Is it necessary to plant cherry tomatoes: how to do it correctly? Varieties, characteristics of varieties, care in open ground, greenhouse

What varieties are there?

All varieties are divided into two types: table or technical. The former are also sometimes called salad. Canteens include the following types:

Cocktail. The fruits have a diameter of 3-4 centimeters. They have an exquisite taste. Can be vegetable or fruit.
Cherries are half the size. These tomatoes have a sweeter taste compared to others.
Kleisters differ in their maturation characteristics. They grow in clusters. All fruits reach maturity at the same time.
In currant-type tomatoes, the characteristics of wild tomatoes were more evident. Their size is so small that it does not exceed the size of large currant berries.

Each variety differs from each other in size, color and shape. Bushes can range in size from miniature to three meters.

Stepping depending on the variety

According to the growth pattern of the bush, all tomatoes are divided into 2 main types:

Indeterminate varieties. These are quite tall plants in which the growth of the top is not limited. Side branches also grow quickly. If such bushes are not formed according to the chosen pattern and the tops are not pinched, then they reach great heights and grow significantly in all directions. All this happens to the detriment of the quantity and quality of the fruit.
Determinate varieties. Their main difference from the previous variety is the limitation of the growth of the main stem. A fruiting vine forms at its top, which stops the plant from growing in height. Thus, the number of ovaries after the appearance of the upper inflorescence no longer increases, and therefore it is very important to correctly select the most fertile branch.

The question of how to pick off stepchildren can be answered as follows: different varieties require a specific approach, taking into account the characteristics of their natural formation. Indeterminate tomatoes can be planted using any pattern, but the 1-stem pattern is most often used. It is important to pinch tomatoes in the greenhouse (the top) in a timely manner to prevent excessive growth in height.

When growing in a greenhouse and using a 1-stem scheme, this technology is usually used. The remaining stem, as it grows, gradually descends to the ground and is laid on its surface. New stepsons that appear are constantly removed. 8-10 clusters are left on the main stems. The most common varieties are Major, Schastie, Sprut.

The formation of determinate tomatoes poses certain difficulties. To correctly select the highest quality stem, it is recommended to adhere to the following principles:

the most commonly used scheme is with 2 or 3 stems;
the stepsons break off when they reach a length of about 4 cm, when their viability can be assessed;
if there is doubt about the correctness of the choice, then it is better to temporarily leave several branches and remove unnecessary ones after the start of flowering;
when growing in open ground, it is possible to do without pinching, since the bushes can be placed at a sufficient distance from each other;
6-8 inflorescences remain on the remaining stem.

Rules for forming bushes

Growing cherry tomatoes has its own characteristics that must be taken into account. The fruits grow actively in all leaf axils. In order for the plant to focus its energy on its growth and maturation, they are removed. In this case, the length of the remaining stumps is no more than 3 centimeters.

This thinning begins after the fruit begins to grow. The leaves located under the brush must be carefully torn off. This is usually done in several steps.

This processing is necessary to allow the fruits to ripen. Only fully ripe fruits are harvested. This is due to the lower quality of previously ripe tomatoes.

Principles of stepsoning

When carrying out pinching, it is important not to harm the plant, and for this, this operation must be carried out within a certain time frame and according to specific rules. Experienced vegetable growers give the following fundamental recommendations:

The first planting of tomatoes in a greenhouse or garden should be done already on the first cluster during the flowering period.
Tomato shoots must be picked in a timely manner before they grow to 5 cm. Branches can be removed by pinching, breaking off or tearing off, but not by cutting.
All stepsons located below the branches with flower ovaries must be removed. If they are located above the flowering branch, then they can be left in anticipation of the possible appearance of ovaries.
When tearing off the stepsons, you should try to ensure that the secreted juice does not get on your hands, because in this way you can infect other bushes with diseases present in the plant being treated. The event itself is best held in the morning.
When pinching, it is necessary to remove the lowest leaves that touch the surface of the ground. The plant trunk should be dry, sunny and well ventilated.
Secondary pinching with pinching of the top is provided in July-August to stop the growth of the bush upward.

Reasons for stepsoning

This procedure has features associated with differences in the growth and ripening of different varieties of cherry tomatoes. However, stepsoning has a number of common features:

In stepchildren, the stem is much weaker and thinner. The plant will not have enough strength to ensure the full ripening of the fruits on such shoots. However, they will have to spend some of their vitality on their growth. To save them, you need to carry out the procedure in question.
One of the features of cherry tomatoes is that they produce a large number of shoots. Although the plant spends a small amount of effort on each of them, it will nevertheless require a lot of effort for the total amount. Pinching will allow the plant to focus on ensuring the ripening of the delicious fruits of this delicious variety.
If you provide good care and pinching, this will enable the plant to grow high-quality and tasty fruits. In favorable conditions, the fruiting period lasts for six months.
When choosing a method for forming cherry bushes, you need to remember that their cultivation is determined not so much by the number of fruits as by their exquisite taste. Small sizes will not be able to provide huge yields, but pinching will allow you to get fruits with an exquisite taste.

Cherry tomatoes can be provided with favorable conditions for growth and ripening in polycarbonate greenhouses. Moreover, they can be planted here earlier than in open ground.

However, fruiting when grown in a greenhouse occurs later than in the open air.

Rules for formation and stepsoning

The formation of such varieties requires regulating the number of fruits by pinching extra shoots. Shoots on this plant appear in all leaf axils. They are removed, leaving a stump no more than 3 cm long. Thin out the tomato bush after the fruits begin to ripen. To do this, they tear off all the leaves located under the brush and do this work in several stages. Removing the growing point on the main shoot (also called pinching) is necessary so that all the fruits have enough time to fully form and ripen. The shoots are pinched a month before the temperature drops below 8 degrees Celsius.

Recommendation! Harvesting should begin only when the fruits are fully ripe; when tomatoes ripen, the taste becomes much worse.

The planting of tomatoes differs among different varieties, but there are common features that are also taken into account:

These tomatoes grow many stepsons; for this reason, stepsons are regularly carried out;
The yield of small greenhouse tomatoes from one bush is lower than that of their counterparts with large fruits, but this pays off with an extraordinary taste; when choosing a format, you need to remember this, in addition, per square meter, you can plant more bushes than large-fruited tomatoes;
Their stems are much thinner than those of conventional varieties. There are liana-shaped forms, they need to be tied up, trellises are installed more often than for other tomatoes;
The bush of these tomatoes can bear fruit for six months if it grows in favorable conditions.

Advice! Plants of this type grow well in a polycarbonate greenhouse.

In protected structures you can plant them earlier than outside, and in such conditions they will produce their last fruits much later than ordinary tomatoes.

Low growing tomatoes

They are considered a determinant species. For this reason, plants form like other determinants. Among these varieties, there is a separate group with very small bushes. They are similar to standard varieties and, in fact, are very close to them. Up to 3 clusters are formed on the main stem; the stepsons almost do not grow.

Important! The roots of these tomatoes are small. This makes it possible to plant them not only in a greenhouse or in a garden bed, but also on a balcony and can even be planted on a window in an apartment.

Pinching is not needed for these babies. These varieties are unable to grow many fruits, but the fruits ripen very early; some varieties can produce the first harvest within 3 months.

The next type is real determinants, their height is within 0.5-1 meter. These varieties form, just like determinate tomatoes with large fruits, in this way:

One escape. Cherry tomato planting must be carried out completely. After this, the ovaries appear only on the main shoot. Tomatoes ripen early with this formation, but few fruits can be grown;
Two escapes. One trunk is left - the main stem, and as an additional one - a developed stepson that appears below the first cluster. The formation of cherry tomatoes is carried out when the third flower cluster appears; at least 2 leaves must be left above the second shoot;
Three escapes. In the hot season, they are also grown in three stems, leaving as the third the stepson that appears above the first cluster.

Recommendation! How to prune and which shoots to leave for cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse must be decided taking into account real conditions. Strong tomato bushes can be loaded with ovaries, but for weak plants the load should be reduced.

An example of the formation of plants with 1, 2 and 3 shoots.

Several productive varieties need to be mentioned:

Irishka F1. Cocktail variety, bears early red fruits. Height is about 60 cm, pinching should leave a moderate number of stepsons;
Honey candy F1. Mid-season hybrid, bears orange fruits in the form of cream. The plant grows up to one meter in height; bushes with 2-3 stems can be formed;
Blossam F1. Mid-season hybrid, bears red, round fruits. The plant is about a meter tall, the bush grows strong, formed into 2 shoots.

Recommendation! Such tomatoes develop well and form a harvest in an ordinary garden bed.

Medium height cherry tomatoes

These varieties are prone to ending the growth of the main shoot too early, the so-called topping. They must be formed into 1 or 2 shoots, but it is necessary to leave spare stepsons, which will be useful during the early termination of the main stem. The reserve stepson must be left under all the emerging brushes, leaving a new reserve stepson, break out the one left earlier.

Recommendation! It is necessary to form cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse, and then they will be able to produce a high yield.

The best cherry tomatoes of this type:

Date F1. A productive late hybrid, yellow and red fruits grow in the form of cream. Plants are up to 1.5 meters tall, the fruits take a long time to ripen, there are few leaves on the plant, for this reason these tomatoes are grown in 3 shoots;
Pink jumper. Ultra early, the fruits grow pink, elongated, develops well in an ordinary garden bed. The plant grows up to 1.2 meters in height; the bush can be formed into 3 shoots.

These tomatoes develop well in a greenhouse; the bushes can grow up to three meters high. They are formed into 1-2 shoots, but the maximum yield is harvested from the bushes if 3-4 fruiting shoots are left on the plant. But leaving more than 2 shoots per plant is only possible in places with warm summers. You can remove growing points later than in a regular bed.

Growing cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse.

The remaining side shoots must be removed. For more information, watch the video:

Tall varieties

Breeders have developed many tall varieties:

Barberry F1. Bushes of this variety grow up to 2 meters, ripen early, and bear ripe fruits until autumn. The fruits are pink, oval, tasty. Plants form into 2-3 shoots;
Cherry. A liana-like early variety, the fruits are round, red, only 10 g, but each cluster grows up to 40 pieces. Plants need to be formed into 2 shoots.

Recommendation! Due to the huge number of fruits that these varieties produce, the bushes must be tied up well.

Working with different types of bushes

Cherry tomato bushes can have different sizes. There are varieties that can be grown in pots. Other plants can reach three meters in size. In each case, pinching is carried out taking into account the characteristics of the plants.

In the shortest varieties there are very few stepsons. Such bushes are grown in open ground, in greenhouses, in apartments on a windowsill or on a balcony.

Since stepchildren practically do not grow on the bushes of such cherry tomatoes, you don’t have to think about removing them.

The fruits of such varieties ripen no later than three months. Whether such cherry tomatoes germinate or not must be decided based on whether the bush has additional shoots.

If the bushes of a variety reach 50-100 centimeters in height, then their formation can be carried out in the following ways. The following are the main ways to plant cherry tomatoes:

They leave one escape. In this case, it will be necessary to carry out a complete stepsoning. With this method of forming bushes, the fruits ripen early, but their number is small.
Often they choose to use two shoots for a bush. When plants begin to grow, they choose only one shoot. Of those who grow up on it, they leave one more. For this, use the third brush that appears. You will need to leave at least two sheets above it. The tomato harvest will grow on the shoots formed in this way.
Growing with three stems is usually preferred in hot climates. In this case, at first only one stepson is left. Then, from those shoots that appeared on it, the third one is selected and the one that appears above it on the second ovary. The remaining stepsons are removed. In hot climates, with good care, the plant has enough strength to grow delicious fruits on three shoots.

The final decision on how to plant cherry tomatoes is made taking into account the specific conditions and vitality of the plant.

If it can allow more shoots to grow and mature, then the gardener can use more ovaries to grow shoots.

On the street

It is worth talking in more detail about the growing of indeterminate Cherry varieties, of which a huge number have been selected, for every color, taste and size.

If tomatoes are grown in open ground, and the summer is warm and long, you can do without pinching, but you will have to take into account the strength of each specific bush and the area it occupies. Cherries are characterized by increased fruiting, so if the bush is weakened, then some of the side shoots will still have to be removed, otherwise, due to the abundance of fruits, the bush may dry out.

If the bush is strong, healthy, and the area of the plot allows, you can form a bush with at least ten trunks. The main thing is not to get carried away and not to allow the garden bed to become crowded, otherwise you may miss the onset of the development of late blight, to which all tomatoes are prone.

Whatever your decision, remember that the bed or row with tomatoes must be well blown by the wind and illuminated by the sun, then you will get the harvest you dream of.
If you decide not to plant tomatoes, increase the distance between the bushes to the maximum.

How to Grow in Temperate Climates

Cherry tomatoes grow well in hot climates. However, they can be successfully grown in moderation. To do this, choose the formation of one or two shoots. If there are more of them, the fruits will not have time to ripen during the short summer.

If you collect them and leave them to ripen separately, they will acquire a significantly worse taste. To prevent this from happening, they need to be stepsoned.

When growing, a support is provided for the plant. The shoots of the plant that remain are attached to it. The thin stem of a cherry tomato plant may break under the weight of the crop if support is not used.

In a greenhouse, pinching is done after the plant has begun to form as an adult bush. Removal of stepsons must be done regularly. This should be done every 5-6 days. During processing, the main stem must not be damaged. You need to constantly pay attention to this.

Growing cherry tomatoes will allow you to enjoy their great taste. Pinching will help the plant not to waste energy on additional shoots and ensure timely ripening of the crop.

The essence of the problem

Pinching is an agrotechnical measure in vegetable growing aimed at increasing productivity. It is intended for optimal development of the bush through its correct formation. The principle of the operation is to remove excess branches that do not bear fruit, but consume a certain amount of useful substances.

Tomatoes are one of those garden crops in which the bush begins to branch quite actively during development. As it grows, lateral branches appear from the axils of the leaves, which are considered useless elements that take away nutrients from the fruit. Such branches are usually called stepsons, and their removal is called stepsoning.

Thus, by solving the problem of how to properly plant tomatoes in a greenhouse or garden, you can ensure the correct formation of plants. Only fruit-bearing branches remain on the bush, which allows for more complete use of applied fertilizers and nutrients from the soil. The pinching scheme can be used in different ways, which makes it possible to form several variants of bushes.

Is it so important to remove unnecessary branches? This question can be heard from inexperienced vegetable growers. The need for the procedure can be assessed based on the following facts. Stepchildren on tomatoes grow between the stem and leaf. Their appearance causes the bush to actively branch, and new extra branches develop again and again. This phenomenon is especially noticeable in tall varieties (indeterminate tomatoes), in which a fruiting branch is formed only in the area of 7-11 leaves, and a stepson can develop from each leaf. In other words, for one useful branch there may be more than 6 useless ones.

As a result of the growth of the bush, the balance between the green and fruit mass is lost and the greens take over most of the nutrients. The ripening of fruits is significantly slowed down. Thus, it has been established that timely removal of stepsons accelerates the ripening of tomatoes by an average of 12-16 days. The fruits themselves on unplanted bushes are much smaller, and their total quantity is inferior to processed tomatoes. Finally, we can summarize - without pinching, there is a high risk of getting small, unripe tomatoes at the end of the season.

Photo of cherry tomato pinching

Carrying out stepsoning

Removal of stepsons is usually achieved by hand without the use of a cutting tool. When using knives, there is a risk of transferring infection from one bush to another and causing a wound at the cut site. However, with a large greenhouse farm it is impossible to do without tools. In principle, you can cut off the stepsons, but with precautions.

Before growing tomatoes in a greenhouse (step by step) by cutting, you need to remember the following:

The tool is sharpened to a razor sharp state.
The cutting part is disinfected with a solution of bleach or potassium permanganate.
With a quick and precise movement, the stepson is cut at a distance of 10-15 mm from the base, without damaging the main branch.
All the shoots on one bush are cut off, and the removed stems are immediately placed in a separate container and taken out of the greenhouse, which avoids rotting and the spread of infection.
New instrument disinfection is necessary. This operation is carried out every time you move to a new bush.

When providing the necessary care for tomatoes, it is important to clearly distinguish the stepson from the fruiting stem. The following are the most important differences:

leaves are immediately noticeable on the stepson, while flower ovaries are visible on the stem;
the stepson grows from the leaf axil, and the fruiting vine branches only from the stem;
the most obvious difference is when the length of the stepson is about 4-5 cm.

Pinching is rightly considered an important agrotechnical measure when growing tomatoes both in greenhouses and in the garden. This simple but painstaking work requires extreme care and caution, but the stepson tomato produces a bountiful harvest and tasty, full-fledged fruits.

Features of the species

To find out whether the cherry tomatoes you planted are growing or not, just look carefully at the packet of seeds. It indicates what type of cherry they are. Indeterminate species are distinguished by active growth, they grow up to 4 meters and produce many side shoots.

Read here - Tomatoes in a greenhouse - growing from A to Z. Step-by-step instructions and tips on how to grow tomatoes at home (95 photos)

Constant pinching is considered a disadvantage of tall cherry trees. But their yield per square meter is higher than that of determinate varieties: low-growing and medium-growing tomatoes.

If you are growing low-growing cherry tomatoes, don’t even think about how to plant them.

Compact cherry tomatoes, up to 60 cm high, are usually standard; they independently form two or three crowns and do not require pinching at all.

The plant forms a beautiful, even bush (trunk). Stepchildren grow after flower clusters, grow slowly, and do not interfere with the ripening of fruits. Such tomatoes are usually grown on balconies at home. In apartments, determinate tomatoes can be harvested year-round for several years.

Medium-sized varieties, up to 1.5 meters high, are convenient for film shelters; they produce few axillary shoots. They are harvested only at a low level, the rest are left for flowering and fruiting. The upper ripe clusters are broken out of the bosom after harvesting. In their place, new ones are formed, with flower stalks.

Growing Cherry in closed ground

Growing Cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse very much depends on the variety. The fact is that these tomatoes, or rather some of them, indeterminate varieties, grow up to 3 meters, and with good care, bear fruit within six months. All this time, they are actively bushing.

Such determinant Cherry varieties as Ampelny, IzyumF1 do well without pinching.

In the greenhouse, tomatoes begin to take steps when the plant has formed into an adult bush and the first ovary has appeared. Excess shoots are removed to speed up the ripening of the crop. In addition, it is worth pinching the top of the bush a month before the end of harvest.

Honestly, caring for this type of tomato is not much different from all the others. Once again I will draw your attention to the main points.

The shorter the summer, the more stepsons are removed to speed up the ripening of the crop. In such conditions, it is best to leave one or two trunks and not allow the bush to grow green mass. In the middle zone, you can leave up to 5 trunks in a greenhouse.
Be sure to tie up the cherry tomatoes, otherwise they may break or fall to the ground.
Stepchildren are removed once every 5-6 days, but again the timing may vary, depending on the chosen variety.
Break off the side shoots carefully, leaving a small stump. Be careful not to damage the main stem.
Low-growing cherry tomatoes do not need to be pinched, and tomatoes intended for indoor growing, especially, do not need to be pinched. Each side shoot ends in a brush.

That's probably all I wanted to tell you about Cherry tomatoes. I hope you enjoyed reading and discovered something new for yourself. Share the article with your friends and acquaintances. Write in the comments how you care for this variety of tomatoes.

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Best regards, Rostislav Malyavko!

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Growing Cherry tomatoes

Author: Rostislav Malyavko

Good afternoon friends! Glad to see you on the pages of my blog!

To plant or not to plant tomatoes? An eternal debate among gardeners and gardeners. Some argue that by giving up pinching, they increase productivity. Their opponents are confident that if the growth of tomatoes is not limited, late blight will definitely eat them, and the fruits will still not have time to ripen. I think that both are right in their own way. Planting tomatoes is necessary in regions with short or cool summers and depends on each specific variety. Today I want to tell you about growing cherry tomatoes, the features and subtleties of this process. Don’t forget that our goal is to grow a crop, and not just grow it!

Let me start with the fact that before you run to the garden bed and break off the side shoots, it is advisable to study this issue in more detail, because if you pinch it incorrectly, you can get a very beautiful bush that will decorate your garden bed, but there will be no fruit on it. Let me start with the fact that cherry tomatoes, as a separate type of tomato, appeared not so long ago, but with their taste and extremely decorative appearance, they have earned the recognition and love of many gardeners and farmers.

It has many advantages: taste, attractive appearance of the fruit, shelf life, transportability.

Also, loved by lovers of indoor flowers. Such varieties as Cherry Lycopa, Thumbelina, Malyutka, and Bonsai look extremely decorative on the windowsill.

Not all cherry varieties have side shoots removed. For example, varieties intended for home or balcony cultivation are not planted.

These are the so-called standard and determinate varieties. For them, each side shoot ends in a brush, and the bushes themselves are low. These include varieties Minibel, Cherry-Mio, Balcony Miracle and others.

Varietal features of formation

Tomato varieties and hybrids are divided into 3 groups:

indeterminate - grow without restrictions;
determinant - complete growth after the formation of 4-5 flowering clusters;
semi-determinant - can stop growing at any time.

Tomatoes from any group cannot fully grow in a greenhouse without formation. In a greenhouse, they are usually formed into 1 stem. Tomatoes of dwarf and fast-growing varieties are pinched, although this procedure is often abandoned when commercially growing dwarf varieties. Do not pinch small-fruited tomatoes (cherry, cocktail), except for removing some unnecessary side shoots.

Dwarf tomatoes are usually grown on 3-4 shoots, but if you need to harvest early, you can form one shoot and 2-3 bunches of fruit, which will significantly speed up their ripening.

Indeterminate

These are very tall varieties; the length of the stems in a greenhouse can reach 5-6 meters. One bush produces up to 8 kg of fruit, which is a good yield. Therefore, in a greenhouse there is no need to grow such varieties in 2 stems, although some gardeners use such a formation.

It is advisable to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse according to the following scheme: 100 by 20 cm. With this planting, the lighting and ventilation of the bush will be optimal.

For tall tomatoes, cut off the main shoot above the last flowering raceme, leaving 2-3 leaves above it to shade the fruits. The procedure is usually carried out in the spring 7 weeks before the planned harvest, in a greenhouse around mid-May and in the fall in mid-September.

The best greenhouse varieties of the indeterminate group include:

Bull's Heart;
Abakan pink;
Bicolor;
Pink Elephant;
Yellow cherry;
Watercolor.

Photo. Bull's heart - bushes formed into 1 stem

Semi-determinant

When growing these tomatoes, you can’t guess when growth will stop. On such bushes you should always keep a spare shoot. If the top stops growing, the reserve shoot at the top will become an extension of the stem.

If the process goes according to a favorable scenario, and the bush continues to grow after the formation of 8 clusters, the reserve shoot can simply be removed. Gardeners also often form semi-determinate tomatoes with one stem. It is advisable to pinch the top of the plant 1.5 months before the end of the growing season.

The best semi-determinate tomato varieties are:

Baron F1;
Silhouette F1;
Merchant F1;
Red Arrow;
Gravity F1;
Magnus F1.

Determinant

The varieties included in this group form only 4-8 inflorescences, then stop growing. Determinate type bushes form 2 or 3 stems. Flower clusters are laid on each stem.

The planting of determinate tomatoes is carried out adhering to the general rules set out in this article.

The best determinate tomato varieties:

Openwork F1;
Bourgeois F1;
Olya F1;
Alsou;
The pride of Siberia.