Cherry tomatoes – how to grow your own
One of the best things about summer is being able to stroll around the garden and pick and eat straight from the plants. Cherry tomatoes are one of the most popular plants to grow both in pots and outdoors in the kitchen garden.
Scientific name (Latin): Solanum lycopersicum
Family: Potato plants (Solanaceae)
Tips and advice on caring for cherry tomatoes
It doesn't matter whether they are regular tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, planting and care are the same. It is recommended to pre-cultivate the tomato plants indoors before planting them out in a pot or next to a sunny wall, where the conditions are best. Wait until the night frost is over, as frost is directly harmful to the plants.
Growing cherry tomatoes in pots
- Pot
If you choose to plant your tomato plants in a pot, it is important that the pot is large and that it also has holes in the bottom to ensure the best possible drainage. - Location
Cherry tomatoes thrive in the heat, and we therefore recommend placing the plants, regardless of whether they are growing in a pot or directly in the ground, in a place with lots of sun and heat and preferably in a greenhouse. It is also an advantage if they are sheltered from the wind. - Soil
Whether you plant in a pot or in the open field, you should use nutritious vegetable soil. - Watering
Cherry tomatoes in pots need to be watered much more than tomatoes that are directly in the open field or in a greenhouse, so remember to water them often. - Pruning
Pinch out the thieves! Remember that it is important to pinch out so-called thieves on the tomato plants. Thieves are side shoots that grow out in the corners of the leaves. When you remove them, the rest of the plant gets more energy and the tomatoes become more numerous and larger.
Planting tomatoes in greenhouses or in the open field
If you choose to plant your tomatoes outdoors in a planter or greenhouse, it is important to choose the right tomato variety. Cherry tomatoes are not ideal here, although they can work well in a greenhouse. Make sure to water well once you have planted. Don't space your tomato plants too closely together, 60 cm between plants is fine.
Cherry tomatoes – sweet, delicious and healthy
Cherry tomatoes, also called cocktail tomatoes, have everything we associate with tomatoes. Their size means that, unlike regular, larger tomatoes, they are also great to eat whole. Cherry tomatoes are therefore great as snacks or in salads or other dishes – preferably whole. Larger tomatoes are usually used cut up, chopped, sliced or as a sauce, but cherry tomatoes are often seen whole, as a full representative of the species' shape and appearance.
The small tomatoes are easy to pick and taste, and the sweet taste is a delight for the palate! They are relatively easy to grow, at least if you follow all the little tips and advice that are available to get a good and tasty crop.
Some facts about tomatoes
- Available in yellow, red and brownish-red.
- The species name Lycopersicum means "wolf peach".
- Comes from the western part of South America.
- Is related to the potato.
- Came to Scandinavia in the 17th century.
- Was seen as an aphrodisiac and was given the name "pomme d'amour", which means "apple of love".
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