Growing Perfect Cherry Tomatoes:

 Tips from Hidden Harvest Farm

Posted: April 18, 2025

At Hidden Harvest Farm, we're known for our exceptionally flavorful Cherry Basket Tomatoes. While our signature Rutgers tomatoes and Sandoval peppers get plenty of attention, our cherry tomatoes have developed a devoted following among chefs and home cooks alike. Today, we're sharing our expertise on growing these sweet, versatile fruits to help you achieve similar results in your own garden.

Why Cherry Tomatoes?

Cherry tomatoes offer several advantages over their larger cousins:

• Earlier Harvests: Cherry tomatoes typically produce fruit 2-3 weeks before full-sized varieties
• Extended Season: They continue producing well into fall, long after other tomatoes have finished
• Space Efficiency: Perfect for container gardens and our Barrel-ponics™ systems
• Pest Resistance: Generally less susceptible to cracking and pest damage
• Kid-Friendly: Their sweet flavor and snackable size make them perfect for young gardeners

Selecting the Right Varieties

Not all cherry tomatoes are created equal. Here are our favorites that we grow at Hidden Harvest Farm:

• Sweet 100: The gold standard for productivity and flavor
• Sungold: Intensely sweet orange fruits that taste like candy
• Black Cherry: Deep, rich flavor with complex sweetness
• Juliet: Slightly larger grape-type with excellent disease resistance
• Matt's Wild Cherry: Tiny fruits with incredible flavor intensity

Our Growing Method: Barrel-ponics™

At Hidden Harvest Farm, we grow many of our cherry tomatoes using our proprietary Barrel-ponics™ system, which provides several advantages:

• Controlled Environment: Perfect water and nutrient delivery
• Vertical Growing: Maximum production in minimal space
• Season Extension: Earlier spring start and longer fall harvest
• Water Conservation: Uses 70% less water than traditional growing

For home gardeners, we recommend either our Barrel-ponics™ kits or these traditional growing methods with our specialized techniques:

Key Growing Tips

Planting for Success

1. Start with healthy seedlings: Look for compact, sturdy plants with dark green leaves and no flowers or fruit yet
2. Plant deeply: Bury the stem up to the first set of true leaves to develop a stronger root system
3. Spacing matters: Allow 24-36 inches between plants for proper airflow
4. Companion planting: We interplant with basil and marigolds to deter pests and enhance flavor

Support and Training

1. Provide strong support: Cherry tomatoes are incredibly productive and need sturdy cages or trellises
2. Early training: Guide young plants toward their support systems before they begin sprawling
3. The "Florida Weave": Our favorite technique for managing multiple plants in a row (detailed in our video demonstration at the farm)

Watering Wisdom

1. Consistent moisture: Cherry tomatoes need even watering to prevent splitting
2. Morning watering: Always water at the base of plants in the morning to prevent disease
3. Mulch heavily: A 3-inch layer of mulch helps maintain soil moisture and temperature
4. Weekly deep watering: One inch of water per week is better than frequent shallow watering

Pruning for Productivity

As we discussed in our previous blog post about tomato suckers, cherry tomatoes benefit from a different pruning approach than larger varieties:

1. Limited sucker removal: With cherry tomatoes, we only remove suckers below the first flower cluster
2. Focus on airflow: Remove leaves that touch the ground and thin interior growth to improve circulation
3. Top late-season growth: In late summer, top the plants to focus energy on ripening existing fruit

Harvesting for Maximum Flavor

1. Pick at peak ripeness: Unlike larger tomatoes, cherries should be harvested fully ripe
2. Harvest frequently: Check plants every 1-2 days during peak season
3. Morning harvest: For the best flavor, harvest in the morning when sugars are highest
4. Stem on: Pull gently with the stem attached to extend shelf life

Common Problems and Solutions

Cracking

Cherry tomatoes can crack after sudden rain or irregular watering. Our solution:

• Maintain consistent soil moisture with regular watering and heavy mulch
• Harvest immediately before forecasted heavy rain
• Consider our Barrel-ponics™ system which provides perfect water regulation

Blossom End Rot

Though less common in cherry types, it can still occur. Our approach:

• Add crushed eggshells to planting holes for calcium
• Maintain even soil moisture
• Apply a foliar calcium spray if symptoms appear

Pest Management

Cherry tomatoes tend to be more resistant to pests, but we still use these organic approaches:

• Regular inspection of leaf undersides for eggs and insects
• Neem oil applications for early-season pest protection
• Beneficial insect releases (ladybugs and predatory wasps) at the first sign of aphids
• Row covers for young plants to protect from early-season pests

From Abundance to Table

Cherry tomatoes are often so productive that they overwhelm gardeners. Here are our favorite ways to use the bounty:

• Quick Roasting: Toss with olive oil and roast at 400°F for 20 minutes
• Sun-Dried: Slice in half and dry in a dehydrator or low oven
• Cherry Tomato Preserves: Our signature sweet-savory preserve (recipe available at our farm stand)
• Freezing Whole: Simply wash, dry, and freeze on a tray before transferring to freezer bags

Visit Our Demonstration Garden

We invite you to visit our Barrel-ponics™ demonstration garden at our Route 72 Outpost, where you can see our cherry tomato growing techniques in action. With over 100 systems showcasing different varieties and growing methods, it's the perfect place to learn hands-on.

During your visit, our knowledgeable staff can help you select the right varieties for your growing conditions and provide personalized advice for your garden. We also offer regular workshops on tomato growing throughout the season.

For those inspired to try our methods at home, we sell both seedlings and complete Barrel-ponics™ systems at our farm and outpost locations. LBI Purveyors members receive special pricing on all garden supplies and priority access to our most sought-after seedling varieties.

Follow our blog for more growing tips from Hidden Harvest Farm. Next week: "Extending Your Tomato Season: Techniques for Harvesting Into October"