When to Plant Cherry Tomato in Elwood, Illinois (60421)

Location

Elwood, Illinois

ZIP Code

60421

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Monday, April 20, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Monday, March 9, 2026

Transplant Outdoors

Monday, May 4, 2026

Based on last frost Monday, April 20, 2026 · Zone 6a

Pro tip: Start Cherry Tomato seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Monday, May 4, 2026.

Add to Calendar (.ics)

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme

Days to Maturity 60 days

Mature Height 48-96"

Spread 24"

Type Indeterminate

Fruit Size Small (0.5-1 oz)

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6-8 hours)

💧

Water

Regular (1-2 inches/week)

↔️

Spacing

24" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.25" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days

Ready to Plant Cherry Tomato in Elwood?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Monday, March 9, 2026.

🛒 Buy on Amazon 🌿 True Leaf Market

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Common Cherry Tomato Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Sun Gold

hybrid 57d

Intensely sweet orange cherry; one of the most popular snacking varieties in home gardens.

Sweet Million

hybrid 65d

Produces huge clusters of small red cherries with classic tomato flavor.

Black Cherry

heirloom 64d

Rich, complex-flavored dark cherry tomato with stunning deep mahogany color.

Yellow Pear

heirloom 78d

Whimsical teardrop-shaped yellow cherries; mild and sweet, great for salads.

Juliet

hybrid 60d

Grape-style cherry that's crack-resistant and extremely prolific — a go-to for snacking.

Common Cherry Tomato Problems

What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.

🐛

Pests

Aphids

Cluster on tender new growth, causing distorted leaves and a sticky honeydew residue.

Fix:

Strong water spray or insecticidal soap; attract beneficial insects with nearby flowers.

Spider Mites

Tiny mites that cause stippled, bronzed leaves; spider-like webbing is visible in heavy infestations.

Fix:

Increase humidity; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; avoid drought stress.

Tomato Fruitworm

Caterpillar that bores into developing fruit, ruining it from the inside.

Fix:

Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) when eggs are first seen; destroy affected fruit.

🍂

Diseases

Early Blight

Concentric dark spots on lower leaves spreading upward, common in humid conditions.

Fix:

Remove affected leaves; apply copper fungicide as a preventive in wet seasons.

Septoria Leaf Spot

Numerous small, circular spots with dark borders; leaves yellow and drop prematurely.

Fix:

Avoid wetting foliage; stake plants for airflow; remove infected leaves immediately.

💡

Common Mistakes

Letting fruit overripen on the vine

Overripe cherry tomatoes split and invite disease and pests.

Fix:

Harvest every 2–3 days once color breaks; consistent picking encourages more fruit set.

Overcrowding

Cherry tomatoes planted too close have poor airflow, leading to disease.

Fix:

Space 24–36 inches apart; stake or cage early to keep foliage off the ground.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟢 Easy

⚠️ Many varieties are F1 hybrid — look for OP/heirloom types

When to Harvest Seed

Let fruit fully ripen and slightly soften before harvesting seeds.

Processing

Squeeze seeds into water, ferment 2–3 days, rinse and dry flat.

Seed Viability

Up to 4 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Many cherry tomatoes are F1 hybrids (e.g., Sungold). Look for OP varieties like Black Cherry or Yellow Pear for true seed.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 8 plants of Cherry Tomato. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cherry Tomato in Elwood, Illinois? +

In Elwood (Zone 6a), start Cherry Tomato seeds indoors around Monday, March 9, 2026 and transplant outdoors around Monday, May 4, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Elwood, Illinois? +

The average last spring frost date for Elwood, Illinois (ZIP 60421) is around Monday, April 20, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 6a.

How long does Cherry Tomato take to grow? +

Cherry Tomato typically matures in about 60 days from transplanting. In Elwood, that means you can expect harvest around Monday, May 4, 2026 plus 60 days.

Should I start Cherry Tomato indoors or direct sow in Illinois? +

Cherry Tomato should be started indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date. In Elwood, that means starting around Monday, March 9, 2026.

📚 More Cherry Tomato Planting Guides

🗺️

Cherry Tomato in Illinois

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 6a Cherry Tomato Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Elwood

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Cherry Tomato in Zone 6a

Cherry Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) is a popular garden vegetable. In Elwood, Illinois, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a, you should start seeds indoors around Monday, March 9, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Monday, April 20, 2026. Plan to transplant your Cherry Tomato seedlings outdoors around Monday, May 4, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.