The lack of a summer cottage is not a reason to give up the pleasure of planting vegetables, caring for them and harvesting them. They can be grown at home, without tedious trips to the country. For example, there are varieties of small-fruited tomatoes for growing in an apartment or on a balcony.
Cherry tomatoes on the windowsill will bring tasty fruits and also decorate the house. They can be grown at any time of the year, so they are also suitable for those gardeners who miss their beds in winter.
Window sill equipment for growing cherry tomatoes
Since tomatoes will grow in short-day conditions, and they need sunlight, they are placed on southern windows. But even in this case, the lighting will not be enough, because for normal growth and development the plants need to be illuminated for at least 12-14 hours. Therefore, to successfully grow cherry tomatoes on the windowsill, they need to be illuminated with special lamps, turning them on in the morning and evening.
As for the temperature, it is desirable that it be within 18-28 C. If it is hot, the tomatoes will bloom, but there will be little ovary. The air in the room is dry, so from time to time the plants are sprayed with water and the room is ventilated.
The pots are placed away from the radiators, or the radiators are covered with thick fabric to protect the plants from the heat coming from them. If tomatoes are grown on a loggia, then care must be taken to insulate it; tomatoes cannot withstand temperatures below 0 °C; in frosty conditions they may die on a poorly insulated balcony.
Features of cultivation
Growing equipment
- seeds;
- container for sowing seeds;
- containers for picking;
- soil and organic fertilizers;
- fluorescent lamps.
For favorable growth and care, bushes need to create conditions, suitable conditions according to the characteristics of the species.
- Watering and humidity levels for cherry tomatoes do not differ from irrigation for classic greenhouse varieties (Kumato, Danko, Red Arrow). For example, in cloudy weather, watering is reduced to a minimum, and farmers advise hanging a hygrometer near the bushes. It will show what humidity is around the tomatoes.
- Cherries were created by breeders as a self-pollinating species. But still, to help the ovaries form, gardeners pass with a brush. Artificially transferring pollen from flower to flower.
- For better branching of the root system, pinch the very tip of the root.
For better branching, cherry tomatoes are pinched
Stepchildren
If the stepsons of ground and greenhouse tomatoes are torn off and thrown away, then cherry tomatoes can be left on the windowsills in order to obtain not only a fruit-bearing plant, but also a beautiful window decor.
If you decide to create aesthetics, then you need to increase watering and add an additional dose of fertilizer. Also prepare a larger pot in advance where the bush will be transplanted later. Read about the best varieties of tomatoes for open ground in this article.
Stepchildren of Cherry tomato are planted for cultivation
If it is no longer possible to transplant into a larger volume, then you should carefully remove the top layer of soil and replace it with a more fertile one.
Soil preparation
The ideal soil for tomatoes and cucumbers on the windowsill is garden soil, sand and humus. All ingredients are collected in equal proportions with the addition of crushed eggshells and a tablespoon of ash. Read about the orange variety of tomatoes here.
It is best to prepare a bag of soil in the fall, after steaming it or spilling it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After all the procedures have been completed, the finished substance is put into the refrigerator.
The second option for preparing the soil is to buy ready-made soil in the store. Typically, the packages are marked with the appropriate composition by listing the crops.
Different types of soils
Landing
Like regular tomatoes, cherry tomatoes are grown from seedlings. For this:
- make grooves in the soil, no more than half a cm deep;
- pour seeds there and cover with soil;
- spray the ground, cover with film;
- put in a warm and dark place.
After the first shoots appear, the film can be removed and the container can be placed in the sunny side.
To grow seedlings, seeds are placed under film
To evenly distribute light to the seedlings, install a shield with foil to reflect the sun's rays and help distribute heat evenly.
Where to place
The container for the tomato is chosen carefully, so that the root system is at ease. For these purposes, a pot with a maximum width of 20 cm and a depth of about 15 cm is suitable. Such dimensions will not allow the bush to grow, and if you regularly feed the cherry trees, they will bear fruit abundantly and well.
It is ideal to place the pots on an insulated loggia; if this is not possible, then on the sunny south, south-east side of the apartment. This material will tell you about Dutch varieties of tomatoes.
The ideal place for growing Cherry tomatoes is an insulated loggia
Which cherry tomatoes are suitable for growing at home?
Important characteristics that a tomato variety for growing on a windowsill must meet are rapid growth, short stature (no higher than 0.5 m), productivity, the beginning of fruit ripening no more than 3 months after germination, extended fruiting. Quite a few varieties of indoor tomatoes have already been bred. Their fruits differ in shape, color and flavor, but what they have in common is that their weight does not exceed 25 g.
Example of varieties for indoor growing:
- Bonsai;
- Cherry;
- Cranberries in sugar;
- Pygmy;
- Golden bunch;
- Pearl;
- Baby;
- Minibel;
- Children's sweet;
- Rapunzel;
- Rowan beads;
- Balcony miracle;
- Pinocchio;
- Thumbelina.
Packages of cherry tomato seeds should be marked indicating that they are suitable for indoor or balcony cultivation.
Transplanting seedlings into larger containers
Cherry tomatoes are grown on a windowsill in standard flower pots. When the sprout forms 4 main leaves and the stem grows to 12-15 cm, it can be transplanted into a large pot. The soil remains the same as for planting seeds. The window sill needs to be additionally equipped before installing the plants: lay a warm blanket on it, since cold plastic will prevent roots from developing.
Cherry seedling transplantation
You need to deepen the sprout 1 cm deeper than the developed roots to allow the plant to grow new ones. Immediately after planting, the seedlings need to be watered; the next watering is recommended after a week.
How to grow tomatoes on a window
Growing cherry tomatoes on a windowsill is no more difficult than ordinary tomatoes in garden beds. First you need to grow seedlings from seeds and plant them in a pot. Care will consist of watering, fertilizing, loosening, shaping the bush, and carrying out preventive and protective spraying against diseases.
Soil preparation
You can prepare the substrate yourself or buy it ready-made in the store. In the first case, they take turf soil, humus, and peat in equal proportions, add ash and sand to them. Mix everything well, pour in potassium permanganate and dry. If it is not possible to prepare a soil mixture, you can buy it at the store. The substrate is suitable for growing vegetable seedlings; you can grow not only seedlings in it, but also adult plants.
Seed preparation
Before planting seeds for seedlings, they need to be prepared - select the largest, regular-shaped and full-bodied ones, soak them in potassium permanganate or a fungicide solution for 20 minutes, rinse, wrap in a damp cloth and leave for a day to swell.
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Choosing a container and sowing tomatoes
Sow seeds in seedling pots or plastic cups with a volume of about 150 ml or in one large wide container to a depth of 1 cm, placement density is approximately 1.5 cm by 5 cm (row spacing). After sowing, the soil is moistened, covered with film and the containers are taken to a not very lighted but warm place.
Growing seedlings
Water the cherry tomato seedlings with warm water that has been standing for 1 day; it is convenient to moisten the soil with a spray bottle; the volume of water should be such as to wet the substrate, but not make it wet. Feed after 2 weeks with complex fertilizers, for example Crystallon.
Picking seedlings
To grow cherry tomato seedlings strong and healthy, with strong roots, they are planted in separate pots when they have 2-3 leaves. Containers for further growth of seedlings must be at least 0.2 liters.
Transferring seedlings into containers for further cultivation
Balcony cherry tomatoes are medium-sized plants with a small root system; indoors they grow well in ordinary flower pots. Pots should be deep and round, with a volume of at least 3-5 liters. The preferred natural material is ceramics, but plastic can also be used. A drainage layer of expanded clay or small pebbles is placed at the bottom of the pot, and the substrate is already poured onto it.
When the seedlings reach the age of 1 month, they are transplanted into pots. The day before transplanting, moisten the soil in cups to make it easier to remove the earthen ball with plant roots. The substrate is poured into the pots, on top of the drainage, but not to the top. A tomato taken out of a glass is placed in the center and sprinkled with substrate near the stem, moistening the soil.
Additional information for getting a good harvest of cherry tomatoes
It should be noted that all Cherry tomatoes, varieties of which are intended for growing at home, usually bear fruit 2-4 months after planting. At the same time, ripening occurs quite quickly, and with good fertilizers and abundant watering, the bush can bear fruit for 5-6 months. It is important to know that Cherry tomatoes do not shoot, and for a good harvest, the main leaves of the bushes cannot be cut off. During the period of ovaries, there is no need to feed, since this should be done at the very beginning of planting, when the shoots are stretching and the ground part is developing, and also after the fruits have set and turned into small green berries.
Growing in suitable containers
You should be very careful when choosing suitable pots, since the good condition of the plant directly depends on the condition of the root system. In principle, the containers should not be very deep, since pots 10-15 cm deep but up to 20 cm wide are suitable here. The main factors that influence good fruiting are also the degree of illumination and the optimal temperature. The most suitable place for growing crops is a wide window sill, but if there is an insulated loggia, then it is also perfect for these purposes.
Tasty and healthy Cherry tomatoes, the cultivation of which is accessible to everyone today, are grown today by many of our compatriots, and many of them willingly share tips and little secrets of a good harvest. Thanks to the long harvesting cycle, a person can always serve fresh and tasty tomatoes that have a pleasant aroma and delicious taste. In this case, it is best to pick the fruits when they are brown, which at the same time allows you to speed up the ripening of other fruits. If the weather is cloudy for a long period of time, many home gardeners recommend turning on a table lamp to better illuminate the plant, which promotes good plant growth.
Tasty and healthy cherry tomato fruits are available to everyone
If you carefully study the features of growing this variety of tomatoes, you can come to the conclusion that, in principle, there is nothing complicated about it. Many thousands of our compatriots turn their balconies and loggias into some kind of winter garden. Only instead of flowers you can see the ovaries of small bright red fruits. And how pleasant it is to eat tomatoes grown on your windowsill, since their delicious aroma can never compare with store-bought vegetables.
In conclusion, it should be noted that with a responsible approach and careful study of all the necessary tips and recommendations, the chances of obtaining an excellent result are significantly increased. The most important thing is patience, which will definitely pay off with a bountiful and tasty harvest, which all family members will surely appreciate. Bright and colorful cherry tomatoes, photos of which can be found on the Internet, best prove the fact that it is quite possible to get a bountiful harvest.
Features of growing tomato seedlings at home - read this article on our website!
How to care for domestic cherry tomatoes
They are placed on the windowsill where cherry tomatoes will grow constantly. Caring for them is practically no different from caring for ordinary garden tomatoes.
Watering and fertilizing for indoor tomatoes
In terms of watering and nutrition, growing tomatoes indoors is even easier than in a garden: the plants are in approximately the same conditions throughout their growing season, temperature and humidity change little. Tomatoes do not suffer from temperature changes, drought or bad weather. Therefore, when growing at home, it is easier to maintain a watering regime - it is enough to water the plants about 2 times a week with warm water. Do not overwater the plants to prevent the roots from rotting. From time to time, tomatoes are sprayed to increase humidity.
With fertilizing, everything is also simple - it is difficult for residents of city apartments to get organic matter, so almost the only option is the use of mineral complex fertilizers. They water cherry tomatoes every 1.5-2 weeks, diluting nutrient solutions according to the instructions.
Loosening
1-2 days after each watering, the soil is loosened. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the roots located close to the surface.
Pinching and pruning
The package with cherry tomato seeds should indicate whether it is necessary to form a bush or not. Usually bushes are grown with 1, 2 and 3 stems. It is simple to form tomatoes according to this scheme - in the first case, you need to tear off all the stepsons, in the second case, leave 1 bottom one, in the third case, leave the main stem and 2 lower stepsons. Trimmed stepsons can be rooted in water with the addition of fertilizers or a growth stimulant, and when after about 1.5 weeks they take root, plant them in new pots. If the bush is tall and therefore unstable, it needs to be tied to a support.
Pollination
In order for tomatoes to set more actively, indoor cherry flowers will have to be pollinated by hand, because there are no bees in the room. To do this, bushes with blooming flowers are slightly shaken, or a soft brush is passed over the flowers to transfer pollen from one to another. However, now there are varieties that do not require pollination. You can help tomatoes set more fruits by spraying them with a drug to stimulate flowering Ovary or similar.
Tomato care
From the moment of transplantation to a permanent place, the plant will need about two weeks to fully settle in and survive stress. Its further development depends entirely on quality care.
Without regular watering and fertilizing, a tomato simply cannot survive in an artificial habitat. On closed loggias and balconies it is necessary to maintain humidity and temperature conditions and ensure a flow of fresh air.
Important! Drying out the soil is a serious stress for tomatoes. The plant strives to get rid of flowers and ovaries, which consume a significant proportion of its nutrition.
Features of watering
Tomatoes are quite drought-resistant, but during the period of flowering and fruit formation, the plant’s need for water increases significantly . Watering should be moderate, once every 2-3 days, in the morning.
As soon as the soil dries slightly, loosen the top layer. This reduces evaporation, provides the necessary air flow to the root system, and improves gas exchange.
A sharp decrease in soil moisture, which disrupts the growth and absorption of nutrients by roots, is unacceptable. As a result , flowers begin to fall off and fruits crack .
Fertilizing
Plants are fed with solutions of mineral fertilizers every 10-14 days.
- Until fruit set, fertilizers with a predominance of phosphorus . For 10 liters of water take 60 g of superphosphate, 15 g of ammonium nitrate, 49 g of potassium chloride.
- With the beginning of fruiting, the amount of superphosphate is reduced to 40 g, the proportion of ammonium nitrate is increased to 40 g, and potassium chloride – to 60 g.
- You can also purchase complex fertilizers and prepare the fertilizer according to the instructions indicated on the package.
For one plant, depending on its size, use from 100 to 300 ml of solution at a time .
Bush formation
So-called balcony or indoor tomatoes are most often hybrids with a compact bush size. Plants at the genetic level independently limit the growth of lateral shoots.
Important! They do not require the formation of dwarf standard varieties, the height of which often does not exceed 30 cm. But it is necessary to monitor the growth of indeterminate and ampelous plants.
On tall tomatoes, after 5-6 bunches have formed, pinch off the growing point. They also take into account that the space on the balcony is extremely limited; it is wise to initially leave 1-2 stems on the plants and remove side shoots, unnecessary inflorescences, and even excess leaves.
But for balcony varieties, decorative appeal is important. In this matter, everyone has their own opinion and the right to experiment . There are examples of miniature tomatoes being grown upside down, contrary to common sense.
Prevention of diseases and pests
Cherry tomatoes at home can get sick just like garden tomatoes; they can also be affected by pests. To prevent fungal diseases, it is necessary to maintain optimal humidity in the room by ventilating it. It is necessary to inspect the bushes in order to detect signs of emerging diseases or notice pests in time. To combat them, it is better not to use chemicals, since the ripening time of indoor cherry tomatoes is short, and agrochemicals must be used long before harvesting the fruits. As a rule, in untreated cases, folk remedies are sufficient.
Features of planting and growing Cherry tomatoes
Knowing the basic secrets of growing Cherry tomatoes, a person will be able to correctly observe all the conditions that will contribute to good fruit set and high yield in general. First of all, it should be noted that, like other varieties, Cherry can be tall, medium and short, not counting the hybrid and varietal characteristics of each of them.
So, here we can give general recommendations, adhering to which the chances of getting tasty and juicy berries increase significantly. Of course, all operations must be performed with soul, but those who are going to grow Cherry tomatoes probably love to do this business. By setting a goal and describing step by step all the operations performed, you can hope for undoubted success in the form of a good harvest of delicious tomatoes. Proper care of Cherry tomatoes will ensure undoubted success and the opportunity to treat your relatives with delicious vegetables.
Here's what you need to take note of when growing this tomato variety:
- Land for planting is usually taken in a ratio of sand and black soil of 1:4 or 1:3
- Cherry tomato seeds are not soaked before planting, but are immediately placed in boxes, cups or other containers prepared for planting, planting them not very deeply in the ground. It is recommended to cover the soil with transparent cling film
- After the first shoots appear, the film is removed, but not earlier than 5 days after planting.
- For better germination of seeds, immediately after planting them in the soil, water the ground with warm water.
- After the sprouts have grown by 5-6 cm, thinning is done, but if not all of the seeds have sprouted, thinning may not be necessary.
- The plants are periodically watered, the soil is kept loose (to allow air to reach the roots).
- In order for home-grown Cherry tomatoes to produce a bountiful harvest, they must be fed periodically, but not more than once a week.
- If tall varieties are planted, then it is necessary to place pegs to which the plant will be tied.
Tricks to note
When caring for tomatoes, ensure optimal humidity - excess moisture pushes the plant to grow, it actively grows stepsons. It is advisable to halve watering in cloudy weather. In tomatoes, the stamens are fused with the pistil, or rather around it, so they are self-pollinating. But increased soil moisture and environmental temperatures above 30 degrees make it difficult to form ovaries. Therefore, it is better to go over your cherry plants with a brush, helping them set fruit.
An interesting feature of tomatoes is their ability to root stems and cuttings. Therefore, it is not at all necessary to drive out the cherry blossoms for the windowsill from the seeds; you can transfer the plant directly from the garden, or root its stepsons or shoots.
If you want to root the stepsons, then add a drop of flower fertilizer to a glass of water. Under good room conditions, they will take root in just a week. But if you propagated cherry tomatoes this way in the fall, then in the spring it’s even easier to get good seedlings in two weeks! Such seedlings will be ready to bear fruit within a month, because you are taking part of an already developed bush.
Continuing to list the advantages of growing cherry tomatoes in this way, we can add that rooted tomatoes planted in open ground will have time to produce a harvest before the massive spread of late blight.
Well, in June you can safely replant newly rooted shoots, which will bear fruit until October. I can’t help but share the trick used by German gardeners to stop tomato seedlings from stretching out in low light conditions. They stroke the top of the shoots and leaves with a brush, thereby slightly damaging the hairs. Plants immediately slow down their growth and bush.
Also interesting is the experience of growing tomatoes in iron buckets. Such seedlings are not planted in the ground at all, and late blight does not affect them. Apparently, iron strongly inhibits this parasitic fungus.
Care
Watering
Tomatoes need to be watered regularly, but in moderation. They cannot tolerate soil drying out or waterlogging. It is convenient to use a kettle or a special attachment on a plastic bottle . Direct a stream of water onto the sides of the container to prevent blackleg disease.
The water should be warm, standing at room temperature for at least a day.
Temperature
Tomatoes are heat-loving plants; the air temperature must be at least 17 degrees, otherwise ovaries will not form. The growing premises are well ventilated; in summer the air temperature does not exceed 30 degrees.
Humidity
The ideal humidity for cherry tomatoes is at least 50% . At home, this can be achieved in the following ways:
- Spray the bushes 1-2 times;
- turn on a humidifier near the plants;
- control humidity using a hygrometer;
- regularly loosen the soil;
- Do not place plants near radiators.
Top dressing
Feeding at home should be regular and intensive.:
- During the period of green growth, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are added to the soil.
- When flowering, pay attention to the presence of phosphorus in the fertilizer.
- During fruiting, complex fertilizers are used, always containing potassium.
Feeding is carried out once every 8-10 days.
Features in winter
Tomatoes need at least 14 hours of daylight.
In winter, additional lighting using fluorescent lamps is a must. Place the plants on the windowsill of a window facing south or east. The pots are rotated daily to ensure even lighting .
Features of care
In the first weeks of growth, seedlings will need up to 8 hours of light. In cloudy weather and in winter, it is better to turn on the ultraviolet lamp. To prevent plants from developing one-sidedly, they need to be turned with their back side towards the sun every day. Then the leaves will grow evenly.
It is recommended to water 2-3 times a week, however, each apartment has its own microclimate. Therefore, you need to monitor the soil moisture and not let it dry out without flooding.
Features of care
You can fertilize from the first weeks of planting sprouts, but do this only once every two weeks. Both purchased fertilizer and homemade fertilizer are suitable. Natural manure and chicken droppings are good, only in the form of specially prepared solutions so as not to burn the roots.
How to plant tomatoes: technology step by step
- Before sowing, the treated soil mixture is watered abundantly.
- Seeds are planted to a depth of 3 cm, 2-3 in each pot.
- Cover with plastic wrap.
- Place in a warm place with a temperature of 20 -25 degrees.
- After the emergence of seedlings (on the 6th-7th day), the film is removed.
- Place the container in a permanent place.
