How to Grow Cherry Tomato
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🛠️ Supplies You'll Need
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🌿 Plant Overview
☀️ Growing Requirements
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Sun
Full Sun (6-8 hours)
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Water
Regular (1-2 inches/week)
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Spacing
24" apart
🌱
Depth
0.25" deep
📏
Height
48-96"
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Germination
7-14 days
Ready to Grow Cherry Tomato?
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Companion Planting Guide for Cherry Tomato
Discover which plants grow well with Cherry Tomato and which to keep at a distance for a healthier garden →
Common Cherry Tomato Varieties
Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.
Sun Gold
Intensely sweet orange cherry; one of the most popular snacking varieties in home gardens.
Sweet Million
Produces huge clusters of small red cherries with classic tomato flavor.
Black Cherry
Rich, complex-flavored dark cherry tomato with stunning deep mahogany color.
Yellow Pear
Whimsical teardrop-shaped yellow cherries; mild and sweet, great for salads.
Juliet
Grape-style cherry that's crack-resistant and extremely prolific — a go-to for snacking.
Days-to-maturity figures are approximate and vary by climate and growing conditions.
Common Cherry Tomato Problems
What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.
Pests
Cluster on tender new growth, causing distorted leaves and a sticky honeydew residue.
Strong water spray or insecticidal soap; attract beneficial insects with nearby flowers.
Tiny mites that cause stippled, bronzed leaves; spider-like webbing is visible in heavy infestations.
Increase humidity; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; avoid drought stress.
Caterpillar that bores into developing fruit, ruining it from the inside.
Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) when eggs are first seen; destroy affected fruit.
Diseases
Concentric dark spots on lower leaves spreading upward, common in humid conditions.
Remove affected leaves; apply copper fungicide as a preventive in wet seasons.
Numerous small, circular spots with dark borders; leaves yellow and drop prematurely.
Avoid wetting foliage; stake plants for airflow; remove infected leaves immediately.
Common Mistakes
Overripe cherry tomatoes split and invite disease and pests.
Harvest every 2–3 days once color breaks; consistent picking encourages more fruit set.
Cherry tomatoes planted too close have poor airflow, leading to disease.
Space 24–36 inches apart; stake or cage early to keep foliage off the ground.
🌾 Seed Saving Guide
🟢 EasyWhen 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.
Seed Storage Supplies
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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 →
Cherry Tomato Planting Calendar by Zone
Cherry Tomato Planting Calendar by State
Other Plants
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Cherry Tomato? +
Start Cherry Tomato seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors 2 weeks after the last frost. Use the search on this page to find exact dates for your ZIP code or city.
How long does Cherry Tomato take to grow? +
Cherry Tomato typically matures in about 60 days from planting. Exact timing varies by variety, soil conditions, and local climate.
Should I start Cherry Tomato indoors or direct sow? +
Cherry Tomato should be started indoors 6 weeks before the last frost date. This gives seedlings time to establish before being transplanted outside after frost danger has passed.
How much sun does Cherry Tomato need? +
Cherry Tomato requires full sun (6-8 hours) to thrive.
How far apart should I plant Cherry Tomato? +
Space Cherry Tomato plants 24 inches apart to allow adequate airflow and root development.
How much water does Cherry Tomato need? +
Cherry Tomato has regular (1-2 inches/week) water needs. Consistent moisture is important especially during germination and early growth.
Can you save seeds from Cherry Tomato? +
Yes — seed saving difficulty for Cherry Tomato is rated easy. Let fruit fully ripen and slightly soften before harvesting seeds. Squeeze seeds into water, ferment 2–3 days, rinse and dry flat.
How long do Cherry Tomato seeds last in storage? +
Properly dried and stored Cherry Tomato seeds remain viable for up to 4 years. Store in a cool, dark, dry location in an airtight container with a silica gel packet for best results.
Are Cherry Tomato seeds open-pollinated? +
Many commonly sold Cherry Tomato varieties are F1 hybrids, meaning seeds saved from them will not grow true to the parent plant. For reliable seed saving, look specifically for open-pollinated or heirloom varieties.
About Cherry Tomato
Prolific producer of sweet, bite-sized fruits. Great for snacking, salads, and roasting.
Expect your Cherry Tomato to be ready for harvest in approximately 60 days from planting.
Use the search above or browse by zone or state to find the perfect planting dates for your location.