How to plant cherry tomato seeds? A detailed guide to sowing and raising seedlings

Cherry tomato, often called little tomato, whose official Chinese name is cherry tomato, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, genus Solanum. Because of its small, bright appearance and juicy, tasty flavor, it has become a much-loved fruit. So how do you plant cherry tomato seeds?

1. Dry the cherry tomato seeds, then before planting place them under the blazing sun for one day (to kill bacteria and viruses and increase the germination rate), then break apart the seeds that have stuck together into individual seeds and set aside.

2. Spray the seedling bed evenly with clear water until thoroughly wet, then evenly scatter the cherry tomato seeds over the seedling bed, then set up arched bamboo frames, cover them well with plastic film, and press down the edges with stones and soil (to retain moisture and warmth).

3. After 3-5 days the seeds will sprout. Once the cotyledons have emerged, open the plastic film once in the morning and once in the afternoon each day to give them fresh air.

4. When the true leaves appear, carefully spray them once with a watering can using a light dilution of manure and urine water fertilizer to promote growth.

5. When the soil in the growing bed becomes short of water, replenish it promptly with a watering can.

How long do cherry tomato seeds generally take to germinate?

Cherry tomato seeds generally germinate in about 14-20 days. The suitable temperature for the growth and development of cherry tomatoes is 20-28°C; the seed germination stage requires a temperature of 25-30°C, and germination is difficult below 14°C. During the seedling stage, the daytime temperature is 20-25°C and the nighttime temperature is 10-15°C. During the flowering and fruit-setting stage, the daytime temperature is 20-28°C and the nighttime temperature is 15-20°C; below 15°C, growth and development are slow, and when the temperature is above 35°C, plant growth is slow and flower and fruit drop can also be caused. During the fruit development stage, the daytime temperature is generally 24-28°C and the nighttime temperature is 16-20°C, with the day-night temperature difference kept at 8-10°C.