How to Plant Cherry Tomatoes Seeds

Cherry tomatoes are delicious, nutritious, and easy to grow. If you want to enjoy a bountiful harvest of cherry tomatoes in your backyard, here's how to get started.

Choose Your Seeds

The first step in planting cherry tomatoes is to choose the right seeds. You can either buy seeds from a garden center or greenhouse or order them online. Look for cherry tomato varieties that are well-suited to your growing region and that produce fruit that meets your preferences for taste, size, and color.

Prepare Your Soil

Once you have your seeds, you need to prepare your soil. Cherry tomatoes need well-draining soil that's rich in nutrients. You can add compost or other organic matter to your soil to improve its fertility and structure. A pH level between 6.0 and 6.8 is ideal for growing cherry tomatoes.

Plant Your Seeds

Cherry tomatoes are best started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your area's last frost date. Fill seed trays or pots with seed-starting mix and plant your seeds about a quarter-inch deep. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet, and place the trays or pots in a sunny location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Once the seedlings have grown their second set of leaves, transplant them into larger containers or directly into your garden.

Care for Your Plants

Cherry tomatoes need regular watering and fertilizing to grow strong and healthy. Water your plants deeply when the soil is dry to the touch and avoid watering the foliage, as this can encourage disease. Feed your plants every two to three weeks with a balanced fertilizer that's low in nitrogen but high in phosphorus and potassium. Mulching around your plants can help keep moisture levels even and reduce weed growth.

Harvest Your Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes typically mature 65 to 80 days after planting. They're ripe when they're firm, shiny, and brightly colored. Pick your tomatoes when they're fully ripe to encourage the growth of new fruit. You can also prolong your harvest by pinching off any flowers that develop after mid-August. Store your tomatoes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight until you're ready to enjoy them.

In Conclusion

Planting cherry tomatoes is a fun and rewarding way to enjoy fresh, delicious produce right from your own backyard. By choosing the right seeds, preparing your soil, and giving your plants the care they need, you can look forward to a bountiful harvest of sweet, flavorful cherry tomatoes all season long.