CHERRY TOMATO GROWING FACTS:

Tomatoes are one of the most widely grown vegetables in the garden. Fast growing and prolific, Cherry Tomatoes are one of our favourites. They are versatile and delicious and can be used in salads, soups, sauces and for garnishing.

GIY KIT CONTENTS:

HOW TO PLANT:

Fill your pot with the given soil mix, fertilized growing medium. Wet the soil with water to provide the right environment for seeds to germinate.

Plant seeds about ¼ inch deep and 2 to 4 cms apart then cover them with growing medium. Keep the growing medium moist by spraying water twice daily.

GERMINATION:

Seedlings will germinate with seed leaves within 5-10 days. True leaves of the plants will show in another 10-14 days. Make sure that the growing medium stays moist.

WATER REQUIREMENT:

Water whenever the soil begins to feel dry. A seed that has become wet and begun germinating will die if it dries out. Water twice a day in summer months. You might have to water 100 mls twice a day, if necessary. 

Cherry Tomato GIY Kit Day 30

TRANSPLANTING AND GROWTH:

When the seedlings have 4-6 leaves and are 4 inches tall, you should transplant them into a desirable pot or space. This step is very important to allow the plant’s roots to develop. Transplant your biodegradable coconut pot either to a bigger pot that’s twice the size or plant in any available open space. An ideal pot is a 4” x 4” and about 4 - 6 inches deep.

When transplanting, cover most of the seedlings’ stems. Only the leaves should be above the soil line. If this leaves a lot of space at the top of the pot, more soil can be added as the plant grows. 

30 days after planting, support your plant with 1 – 1.5 m long stakes. Add tomato cages or wooden trellis, so that the vines of tomato can climb and latch on to them. You can remove the side branches up to 20 cm from ground level, if needed.

FERTILIZER:

In order for plants to grow well, it’s important to provide the right nutrients. Every GIY kit contains organic micronutrients. Use them as per instructions.

HARVESTING:

Cherry tomato plant should flower within 35-45 days of planting and tomatoes should appear within 60-70 days of planting.

Leave your tomatoes on the vine as long as possible. Pick the tomatoes that are red and soft. They should not be pulled from vines, but should be picked with a twisting motion of hand to separate them from the stem. Never place tomatoes on a windowsill to ripen, they may rot before they are ripe.

INSECTS AND DISEASES:

Insects such as leaf miner, tobacco caterpillar, white fly and sucking insects can affect your plant growth. Planting a Marigold plant near tomatoes can help deter these pests. You can also use a mixture of Neem Oil (2-3 ml) and water (1 lit.) and spray the plant weekly to avoid diseases.

Common diseases for tomatoes are anthracnose, bacterial spot and bacterial blight. Providing better drainage and root aeration is important to prevent these. If your plant gets infected, uproot it to prevent infecting surrounding seedlings. You can also use the the Neem Oil mixture as mentioned above to prevent them.

NUTRITION VALUE:

Tomatoes are a great dietary source of antioxidant lycophene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They are are also a rich source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, potassium and folate.

TIPS FOR TOMATO PRESERVATION:

Never refrigerate fresh tomatoes, because it spoils their fresh flavour and texture. To freeze, core fresh, unblemished tomatoes and them whole in freezer bags or containers. The skins will slip off when they defrost.