Cherry tomato
Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
Also known asCocktail tomato · Salad tomato
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates. Strict on light; outside the DLI band, yields drop sharply.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 10–13 (winter low around -1°C)
- Frost
- frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
- Season
- warm (summer, frost-sensitive)
Growing systems
Root mass: very heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass) | neutral / inert | very low | low |
| Rockwool (Mineral wool) | alkaline until pre-soaked | very high | low |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2.2 |
| flowering | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2.6 |
| fruiting | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Companion-growing notes
- Heavy uptake of potassium, calcium, phosphorus. Co-grown crops with the same demand will end up deficient even at "correct" EC.
- Very high transpiration. Reservoir drops fast; expect daily top-ups and EC creep.
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible
Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
The most productive and forgiving hydroponic tomato type. DWC, Dutch bucket, drip, or Kratky systems all work. EC 2.0-3.5 mS/cm. pH 5.5-6.5. Temperature: 20–28°C daytime, 15–18°C night. High light (DLI 20-30 mol/m2/day). Most cherry varieties are indeterminate (continuous vine growth), requiring string support or staking. Train the vine up a string, removing all suckers (side shoots) for a single-leader system, or allow 2 leaders. From transplant to first ripe fruit: 55-70 days, faster than beefsteak types. Harvest when fruits are fully colored and detach from the vine easily. Each plant produces 3–8 kg of fruit over a season (200-500+ individual tomatoes), making cherry tomatoes one of the highest-yielding crops per plant. Pollination: shake flowering trusses gently or use a vibrating pollinator (electric toothbrush works). Calcium supplementation prevents blossom end rot, though cherry types are less prone to BER than larger varieties. Common issues: splitting (caused by irregular watering), blossom drop (temperature extremes), and leaf mold in humid conditions. A top-tier beginner hydroponic crop.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Origin | Days | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sungold | hybrid | Tokita Seed | 57 | 15 g | Indeterminate orange F1. Sweetest cherry tomato most growers have ever tasted; sugar content 9-10 Brix. Skin cracks easily, doesn't ship, must be grown at home. Vines reach 2.5m, heavy producer. |
| Sweet 100 | hybrid | 65 | 18 g | Indeterminate red F1. Long pendulous trusses of 50-100 fruit each. Less complex flavor than Sungold but more reliable in cool / wet seasons. Common at garden centers everywhere. | |
| Black Cherry | open pollinated | 65 | 20 g | Indeterminate dark purple-brown. Rich, almost smoky flavor distinct from any red cherry. Open-pollinated so seed saves true. Less productive per plant than Sungold but unique on the plate. | |
| Yellow Pear | heirloom | 78 | 15 g | Pre-1800s heirloom. Yellow pear-shaped fruit, low acid, mild. Vigorous to the point of weediness; a single vine can swamp a 60cm cage. Productive but flavor is modest compared to modern hybrids. | |
| Matt's Wild Cherry | heirloom | 60 | 8 g | Mexican wild ancestor, marble-sized red fruit on sprawling plants. Disease-resistant where modern hybrids fail; thrives in humid / hot conditions. Intense tomato flavor in a tiny package. |