Cherry Tomatoes: Cultivation on a Window Sill or Balcony

Growing cherry tomatoes today has become a popular activity.

But how to grow cherry tomatoes at home on the windowsill and get a bountiful harvest, not everyone knows.

Information about sowing and further care for a small delicious miracle is presented in this article.

What varieties of cherry tomatoes are suitable for growing on the windowsill
Climatic conditions for growing tomatoes
- Air humidity and temperature
- How to choose lighting for a rich harvest
- What soil to plant cherry tomatoes
Planting cherry in indoor conditions
- Capacity selection, soil and seed preparation
- Sowing tomatoes in pots
Rules for the care of cherry tomatoes in a pot
- How to water cherry tomatoes
- Top dressing of tomatoes
- Tomato peeling features
Cherry tomatoes: when to harvest on the balcony or windowsill

What varieties of cherry tomatoes are suitable for growing on the windowsill

In order to care for plants was convenient, and the bush did not suffer from lack of space, you should choose low-growing varieties. Among the varieties of cherry tomatoes, suitable for growing at home on the windowsill, especially popular:

"Florida Petit" - medium early, bush up to 30 cm high, bright red fruits weighing up to 40 g;
"Micron NK" - early, grows up to only 15 (!) Cm, fruits are red and yellow weighing up to 20 g, neutral to the length of the daylight day and tolerates cold well;
“Balcony miracle” is a very common early ripening variety, a bush up to 45 cm high, gives up to 2 kg of tomatoes per season. which are also suitable for conservation;
"Cranberries in sugar" - early ripe, determinant, the plant grows up to 30 cm, is resistant to late blight;
"Orange cap" - a short, ripening tomato with fruits weighing up to 20 g, looks good in pots;
"Pinocchio" - mid-season variety of crops, rarely grows above 30 cm.

Hybrids also have proven themselves, they have a number of advantages: germination, resistance to diseases and pests, high yields. Such hybrids as "F1 Balcony Red", "F1 Red Pearl", "F1 Yellow Pearl", "F1 Bonsai Micro", "F1 Balconi Yellow" are suitable for growing at home.

Did you know? 100 g cherry tomatoes contain a daily dose of vitamins A, B, C, as well as iron and potassium

Climatic conditions for growing tomatoes

Tomatoes are quite capricious plants, in order to create an optimal environment in which they will develop and bear fruit well, efforts must be made to maintain temperature, humidity and light.

On the windowsill, you can organize a whole mini-garden of herbs: dill, parsley, cilantro, basil, arugula, sage, rosemary, thyme, chabra, tarragon, marjoram, lemon balm.

Air humidity and temperature

Tomatoes love warm fresh air. Therefore, the room in which they grow should be regularly aired (preferably after watering). It is necessary to monitor the temperature the day was about 25 ° C, and at night 18 ° C. As long as the tomatoes do not bloom and do not bear fruit, it is possible to maintain the temperature 2-3 ° C below. It is desirable that the humidity was not more than 65%.

How to choose lighting for a rich harvest

Tomatoes are very light-requiring. They are not afraid even of direct sunlight, but suffer from a lack of light: the stems are strongly drawn out and can even lie down. Therefore, for the cultivation of cherry should choose windows or balconies that face south or southeast.

Shading is required on southwestern windows in summer. If there is not enough light, then it may be necessary to light up the fluorescent lamp. Optimum light day for a tomato of 13-14 hours.

Did you know? Cherry tomatoes began to be cultivated at the beginning of the XIX century on the island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea.

What soil to plant cherry tomatoes

For indoor cherry tomatoes suitable fertile loose soil. It is prepared in the same way as for tomato seedlings, for example, a mixture of humus, peat, sand and sod land in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1. Suitable and fertile garden land with the addition of wood ash and peat.

Planting cherry in indoor conditions

At home, tomatoes can be planted at any time of the year - unlike plantings in the garden, you are almost not limited to the weather. It is only necessary to take into account that if you want to get fresh ripe fruits for the New Year's table, then you need to start seedling in September.

Capacity selection, soil and seed preparation

In order to get a rich harvest, the capacity in which the bushes will grow should be a volume of at least 4 liters.

Important! The roots of tomatoes do not like stagnant water, so it is necessary to provide for drainage by pouring clay clay and sand on the bottom of the pot.

If the land for planting was taken from an open ground, then it is worth shedding it with boiling water for disinfection. For the same purpose, seeds are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Sowing tomatoes in pots

After processing, the seeds are placed on a damp cloth, covered and left there until germs appear. Sprouted seeds are planted in prepared small containers for seedlings (for example, disposable cups) to the depth no more than 2 cm and cover them with a film to create a greenhouse effect.

Periodically carry out airing and watering. After the seedlings get stronger and the sprouts have two true leaves, they are transplanted into prepared pots, pinching the tip of the central root to stimulate the branching of the root system.

Rules for the care of cherry tomatoes in a pot

Care for miniature homemade tomatoes is a little different from the cultivation of other varieties of this crop, but still has its own characteristics that are worth staying at.

How to water cherry tomatoes

This species loves moisture, but you should avoid over-wetting the soil. Watering is better in the evening with warm water. In case of cloudy weather, watering is better. halve. After watering, the soil is loosened to improve the air supply to the roots.

Important! Excessive watering threatens the development of fungal diseases: the appearance of mold or late blight.

Top dressing of tomatoes

Although the temptation to feed pets can be very great, moderation should be observed. Organic and potassium phosphate fertilizers will help the plant to cope with a large number of flowers and ovaries. An excess of nitrogen fertilizers will lead to a rapid growth of green mass to the detriment of flowering and the development of fruits. You can pour in small quantities of wood ash - it contains potassium, phosphorus and some trace elements.

On the windowsill, you can also grow vegetable and salad crops: cucumbers, chilli peppers, lettuce, iceberg lettuce, watercress, spinach, green onions.

Tomato peeling features

Many experienced gardeners believe that in order to get a rich harvest, tomatoes need to be grazed, that is, to pinch lateral processes from the trunk.

On the other hand, home plants have a decorative function. Therefore it is necessary to make some compromise between showiness and efficiency.

Did you know? Tomato grapes can be rooted and then planted. To do this, the broken stepson must be placed in a glass with water and a drop of fertilizer for flowers. The roots will appear within a week, and in a month after planting it will bloom.

Some manufacturers of hybrids indicate that their variety does not need to be staved, for example, "F1 Balcony Red" and "F1 Bonsai Micro".

Cherry tomatoes: when to harvest on the balcony or windowsill

Homemade tomatoes can bear fruit for up to 5 years, however, the maximum yield is given first 2 years.

It is advised to remove the fruits unripe to facilitate the development of the following clusters. However, some experienced gardeners claim that the tomatoes, which are fully ripened on the bush, are much tastier.

Find out the recipe for the original cherry tomato jam.

Growing homemade cherry tomatoes on a loggia, balcony or window sill is not such a difficult task. But like any work with the land, it requires attention and love, for which she invariably thanks with tasty and healthy fruits.