Black Cherry Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum

Easy

Starting indoors 

Can start as early as February, at least six weeks before last frost date. Keep warm and well-watered. Wait till frost or cold temps have passed to transplant outdoors. Transplant seedlings to bigger pots as needed, burying slightly more stem each time to improve the root system and create a healthy plant

Direct sowing in garden

Space at least 1.5 ft apart. This is a vining variety so stake up with cages or poles to help plants bear fruit weight. Frequent watering helps prevent cracked skins on the fruits (keep foliage dry and water close to the root to prevent blight). Remove horn worms by hand and prune suckers to achieve best results. Approximately 70 days to full vine ripened cherry tomatoes

Moderate

Take seeds from ripe tomatoes. Cut & squeeze out seeds into a glass of water to leave for at least 24 hours. This ferments the seeds and removes the protective gel covering - some gardeners recommend this but does not appear always necessary. Air dry seeds completely and store in cool, dark, dry conditions. If stored properly, seeds will remain viable for 4 to 6 years but it is best to plant them every year if possible to naturalize the varieties to your location and adapt them to changing climate conditions

🌅 Outdoors
Preferred conditions, can also be grown in pots on a porch or balcony

🏠 Indoors 

Best placed by south facing windows to receive the best sunlight; might not produce as many tomatoes as it would if grown outdoors

☀️ Full Sun

• Temps: 🌡️ Not cold tolerant, will survive at lower temperatures but will hinder production of tomatoes. Prefers daytime temps btwn 70 and 85 F, but can grow in temps a bit lower

• Hardiness Zones: 🗺️ 5 to 8 (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map - Michigan)

• Humidity: 🌫️Withstands a range but best to not experience great fluctuations in a short period of time. Prone to fungal diseases so may be best to keep foliage dry

• Water Conditions: 💧Keep consistently moist. Water at base to avoid wetting foliage. Keep a regular schedule especially during any dry periods

• pH: 🧪 Slightly acidic to neutral, from 6.0 to 7.0

• Soil conditions: 🌱 Use organic matter such as compost and top dress with mulch locally around the base of the plant to enhance soil

Summer

Tomatoes are prone to fungal diseases. Look into types determinate or indeterminate (see Terms To Know)

Employ crop rotation strategies for all members of the Solanaceae family (eggplant, peppers, tomatoes) to prevent blight and low yields. Plant in a spot where no other variety of Solanacae have been growing for at least 4 years

Companion planting: Basil, carrots, parsley, garlic, cilantro, bee balm, radish, golden alexander