Best Months to Plant Cherry Tomatoes? A Detailed Guide to Cultivation Environment Requirements

Best Months to Plant Cherry Tomatoes? What Kind of Cultivation Environment Do They Need?

I. Open-field cultivation:

1. Spring tomatoes: In December, seedlings are raised in a greenhouse with heating wires plus a small tunnel; in late March, after plastic film mulching, they are transplanted to the field, and harvested from late May to late July. Choose early-maturing, high-yielding varieties such as Sijihong and Shengnyu.

2. Autumn tomatoes: Sow and raise seedlings in late June, using nutrient pots for seedling raising; transplant in late July, and harvest from late September until before frost. The Sijihong variety can be used.

II. Protected cultivation:

1. Small tunnel covering cultivation: In January, seedlings are raised using hotbeds or heating wires inside a greenhouse plus small tunnel covering; transplant in early to mid-March, preferably after plastic film mulching first, and cover with a small tunnel right after transplanting. Supply to the market from May to July, about 1 month earlier than open-field cultivation.

2. Greenhouse cultivation: In early December, raise seedlings in cold beds or with electric heating wires inside the greenhouse; transplant in late February, with a small tunnel inside the greenhouse; harvest from April to early August. Choose early-maturing, high-yielding, high-quality varieties.

3. Rain-shelter cultivation: Similar to greenhouse cultivation, except the greenhouse canopy is not removed throughout the whole period; only the side curtains are removed, so that the canopy plays a rainproof role during the plum rain season and summer. Shade netting is then laid over the canopy to provide a cooling effect, which can extend the tomato supply period to August or even September. Bacterial wilt-resistant varieties can be used.

4. Greenhouse delayed autumn cultivation: Sow from late June to early July, transplant at the end of August, and market from September to December. In October, cover with greenhouse film for insulation; multiple layers of covering can be used to extend the supply of fresh tomatoes to New Year's Day.

5. Solar greenhouse cultivation: In areas with sufficient sunlight in winter, solar greenhouses can be used to cultivate spring tomatoes for an earlier market. Generally, seedlings are raised in October, transplanted in November, and begin to be supplied to the market in February until late June.

The suitable growth temperature for cherry tomatoes is 24-31°C, and they like to be planted in soil with strong light and a deep soil layer. For cherry tomato cultivation, loam soil that is rich in organic matter, has a deep plow layer, good structure, and is loose and breathable should be chosen. When preparing the land, make the bed 1.5 m wide, the ridge 25 cm high, and the furrow 40 cm wide. A 1.5 m wide bed can plant 4 rows, with a plant spacing of 25-30 cm, and 6000-8000 plants can be planted per mu. When transplanting, first open a ditch in the bed or on the semi-high ridge, with a ditch depth of 15 cm. After opening the ditch, spread 250 kg of decomposed manure per mu, add phosphate fertilizer, and at the same time spread 30 kg of superphosphate per mu. Cherry tomatoes have small fruit, are numerous, and grow vigorously. During cultivation, attention should be paid to increasing the number of fruit set so that the fruit shape is small and uniform. Use double-stem pruning and cut off the remaining side branches. To make the fruit color well and have high sugar content, more phosphate fertilizer should be applied.