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Cherry - that's what they used to call all small-fruited tomatoes. But strictly speaking, this is not true. When these cherries were just entering the culture, their diversity was not so great, therefore they were united into one group - cherry.
But culinary experts and ordinary tomato lovers quickly tasted their excellent taste and appreciated the wonderful appearance. A large number of new varieties and hybrids of small-fruited tomatoes have been developed. And now their classification has become much broader.
Classification of cherry tomatoes
First of all, there are so-called technical ones - suitable for canning and table or salad varieties. The latter varieties, in turn, are divided into the following groups:
- cocktail tomatoes - the diameter of the fruit is from 3 to 4 cm, the taste is bright and rich, it can be vegetable, that is, slightly sour and fruity, with a high fructose content;
- cherry - half the size of cocktail ones and definitely much sweeter - the sweetest of the whole group;
- kleisters - small-fruited tomatoes of the brush type, all fruits ripen at once on the brush;
- currant tomatoes - it is in them that most of the wild tomato, including the size, gave the name to the group, they are no more than large currants.
Each group, except the latter, has a wide variety of colors, shapes and flavors. Different varieties differ in the type of growth. The sizes of the bush are very diverse - from three-meter giants to crumbs that grow well even in a flower pot.
The history of the emergence of cherry tomatoes
The history of the emergence of cherry tomatoes is interesting and controversial. Most often, Israel is called their homeland. Experiments were carried out there to create varieties best suited for growing in hot climates. The first cultivated varieties of cherry tomatoes were the result of selection work. But in different sources there are references to small-fruited tomatoes brought from America at the end of the 16th century. Until the end of the 70s of the last century, cherry tomatoes were not common and were grown only in some regions. They grew especially well on the Greek island of Santorini, where unique climatic conditions developed for their growth. Now the most famous chefs in various countries of the world cannot do without these tomatoes. And they were started by Israeli breeders who created the first commercial variety for Marks & Spenser. It happened in 1973.
Cherry tomato formation
Formation of tomatoes cherry means regulating the load of fruits by removing excess shoots or stepchildren. Such a shoot grows from each leaf sinus. They are removed on a stump about 3 cm high. It is also necessary to lighten the bush after the brush begins to sing. To do this, remove the leaves that are under it, doing this in several stages. An important operation is pinching the top of the stem or pinching. It is needed so that all the tomatoes have time to fully form and ripen. It is produced a month before the temperature starts to drop below plus 8 degrees.
Care and formation for each group of varieties will be different. But there are general features to consider.
- Cherry tomatoes tend to give many stepsons, therefore pinching tomatoes must be thorough and regular;
- The yield of small-fruited tomatoes is less than that of their large-fruited counterparts, but this is more than compensated for by the amazing taste of cherry tomatoes, when choosing the type of formation, this must be taken into account;
- The stem of this variety of tomatoes is thinner than that of large-fruited varieties, and in the Indets it has a liana-like shape. Be sure to tie all types of cherry tomatoes. Trellis for them should be located more often than for large-fruited varieties.
- A cherry tomato bush can bear fruit for up to 6 months if conditions are right for it.
In such facilities, tomatoes can be planted earlier, and they end the growing season later than in plastic greenhouses.
Undersized tomatoes
Low growing cherry tomatoes can be attributed to determinant type. Therefore, their formation is carried out in the same way as all determinants. Among the determinant varieties and hybrids of cherry tomatoes, a special group stands out with the miniature size of the bush. They look like standard tomatoes and in essence they are. The number of brushes on the main stem is not more than 3; there are very few stepsons. Bushes are compact and hardly branching.
These kids do not need shaping. The most common and most often grown varieties: Pinocchio, Children's Sweet, Bonsai, Pygmy, Balcony Miracle - have red fruits, Garden pearl - with pink tomatoes, Golden bunch - ampelous tomato with yellow-orange fruits. These varieties cannot boast of a large harvest, but they ripen very early, some as early as 3 months after the appearance of the first shoots.
The next group is real determinants, whose growth ranges from 50 cm to 1 m. Their formation is the same as in large-fruited determinant varieties.
- One stem. All stepchildren break off, fruiting occurs only due to the formation of flower brushes on the main shoot. Such tomatoes will ripen earlier, but the harvest will not be very large.
- Two stems. One is the main stem, the second is the stepson in front of the first flower cluster. It is recommended to pinch it after the third flower brush has been formed, leaving two leaves above it.
- If the summer is hot, you can lead such tomatoes in three stalks, the third will be the stepson over the first flower brush.
The scheme of the formation of cherry tomatoes in one, two and three stems.
Among the determinant cherry varieties, the following can be noted:
Irishka F1
An early ripening cocktail tomato hybrid. The fruits are red. Stepsons moderately. Height 60 cm.
Honey F1
A mid-to-early ripening hybrid with plum-like fruits of yellow-orange color. The height of the bush is about a meter. Form into two or three stems.
Blosem F1
Early-medium hybrid. The fruits are round red. Height 1 m. The bush is powerful, it is better to lead in two stems.
Medium-sized tomatoes
Such plants are prone to premature completion of the growth of the main stem, that is, tops. The formation of such tomatoes can be carried out in one or two stems, but with the obligatory leaving of a reserve stepchild, to which it will be possible to transfer the growth of a tomato when it is prematurely crowned. A reserve stepson is left under each newly formed brush, removing the previous one.
The best semi-determinant varieties and hybrids of cherry tomatoes:
Date red F1 and Date yellow F1
Yielding carpal mid-late hybrids, respectively red and yellow. The fruits are cream.Fruiting is extended. The bush is not very leafy, therefore it can be formed into 3 stems. It grows up to one and a half meters.
Pink jumper
A very early and beautiful tomato variety. It has an elongated pink fruit. Feels good outdoors. Grows up to 1.2 m. Can be formed into 3 stems.
Tall or indeterminate tomatoes
Such cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse can grow up to 3 m. Most often they are formed in 1-2 stems. But the greatest yield can be obtained when forming 3 or even 4 stems, which is possible only in regions with warm and long summers. Pinching greenhouse tomatoes cherry is carried out later than in the open field.
All other stepsons need to be broken. How to care for cherry tomatoes, you can watch the video:
Varieties of tall cherry tomatoes:
This group of varieties is the most numerous.
Barberry F1
Indet up to 2 m high. An early maturing variety with a long fruiting period. The fruit is oval with a beautiful pink color and very good taste. Form into 2 or 3 stems.
Cherry
An early carp variety with a liana-shaped stem. Red round fruits are lightweight, only 10 g, which is compensated by their number in the brush - up to 40 pieces. Formed into 2 stems.
Cherry yellow and red
Early maturing varieties that grow up to 1.8 and 2 m, respectively. They have round fruits with a sweet taste. The yield of the red-fruited variety is higher. Form into two stems.
Gold
Mid-season indet with small round fruits of very sweet taste. Form into two stems.
Honey drop
Mid-early Indet with very sweet, pear-shaped yellow fruits. The number of fruits in a cluster is up to 25. Potato leaf. Forms many stepchildren. Form into 2 stems.
Blush
Mid-season indet with very beautiful elongated fruits. Their color is pink-yellow with subtle stripes. There are fruity notes on the palate. Form into 4 stems.
Supercist varieties
Among cherry tomatoes, there are record holders that form huge clusters, the number of flowers in them reaches 300. Blooming tomato of this type is an amazing sight. These tomatoes grow gradually and there are flowers and ripe fruits on one bunch. Such tomatoes are indetes. They need to be formed into one stem, leaving no more than 3 brushes.
Varieties: Red and yellow necklace.
Conclusion
Plant cherry tomatoes. This is a favorite delicacy not only for children, but also for adults.
