Description of the cherry tomato variety Red Cherry, cultivation and yield

The Cherry Red cherry tomato is considered a fairly common tomato variety, often found in gardens. These tomatoes have gained such popularity due to their excellent taste, which distinguishes them from other varieties.

Even an inexperienced gardener who has never planted red cherries before can grow them. However, before planting, it's still recommended to thoroughly study the description of this tomato.

Description of the variety

It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the variety in advance, as its characteristics will help in the future when planting and growing tomato bushes.

Red cherry tomatoes are early-ripening, tall-growing tomatoes with excellent yields. Vegetable growers harvest at least two kilograms of ripe fruit per season from a single mature plant.

When grown in suitable conditions, each bush grows up to two and a half meters in height. Therefore, it is recommended to install special supports near each plant to prevent tall bushes from breaking in strong winds or under the weight of the fruit. Mature plants are characterized by moderate branching and sparse foliage. The leaves on the bushes are quite small and dark green.

The Cherry tomato is often used by vegetable growers for planting in gardens. However, this variety also grows well in greenhouses. When growing tomatoes outdoors, extreme caution is necessary, as they are susceptible to mosaic and fusarium wilt.

Two and a half months after planting, the bushes are covered with small fruits weighing about 20 grams. They are covered with a smooth, dense skin that does not crack at any temperature. The main advantage of ripe fruits is their taste. They have a pleasant, slightly sweet flavor, without any tartness.

Growing

Cherry tomatoes are most often planted using seedlings, and therefore it is recommended to grow seedlings in advance.

Growing seedlings

Planting seeds for young seedlings begins in late March or early April. Before planting, you'll need to select suitable seeds. To do this, soak all seeds in a weak salt solution for 5-8 minutes. Seeds that float to the surface are unsuitable for planting and should be discarded immediately.

After preparing the seed, prepare the soil and pots for planting. All the soil in the pots is moistened with warm water and leveled. Small holes, 1–2 cm deep, are then dug in the soil. Next, the seeds are planted, placing 1–2 seeds in each hole. The pots with planted tomatoes are covered with film and transferred to a warm room.

Planting seedlings

Red cherries are planted in the soil in the second half of May or early June, once all night frosts have passed. Planting tomatoes in open ground begins with preparing the soil. The soil is thoroughly dug and fertilized with organic fertilizer. Then, holes are dug in the soil at least 65–70 cm apart. Each hole is fertilized again and watered with warm water, after which the seedlings are planted.

Care Features

Care for planted tomatoes must be carried out correctly, as the quality and quantity of the harvest depends on it.

Watering

Regular watering is recommended to ensure the tomato plants always have sufficient moisture. However, it's best not to water the seedlings for the first 5-10 days after transplanting them outdoors. Once established, water the soil 2-3 times a week. On hot summer days, double the watering frequency, as the soil dries out more quickly in high temperatures.

Loosening

After each watering, loosen the soil to remove any surface crust and weeds. The soil should be loosened to a depth of about 10–12 cm to ensure adequate oxygen supply to the topsoil.

Top dressing

To ensure a good harvest, you'll need to fertilize your plants regularly. Bird droppings are often used as a fertilizer, as they contain all the beneficial micronutrients tomatoes need. To prepare a fertilizer solution, add about 450 grams of bird droppings to 10 liters of water.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cherry tomatoes offer a number of advantages that distinguish them from other tomato varieties. Key benefits of these vegetables include:

• ease of cultivation and unpretentiousness in care;
• taste qualities;
• early ripening of fruits;
• resistance to almost any temperature;
• resistance to most pests and diseases;
• decorativeness.

The Red Cherry tomato variety has far fewer disadvantages than advantages. The main drawbacks include:

• the need for regular pinching of bushes and tying them to supports;
• sensitivity to soil moisture levels;
• short shelf life of fruits.

Pests and diseases

Growing tomatoes often comes with problems related to pests and diseases. Even in greenhouses, tomato plants are susceptible to most of the same diseases that occur in gardens. Late blight is particularly notable, as it frequently attacks tomato plants. It occurs in conditions of high humidity and cool temperatures.

Bushes infected with late blight gradually turn yellow and dry out.

Among the pests, spider mites stand out, feeding on the sap of plant leaves. These insects suck out all the beneficial micronutrients from the leaves, causing them to dry out and fall off.

The pest prefers dry air and therefore appears more often if tomato plants are under-watered. To get rid of spider mites, you'll need to treat the seedlings with Fitoverm several times.

Harvesting and storage

Tomato cultivation always ends with harvesting ripe tomatoes. This can be done at any stage of ripeness, depending on the harvesting goals. Therefore, some even harvest the fruits when they are just beginning to ripen.

Gardeners most often harvest ripe red tomatoes, which are used to make fresh vegetable salads or for winter preserves. Brown tomatoes are harvested for pickling or barrel-brining.

Green or pink fruits are not harvested as often due to their distinctive flavor. However, they can still be used in preserving salads and other dishes.

To store the harvested crop, use crates or cardboard boxes. It's recommended to line the bottom with cardboard or paper to prevent the tomatoes from rotting during storage.

Gardeners' reviews

Anton, 35 years old:

"This year, I decided to plant a cherry tomato for the first time, and I can say I'm pleased. I was surprised by the rapid germination of the seeds and the yield of this variety. The fruits formed quickly, and there were many on each plant. Honestly, this is the most productive variety I've grown at my dacha. The only drawback I encountered was the poor storage quality of the tomatoes."

Olga, 30 years old:

"I've been growing Red Cherry tomatoes for several years now, so I know all the advantages and disadvantages of these tomatoes. Among the variety's advantages, I'd highlight its pleasant taste, insect resistance, and quick ripening. The decorative appearance of the bushes is also pleasing to the eye. However, I don't like the height of the bushes at all. I think two meters is too tall for tomatoes."

Conclusion

Many gardeners and tomato enthusiasts grow Vishenka tomatoes. To grow this variety and reap a bountiful harvest, it's important to learn the specifics of planting Red Cherry and read reviews from people who have grown it.