Do Cherry Tomato Plants Come Back Every Year?

Cherry tomato plants are some of the most popular plants grown in home gardens, due to their delicious taste and relatively easy cultivation. However, if you're new to growing cherry tomatoes, you may be wondering if they come back every year, or if you need to plant new ones every growing season. The short answer is that cherry tomatoes are annual plants, meaning that they need to be replanted every year. However, there are ways to extend the life of your cherry tomato plants and potentially grow them for two or more years in a row.

Understanding Cherry Tomato Plants

To understand why cherry tomato plants are considered annual plants, it's important to know a bit about their growth habits. Cherry tomato plants are typically started from seed indoors and then transplanted outdoors once the weather is warm enough. They grow quickly, often producing fruit within a few months of transplanting. However, cherry tomatoes are also relatively short-lived plants that typically die off at the end of their growing season. This is due to a number of factors, including disease, insect damage, and declining soil health.

Extending the Life of Cherry Tomato Plants

While cherry tomato plants are technically annuals, there are a few things you can do to extend their lifespan and potentially grow them for more than one year. The first is to choose a variety of cherry tomato that is known for being particularly hardy and disease-resistant. Certain varieties, such as 'Sungold' and 'Sweet Million', are more likely to survive from year to year. Additionally, you can try overwintering your cherry tomato plants indoors. This involves digging up the plants at the end of the growing season, trimming them back, and replanting them in fresh soil indoors. With proper care, the plants may continue to produce fruit for another year.

Caring for Cherry Tomato Plants

To give your cherry tomato plants the best chance of surviving from one year to the next, there are a few key things to keep in mind when caring for them. First, make sure your plants are getting enough light, water, and nutrients throughout the growing season. This includes regular watering, fertilization, and pruning to ensure that the plant stays healthy and strong. Additionally, watch out for signs of disease and insect damage, and take action as necessary to prevent them from weakening or killing your plant.

The Bottom Line

While cherry tomato plants are technically annuals and generally need to be replanted each year, there are ways to extend the life of your plants and potentially grow them for more than one season. By choosing a hardy variety, overwintering your plants indoors, and providing proper care and attention throughout the growing season, you may be able to enjoy fresh cherry tomatoes from your garden for years to come.