they grow in a cluster-like arrangement. It is therefore crucial that the plant is properly supported. Plant sticks that are used in groups of three or four and are connected to one another at the top are suitable.
height and weight
The planter must be large and heavy enough to ensure stability. For example, clay pots are well suited as cachepots or other cachepots that have a heavy and wide base.
Plant outdoors
If the cherry tomatoes are to be planted or placed outdoors, there are also a few points to consider. These are the following factors:
Protection from frost
Even well-grown and strong tomato plants should only be planted in the open when frost is no longer to be expected. Usually this is only the case after the Ice Saints. In general, however, the risk of frost is of course dependent on the respective climate.
Preparation of the soil
Since the cherry tomatoes need loose soil for ideal growth, the soil in the bed should be loosened before planting out. It also makes sense to mix well-rotted compost into the substrate.
support
As with the cultivation in pots, the cherry tomatoes planted outdoors should be supported with plant sticks.
Tip: Instead of laboriously digging up the cocktail tomatoes in autumn, they can be planted in plant pots in the bed. This makes it much easier to loosen the root ball from the substrate and to safely overwinter the plants.
to water
Cherry tomatoes require a comparatively large amount of water, whereby soft, lime-free water should be used. For example:
- collected rainwater
- Tap water that could stand for a week
- Water from a pond or aquarium
The sediment should not be used with the stale tap water, because it contains a large part of the lime. The watering should be done in such a way that the substrate is always kept slightly moist, but not
Waterlogging occurs. Loose substrate, a drainage layer and demand-dependent amounts of water are crucial. In addition, waterlogging must be avoided as a matter of urgency. In summer and outdoors, it should be noted that in some cases two waterings must be given each day. This is especially true when the plants bear numerous fruits.Fertilize
Cherry tomatoes are so-called heavy eaters. This means that they need relatively large amounts of nutrients. During the growth phase - from March to around the end of August - they must therefore be richly fertilized on a regular basis. Nutrients will still need to be added during the winter, but the amount may be less. Suitable fertilizers include:
- well-rotted compost
- Manure
- special tomato fertilizer
- Fertilizer for vegetables
- Aquarium and pond water
- Herbal manure
In the case of finished fertilizers from specialist retailers, the manufacturer's instructions should be observed with regard to the distances between fertilizers. Natural fertilizers can be added lightly weekly or every two weeks during the growth phase.
Picking out and offcuts
As a rule, tomatoes should be maxed out so that the plants mainly use their power Formation of fruits and not in the growth of side shoots or stingy shoots put. With cherry tomatoes, however, the situation is different. In comparison, the plants grow bushier, more shrubby and more expansive. However, you don't need to prune. Side shoots that do not have buds, flowers or fruit do not have to be removed. However, a waste can still be useful. For example in the following cases:
- when shoots are damaged or withered
- if the plant threatens to kink in spite of the supporting plant sticks
- if individual sections are infected by diseases or pests and further spread is to be prevented
With every cut on the cherry tomato, it is important to pay attention to the following points:
Use clean cutting tools
Ideally, the blades of a knife or scissors are disinfected before and after the cut. This prevents the transmission of parasites and germs.
Sharp blades
The blades of the cutting tool should be sharp so that the cut surfaces on the plant do not tear, are irregular or are crushed. This is the only way to produce clean and smooth cut surfaces.
Carry out waste at the right time
In the event of an infestation with diseases or pests, the clippings should be made as soon as possible. Even then, however, it is more advisable to choose a dry and sunny day for the maintenance measure. In these conditions, the cut surfaces dry faster, which reduces the risk of disease spreading and the risk of invading parasites.
wintering
Since the cherry tomatoes cannot tolerate frost, they have to be overwintered indoors. There are two ways to do this. On the one hand, simply moving the plants to an area that is frost-proof and as bright as possible. On the other hand, overwintering as cuttings. When wintering cherry tomatoes, the following points must be observed:
- Temperatures of 20-24 ° C are ideal
- Watering and fertilizing should continue to be adapted
- the plants need as much light as possible
Light in particular is an important factor. Because temperature as well as water and nutrients can be easily provided - the natural light in winter is enough
however, even in a place close to a window towards the south, this usually does not work. Therefore, it makes sense to use a plant lamp. The warmer the plants are, the warmer it has to be. Otherwise damage to the plants will occur.Multiplication
The cherry tomatoes can be propagated using seeds and cuttings. Both variants are comparatively easy as long as the correct procedure is followed. When propagating by seeds, these steps are necessary:
1. The pips and pulp are removed from the tomatoes in question.
2. The pulp and seeds are optionally washed off in a fine-meshed tea strainer and separated from each other dissolved or soaked covered in a glass of water and thoroughly after about a day washed. The soaking should separate the coats from the seeds.
3. The seeds are dried and then stored in a cool, dry and dark place. You can move forward from February.
4. After storage, the seeds are placed in potting soil and only lightly covered with the substrate. The soil is well moistened, but should not be wet.
5. The cultivation vessels are placed in a warm and bright location and optionally covered with foil or a pane of glass. The cover should be removed every day and the planter should be ventilated so that no mold develops.
6. The substrate must be kept moist throughout. When the plants have reached a height of about ten centimeters, they can be transferred to nutrient-rich soil.
Tips: Obviously, it is easier to buy seeds in stores or to buy pre-grown plants. In the case of mature plants, care should be taken to ensure that they have dark green leaves and strong shoots.
Typical diseases, pests and care mistakes
In order for the cherry tomatoes to thrive and to be preserved for several years, on the one hand the appropriate Care takes place and on the other hand it is ensured that there are no pests and diseases spread. Typical problems include:
Too much water, waterlogging or lack of water
Excessive watering and waterlogging can cause the roots to rot, mold to form on the substrate and the plant to perish for seemingly unpredictable reasons. Too little water, on the other hand, can cause the tomato fruits to burst or fall off. With brown, dry or wilted leaves and problems with the fruits, the watering behavior and the condition of the substrate should always be carefully examined.
Missing nutrients
Another typical mistake when it comes to caring for cherry tomatoes is that they are not supplied with enough nutrients. It is ideal to alternate the fertilizers and also to fertilize regularly during the winter. Only if the heavy consumers are adequately cared for are they also resistant to diseases and parasites and can thrive accordingly.
Fungal diseases
Fungal diseases mainly occur when the plants are too close to each other and there is insufficient ventilation. Excessive humidity or a lack of water can also be the trigger. However, diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew can usually be combated well with home remedies or commercially available fungicides.
Pests
Nematodes, spider mites and whitefly can attack the cherry tomatoes and produce both reticulate coatings and feeding marks on the leaves. Natural enemies such as predatory bugs, ladybirds, spiders and parasitic wasps are recommended for plants that are in the open. However, there are also other means on the market, such as yellow sticks and glue traps against the parasites.
