How to Grow to Cherry Tomatoes in Cleveland
Cherry tomatoes are one of the easiest and most rewarding garden crops for beginners and pros alike. Start them from seed indoors, give them full sun, support them with a cage or stake, and you’ll enjoy a steady harvest of sweet, bite-sized fruits all summer long. Learn how to grow, harvest, preserve, and use them in this complete guide.
The Complete How to Grow to Cherry Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) Guide
Cherry tomatoes are a garden favorite for a reason. These small, round fruits pack a sweet punch, grow quickly, and produce abundantly from midsummer into the first frost. Whether you’re planting your very first vegetable or looking to master tomato growing, cherry tomatoes are a forgiving, flavorful choice.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything from seed starting and transplanting to harvesting, preserving, and enjoying your cherry tomatoes — all in one place.
🍅 Meet the Cherry Tomato
Cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) are a small-fruited type of tomato that typically grows in clusters on vigorous, fast-growing vines. They range from dime-sized to golf ball-sized and come in red, yellow, orange, black, and even striped varieties. Some are round, others slightly oblong (often called grape tomatoes).
They’re closely related to larger slicing tomatoes, but cherry tomatoes tend to be sweeter, faster to ripen, and more prolific, making them perfect for fresh snacking, salads, roasting, and drying.
🌱 Starting Cherry Tomatoes From Seed
When to Start
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last expected frost date. In Northeast Ohio, that usually means starting them in early to mid-March for transplanting in May.
How to Start
- Use a seed-starting mix and shallow trays or cell packs.
- Sow seeds ¼ inch deep.
- Keep soil moist and warm (70–80°F) for best germination.
- Seeds typically sprout in 5–10 days.
Once seedlings emerge, move them to a bright south-facing window or grow light setup. Keep lights close to the tops of the plants to prevent legginess.
Potting Up
When plants develop their first set of “true” leaves (not just the seed leaves), transplant them into larger containers. Bury the stem up to the first leaves — tomatoes grow roots along their buried stems, which strengthens the plant.
Harden off seedlings gradually for about a week before planting them outdoors to prevent transplant shock.
🌤️ Planting and Transplanting Outdoors
When to Transplant
Wait until after your last frost, when nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F and soil is consistently warm. In most temperate regions, that’s mid to late May.
Site Selection
Choose a spot with full sun (6–8+ hours per day) and well-draining soil rich in compost or organic matter. Tomatoes are heavy feeders.
Planting Tips
- Space cherry tomato plants 2–3 feet apart for airflow.
- Bury the plant deep — up to the top few leaves if it’s tall and leggy.
- Water thoroughly after transplanting.
- Mulch around the base with straw or shredded leaves to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Don’t forget to install a tomato cage or stake at planting time to avoid disturbing roots later.
🌿 Growing Tips for Healthy Cherry Tomatoes
- Water consistently. Tomatoes prefer deep, regular watering. Avoid letting them dry out completely between waterings or get waterlogged.
- Feed them. Use a balanced organic fertilizer every 3–4 weeks, or add compost and worm castings to the soil.
- Prune suckers (the shoots that grow in the joint of branches and stems) for larger fruit and better airflow — especially with indeterminate varieties.
- Support growth. Indeterminate (vining) cherry tomatoes grow all season and need support. Determinate (bush-type) varieties are more compact and often don’t require as much staking.
- Watch for pests. Aphids, hornworms, and spider mites are common. Neem oil, insecticidal soap, or hand-picking can help control them.
🌿 Can You Propagate Cherry Tomatoes?
Yes — and it’s surprisingly easy. Tomato plants are one of the simplest crops to propagate from cuttings.
How to Propagate
- Cut a healthy sucker or side branch about 6–8 inches long.
- Remove the lower leaves.
- Stick the stem into moist potting soil or water.
- Roots will form in 1–2 weeks, and the cutting can be transplanted outdoors once established.
🍒 When to Harvest Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes ripen quickly, usually 60–75 days after transplanting. You’ll know they’re ready when the fruits have reached full color (red, yellow, orange, etc.) and easily come off the vine with a gentle tug.
Try not to wait too long after ripening — overripe cherry tomatoes can split or fall off. Harvest every few days to stay ahead of them.
Tip: Morning harvests give you the firmest fruit. Afternoon-picked tomatoes will be warm and juicier, but may bruise more easily.
🧊 Preserving the Harvest
Cherry tomatoes can produce dozens — even hundreds — of fruits per plant. Here’s how to make the most of your bounty:
Freezing
Wash and dry them, then freeze whole on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag. Great for soups and sauces — the skins slide off easily after thawing.
Roasting and Storing in Oil
Slow-roast halved tomatoes at 250°F for 2–3 hours with olive oil, garlic, and herbs. Store in the fridge (or freezer) in jars. Use for pasta, toast, or pizza.
Dehydrating
Dry cherry tomatoes in a food dehydrator or low oven (170–200°F) until leathery. Store in airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags.
Fermenting
Ferment whole or halved cherry tomatoes in a salt brine for a tangy probiotic snack.
🥗 How to Use Cherry Tomatoes
Fresh off the vine is hard to beat, but here are more ways to enjoy your harvest:
- In salads: Classic caprese, pasta salad, cucumber-tomato salad
- Roasted: Toss with olive oil and roast to bring out their sweetness
- Sautéed or blistered: Great with garlic, basil, and pasta
- Skewered on kebabs or grilled with vegetables
- Stuffed with cheese or herbs as appetizers
- Cooked down into sauces, soups, or tomato jam
They’re also perfect for kids’ lunches, charcuterie boards, or quick garden snacking.
🍅 Recommended Varieties to Try
- Sun Gold: Bright orange, ultra-sweet, fast-growing
- Sweet 100 / Super Sweet 100: Classic red cherry with long trusses of fruit
- Black Cherry: Deep purple-red, rich and smoky flavor
- Tiny Tim: Dwarf, compact plant — great for containers or patios
- Juliet (technically a grape tomato): Meaty and great for drying or roasting
Conclusion
Cherry tomatoes are one of the most beginner-friendly, space-efficient, and satisfying crops you can grow. Whether you’re planting them in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers, their fast growth and constant production make them a garden MVP. And with the right care, you can enjoy months of fresh harvests and preserve enough to enjoy long after summer ends.
Bookmark this guide, come back to it during each phase of your cherry tomato journey, and get ready for a growing season filled with sweet, sun-kissed success.
No Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.