How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes

Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme

Do you love the idea of picking sweet, ripe tomatoes fresh from the vine but aren’t sure how to begin?

Cherry tomatoes are great plants to start with.

Rewarding for the new and experienced gardener alike, they’re wonderfully productive and easy to grow – a single plant can produce a reliable crop of bite-sized fruits from early summer until fall.

A vertical picture of cherry tomatoes ripening on the vine, with foliage in soft focus in the background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white text.

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Hearty and vigorous plants, the pretty fruits grow in large clusters in a rainbow of colors – chocolate, mahogany, orange, red, yellow, almost black, and pink, in a solid hue or even with tiger stripes.

And the flavors of sun-warmed fruit right off the vine are absolutely delicious, from mild to sweet to tangy.

Because of the small fruit size, typically one to two inches, these high yielding plants often bear fruit in just 55 to 65 days, with some ready for harvest in as little as 45 days. However, there are those that can take up to 80 days to mature as well.

They also perform well in containers, so they can be grown just about anywhere, even on small balconies or decks.

A close up of a small staked green cherry tomato plant, pictured on a soft focus background.

Sound like something you’d like to try? Then join us now for our best tips on growing cherry tomatoes.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

What Are Cherry Tomatoes?

Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme are thought to be the direct descendants of S. pimpinellifolium – the wild ancestor of today’s domesticated varieties.

A close up of a variety of cherry tomatoes, on a background of a wooden surface.

This ancient forebearer was a weedy plant, with small, blueberry-sized fruit. It traveled from the northern Andes into Mexico, and at some point, morphed into a plant with larger fruits that were suitable for domestication.

Today’s varieties still bear small, globular fruits, although they typically measure about a half-inch to two inches in size. Those with an oblong shape are called grape tomatoes, but they abide in the same classification.

Varieties are classified into determinate and indeterminate growth habits, and several determinate ones are bred for compact growth in small spaces.

And like the standard sized Solanum plants, cultivation is divided into heirloom or hybrid divisions.

However, there’s also a new breed on the block. Let’s take a look at that first.

Heirloom Hybrids

It sounds like an oxymoron, but heirloom hybrids are a new breed of tomato created by crossing two heirloom varieties, or an heirloom with a modern hybrid cultivar.

They’re bred for qualities such as best color, flavor, shape, and texture as well as disease resistance, early fruiting, and vigor – often using only heirloom parents.

A close up of a bowl full of heirloom hybrid cherry tomatoes, set on a rustic fabric on a wooden surface, pictured on a soft focus background.

This results in plants with outstanding performance along with the deep, rich flavor of heirlooms. And flavor is what many folks find lacking in standard hybrids.

If you’d like to try out one of the new breed, ‘Black Pearl’ is an heirloom hybrid with a deep, rich mahogany color and full, complex flavor – sweet with a rich, tangy bite.

Seeds can be purchased at Burpee.

Seeds or Seedlings?

To grow your plants from seed, they need to be started indoors approximately six weeks before your last frost date (LFD).

A picture of young seedlings growing in the sun in a garden, with soil in soft focus in the background.
Photo by Lorna Kring.

Transplanting them outdoors usually happens about six weeks after your last frost date, or when the plants are around 12 weeks old.

You’ll need to collect your own seed from heirloom plants (seeds from hybrids won’t necessarily be true to the parents) or purchase seeds. Seeds can be purchased from your local nursery, online sources, and seed catalogs, which usually arrive in January.

And if you’re new to starting your own, our guide on how to grow tomatoes from seed has detailed instructions in six easy steps.

Alternatively, you can wait until spring arrives and purchase seedlings from your local nursery or garden shop.

Planting Gear

Once your seedlings have been hardened off and are ready for the great outdoors, it’s time to gather up your planting gear.

And don’t be fooled by the size of the fruit – these plants are vigorous and can grow large and bushy.

Unless you’ve chosen dwarf or patio varieties, the fruit-laden branches can be heavy and require support in the form of cages or stakes.

This helps to keep fruit off the ground and prevents branches from breaking under the weight – even with determinate varieties.

A picture of a group of plants supported by galvanized hoop cages, growing in a raised bed garden.

Galvanized Plant Support

Cages come in different sizes and shapes and need to be sturdy enough not to buckle under a large plant, like this set of five galvanized hoop cages available at Wayfair.

For reference, here’s a list of everything you’ll need to get growing:

  • Cherry or grape tomato plants
  • Depending on the variety, cages or stakes are needed for support along with plant clips, twine, or Velcro ties
  • If planting in containers, they need to be at least 5 gallons in size and have drainage holes (a pot 12 inches in diameter and 12 inches tall holds approximately 5 gallons)
  • Bone meal to add to the planting hole for strong root growth
  • Potting soil mix if planting in containers
  • Plant food (use a balanced all-purpose blend, or an 18-18-21 NPK formula for Solanums)

For more detailed information on planting or container cultivation, be sure to check our grow and care guide for tomatoes.

Growing Tips

Cherry tomatoes are typically robust and easy to cultivate, but there are a few things you can do to assist with a bountiful harvest:

  • Plants are happiest in soil that’s well-draining with a pH level of 6.2 to 6.5.
  • They require a full sunlight location – a minimum of six hours per day.
  • Refrain from planting until the chance of frost is past. Use a cloche or plant cover to protect new seedlings if adverse weather sets in (i.e. cold, wet, and windy conditions).
  • Be sure to leave ample room between planting holes – the fruit may be small, but the plants can grow big and bushy.
  • Set your cages or stakes in place when planting to avoid disturbing the roots later.
  • If you’re growing container plants on a balcony, tie the stems to the railing to eliminate the need for cages or stakes.
  • When planting, pluck the lowest stems and shoots from the main stalk. Then bury the plant close to the lowest remaining set of leaves, one to two inches away. The buried, stripped stalk will produce more roots for stronger growth.
  • To prevent future problems like blossom end rot, mix a small handful of lime or Epsom salts into the planting hole. Both increase magnesium levels, which can be blocked by high concentrations of calcium and potassium in the soil.
  • Pinch out suckers as they appear, to redirect energy into fruit production. These are the small branches that appear in the “V” formed between the main stalk and branches.
A close up of a sucker from a staked cherry tomato plant being pinched out on a soft focus background.
Photo by Lorna Kring.
  • After flowers appear, feed plants growing in the ground biweekly with a balanced fertilizer, or a tomato formula of 18-18-21.
  • Container plants require more frequent fertilizing and may need to be fed weekly. If so, use a diluted, half-strength formula to compensate for the increased frequency of application.
  • Plants perform best with a deep weekly watering rather than frequent light watering.
  • If space is an issue, look for dwarf or patio varieties. These are determinate plants bred for compact growth. For details on the differences, read our guide to learn more about determinate and indeterminate varieties.

Harvesting

Harvest when the fruits have changed to their expected color. This can be from six to 10 weeks after pollination, depending on the weather and the varieties you’ve chosen.

A close up of a hand from the bottom of the frame harvesting ripe cherry tomatoes into an orange plastic bowl in a garden.

When ripe, fruit will come away from the stem with a gentle tug or twist.

Pick ripe fruit every day or two to encourage a continuous bloom set and greater production.

Varieties to Select

For ideas on what varieties would best suit your needs, check our review of 17 of the best cherry tomatoes.

In the meantime, here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Baby Boomer

A compact hybrid variety, ‘Baby Boomer’ delivers a big payload with yields of over 300 red, one-inch fruits per plant, produced all summer long and right until first frost.

A close up of a wooden bowl filled with freshly harvested 'Baby Boomer' cherry tomatoes set on a wooden surface with foliage in soft focus in the background.

‘Baby Boomer’

Fruits mature in 50 to 55 days on determinate plants that reach 20 to 25 inches.

Pick up seeds or three-packs of plants at Burpee.

Black Cherry

‘Black Cherry’ is an heirloom with a rich heritage that shows in its complex, sweet flavor and firm texture.

The one-inch fruits ripen to a deep, dark mahogany brown, and stems are laden throughout the hot summer months.

A close up of a group of 'Black Cherry' cherry tomatoes with water droplets set on a textured surface in the background.

‘Black Cherry’

Indeterminate plants grow to 60 inches and fruit matures in 64 days. This variety is naturally disease resistant.

You can purchase seeds at Eden Brothers.

Sungold

Perhaps the most popular cherry tomato, ‘Sungold’ is a highly prolific vine with large clusters of tangerine-orange fruits.

A close up of a staked ‘Sungold’ cherry tomato plant growing in a garden on a soft focus background.

‘Sungold’

Delicious fresh off the vine, on the grill, and in salads. An indeterminate plant, fruits ripen in 57 days and vines grow 48 to 60 inches.

Seeds can be purchased at True Leaf Market.

Recipes and Cooking Ideas

Don’t panic when these prolific plants deliver a bumper crop!

Instead, let your homegrown harvest shine. Tossed into salads or made into salsa or a fresh marinara, used as a tasty topping for homemade pizza, or cooked down into preserves, sweet cherry tomatoes are one of the most delicious rewards of the summer garden.

A close up of a bowl of corn and cream cheese dip with cherry tomatoes set on a plate with greens and tortilla chips in soft focus in the background.
Photo by Meghan Yager.

Try this corn and cream cheese dip with cherry tomatoes from our sister site, Foodal, for a tasty appetizer.

A close up of a ramekin of roasted cherry tomatoes with shrimp and feta served with bread slices, lemon, and coriander on a wooden table background.
Photo by Felicia Lim.

Roasted cherry tomatoes with shrimp and feta, also from Foodal, make a tasty entree option.

A close up of a plate of chicken cutlets on a base of arugula greens, with cutlery and a napkin on a table.
Photo by Meghan Yager.

Or, if you’re not in the mood for seafood, give these chicken cutlets with tomatoes a whirl on a busy weeknight, also from Foodal.

Delicious Bite-Sized Gems

Prolific, hardy, and reliable, cherry tomatoes are an easy and fulfilling introduction to growing your own Solanums.

Choose varieties for containers or the garden, give indeterminate varieties some support, and follow our tips for an abundance of delicious bite-sized fruits all summer.

A close up of a ripe cherry tomato plant with water droplets in the sun with green foliage.

Do you folks have any favorite varieties you’d like to recommend? Drop us a note in the comments below.

And for more tomato knowledge, add these growing guides to your reading list:

Photos by Felicia Lim, Lorna Kring, and Meghan Yager. © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock.

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About

A writer, artist, and entrepreneur, Lorna is also a long-time gardener who got hooked on organic and natural gardening methods at an early age. These days, her vegetable garden is smaller to make room for decorative landscapes filled with color, fragrance, art, and hidden treasures. Cultivating and designing the ideal garden spot is one of her favorite activities – especially for gathering with family and friends for good times and good food (straight from the garden, of course)!

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Ebenezer
Ebenezer (@guest_14285)
2 years ago

Very nice, I appreciated your guidance