How to Plant Cherry Tomato Plants

Cherry tomatoes are a popular crop among home gardeners. They are easy to grow, don’t need much space, and produce fruit throughout the summer. In this guide, we’ll go over the steps involved in planting and caring for cherry tomato plants.

Location

The first step in planting cherry tomato plants is finding the right location. Cherry tomatoes need plenty of sunlight – at least 6-8 hours a day, so make sure to choose a sunny spot in your garden. Cherry tomatoes also need well-drained soil, so avoid areas that tend to get waterlogged after rain.

Soil Preparation

Before planting your cherry tomato plants, it’s important to prepare the soil. Start by removing any weeds or rocks from the area. Next, add compost or well-rotted manure to the soil to improve its fertility. Mix the compost thoroughly into the soil with a garden fork, making sure it's evenly distributed. Finally, level the soil surface and create small mounds where you’ll plant your cherry tomato plants.

Planting

Cherry tomato plants are quite small, so you can plant them quite close together. Leave around 2 feet of space between each plant. Dig a small hole in the soil for each cherry tomato plant, deep enough to cover the root ball. Place the plant in the hole and gently firm the soil around it. Water the plants immediately after planting.

Water and Fertilize

Water your cherry tomato plants regularly to keep the soil moist. However, avoid over-watering as this can lead to root rot. Fertilize your plants every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer to ensure they have enough nutrients to grow and produce fruit. Follow the fertilizer instructions carefully and avoid over-fertilizing, which can damage the plants.

Pruning

To encourage your cherry tomato plants to grow healthy and strong, it’s important to prune them regularly. Remove any yellow or damaged leaves, and pinch off the suckers that grow in the joint between the stem and branches. This will encourage the plants to focus their energy on producing fruit instead of new growth.

Harvesting

Cherry tomatoes are ready to harvest when they are firm, plump, and brightly colored. Pick them regularly to encourage the plants to produce more fruit. As the season winds down, consider harvesting all remaining tomatoes and storing them in a cool, dark place to ripen gradually.

Following these steps will help you grow healthy, productive cherry tomato plants in your garden. With a little care and attention, you’ll be enjoying fresh cherry tomatoes all summer long.