Q&A for How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes

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When you plant cherry tomatoes from seed, should you thin them out before they get too big?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Yes. When they come up, thin the plants leaving 20 to 24 inches between each.

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Question

How large should cherry tomatoes be to sell?

Community Answer

As long as they're ripe, it shouldn't matter too much what size they are. Cherry tomatoes are usually between 1 and 3 centimeters in diameter though.

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Question

Does the cherry tomato plant need a lot of sunlight?

Community Answer

Yes, it needs to be in a location where it can receive at least 8 hours or direct sunlight a day.

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Question

How long will my Cherry Tomato plant keep re-blooming?

Community Answer

The plant will produce tomatoes until the first frost.

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Question

Something is gradually eating the leaves of my cherry tomato plant. What should I do to stop it?

Community Answer

One type of insect that eats varieties of tomatoes would be the tomato hornworm. You can either pick the large caterpillars off yourself (you can find them a little easier during the morning or evening), or you can use an insecticide.

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Question

Why do cherry tomatoes sometimes split open?

Community Answer

They are probably overripe if they split, because overripe tomatoes get very soft.

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Question

How tall will the plants get?

Community Answer

In my experience, anywhere from 4 to 10 feet.

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Question

Must cherry tomatoes be planted in a cage? Please help.

Community Answer

A cage is recommended, but you can also use a wooden stake. If you have a balcony, you can use the poles of the balcony. The vine will need support to grow.

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Question

What do brown areas on leaves mean?

Community Answer

It could mean that there is a fungus, it hasn't been exposed to enough sunlight, or it is not being watered enough.

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Can you grow cherry tomatoes with other tomatoes?

Community Answer

You can grow several types of tomatoes, but you should grow them in separate planters or spaces in the garden.

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My tomato plants are huge laden with tomatoes but they don't seem to be turning red - why?

Community Answer

It could be the variety of tomato you have. Some tomatoes turn yellow, or an amber color, instead of red.

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Question

Can I grow cherry tomatoes without using a pot?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as they are in a area where they receive a lot of sunlight, and are supported with something such as a post or fence.

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Question

How can I tell if my cherry tomatoes are ripe?

Community Answer

If your tomatoes are completely red, pull one off and try it.

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Question

Will the flowers on my cherry tomatoes wither before they begin to grow a tomato?

Community Answer

Yes, they will. Sometimes they will stay attached to the bottom of the tomatoes too.

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Question

Do I need to remove side shoots with cherry tomatoes?

Community Answer

Yes, you should. Secondary shoots on any tomato plant will not bear fruit. Be sure to only remove the secondary shoots growing in between the main stem and primary shoots.

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Question

Do cherry tomatoes do well hanging? My plant has grown well and at this stage has flowers. Will it continue to grow, or should it hang?

Community Answer

When my plant got big enough that it was starting to topple over, I found a large wooden post and just used some torn t-shirt strips to attach it. I use t-shirt strips or rags because they hold better than metal and better accommodate the plant's growing needs. I would suggest this strategy over hanging the plant.

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Question

How can I get my tomatoes to produce more fruit?

Community Answer

I would recommend using some good fertilizers like Miracle-Gro to encourage more flowers on your plants, which means more tomatoes!

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Question

What does the first bud of a tomato look like?

Community Answer

My cherry tomato flowers are a light yellow. Soon after, there are small green berries that become larger as they grow into tomatoes.

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Question

Can I dry the tomatoes to get the seeds? And should I soak the seeds in salt water?

Community Answer

If they are not hybrid, you can collect the seeds for planting. No need to soak in any water.

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Question

When should tomatoes be planted outside?

Community Answer

Begin planting in warm weather. Cherry tomatoes need warm weather to grow, and they will die when exposed to frost. The last frost date should pass a week before you begin planting. If planting from seeds, you will need two or three months of warm or hot weather to grow and harvest tomatoes. The weather should be around 70 in Fahrenheit and around 21 in Celsius when planting seedlings.

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Question

What is the white foam-like substance I'm finding on my cherry tomatoes?

Community Answer

It must be the excretory product of an insect. It just dries out and then acts as a shelter for the pests. Try to remove them from the affected leaves.

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Question

What do I do with the plant after it has finished fruiting? Can I keep it for another year, or is it no good afterward?

Community Answer

It cannot be kept for another year; the best idea is to dispose of the plant in a compost bin.

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Question

Can I plant them without a cage or stakes?

Community Answer

Not really, although with good planting, tomatoes can support themselves for a certain amount of time. However, they cannot support themselves once they reach a certain height, and certainly not when they start to bear fruit.

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Question

When exactly do I pick them?

Community Answer

Once cherry tomatoes are ripe or red, they can easily be picked from the stem.

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Question

When the tomatoes are planted outdoors, how much water do they need?

Community Answer

1-2 inches a week depending on your weather, or you could just make sure your dirt is always moist, but not drowning.

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Question

My cherry tomato plant has some yellow leaves and some dead ones but the tomatoes are still growing. Can I eat them?

Community Answer

Unless you can see (or smell) that the tomatoes themselves have been affected, they should be fine to eat, but if you don't find out what is making your plant sick, it will die soon.

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Question

Can I use seeds from cherry tomatoes I bought at the supermarket?

Artluvva

Community Answer

Some hybrid seeds are sterile, but it is worth trying. I have grown some lovely plum tomatoes from shop-bought tomatoes.

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Question

Should I pull the suckers off the plants?

Community Answer

Most people say to pull them until the plant is about 5 feet tall to have a stronger stem, while others don’t pull them at all.

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Question

Should I incorporate a cage if my cherry tomato is growing without one or should I just leave it alone?

Community Answer

Add a cage soon, as cherry tomato plants grow very fast and are very tall. Without a cage, it can cause the fruit to get eaten, and the plant will be very hard to manage.

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Question

What time should you begin planting?

Don Dattler

Community Answer

Wait until the seedling has at least 4 leaves on it. Then, at least a few days after, harden them off outdoors.

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