Tomato Cherry
Tomato (Tumbling Bush) Cherry Falls
The easiest type of tomato you can grow, these bush (or determinate) tomatoes do not require pinching out or support. The compact rounded plants are robust and reliable, the ideal choice for patio pots. This is a great variety to get kids into growing their own, as the rewards are great tasting, deliciously sweet cherry tomatoes. Perfect for use in salads or eating just as a snack. Picking and eating the ripe fruit straight from the plant is a real delight and so much better than any tomato you can ever buy in the shops.
Growing Advice
Sow Indoors
Sow indoors March to April. Sow 0.5cm deep into individual pots of compost. Water well and place in a warm, light position, away from cold draughts and out of intense, direct sunlight. Keep the compost just moist and be careful not to overwater, the compost should almost dry out before it is watered again. Seedlings should start to appear in approximately 7-14 days. In late May or early June, acclimatise plants to outside conditions. Place pots outside in a sheltered spot during the day and bring them inside again at night when the temperature falls. Do this for a week or two, until the plants have hardened off. Plant out to large patio pots or tubs and place in a sheltered sunny growing position such as a patio or balcony.
Sow Outdoors
Tomatoes should be sown indoors so they get a good early start to the growing season.
Top Tips About Seeds
Once the seed packet has been opened, the seeds can be stored in an airtight container until required for further sowings. Tomato seeds will maintain their vigour for a good number of years.
Growing in Containers
Bush (or determinate) tomatoes are the perfect choice for patio pots, but for the earliest crops possible grow plants in a greenhouse or polytunnel.
Common Problems
Tomato blight can sometimes be a problem for outdoor crops. This first shows itself as dark patches at the base of the stems. Contaminated plants are best removed.
Harvest
Harvest tomatoes as they turn red and ripen, from July to October.
Ideas on how to use your tomatoes
For best results begin providing a regular liquid feed as soon as the first flowers begin to appear, this will significantly increase the size of the crop and help to maintain the health of the plants. Any tomato fertiliser will work well. Spraying the flowers with a fine mist of water or simply tapping the stems to shake the stems can aid pollination of the flowers and help the fruit to set. When harvesting whole trusses of tomatoes it is best to use scissors or secateurs, simply pulling them from the plant can easily break a stem or a branch.
