Organic Cherry Tomato Seeds - Open Pollinated

Typically categorized as a vegetable, Cherry tomatoes are a type of fruit that grow from flowers. Popular as a salad ingredient, cherry tomatoes are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Rich in fiber, the juicy tangy treat is easy to grow in your backyard.

Benefits/ Uses

• Rich in Lycopene, cherry tomatoes promote heart health and fight UV damage to the skin. Lycopene also helps fight inflammation, minimizing the risk of ischemic stroke. 
• Rich source of vitamin’s A, C E and B foliate. Specifically, cherry tomatoes are rich in minerals like phosphorus, calcium, potassium and manganese.
• Naringin and Naringenin are two essential nutrients from cherry tomatoes that have anti-inflammatory properties, playing a role in disease fighting. 
• It contains potassium, a mineral essential to decrease blood pressure, thereby improving heart health. In addition, Lycopene plays a role in cholesterol control. 
• A 2013 research claim that regular addition of cherry tomatoes in diet results in a moderate decrease in prostate cancer. It may also help avert breast cancer. 

Specifications

Sowing and Caring

• To start seedling, plow a row. Plant 3-4 seeds per hole with each hole being 3-4 feet apart. It is best to grow cherry tomatoes in grow bags. Choose a comfortable grow bag like the 24x24 HDPE bag (could hold 2 big tomato plants). 
• Soilless medium like coco peat should be mixed with the soil to keep the air circulation intact. It is advised to use organically enriched potting mix like the one we have. Keep the soil slightly loose for the roots to breathe. 2 part gardening soil + one part vermicompost + one part cocopeat is the optimal medium.
• Germination occurs between 5-10 days. 
• Mist spray can be used to water to avoid overwatering the seedlings. 
• Cherry tomatoes require full sun for 6-8 hours a day for good growth. It is suggested to add vermicompost every 2-3 weeks.  
• Cherry tomatoes require adequate watering. Water whenever the top soil is dry. 
• After certain growth, the plant will require the support of trellis or a pole to grow and fruit. 

Harvest

• Depending on growing conditions, it takes about 2-3 months to harvest fully grown ripe tomatoes. Push the fruit outwards from where it is attached to the stem.  

Common Problems

• Overwatering will lead to fungal growth like powdery mildew. 
• In addition to common tomato pests like blights and tomato hornworms, cherry tomatoes also attract attacks from birds. 
• Nitrogen deficiency leads to yellowing of leaves. 

Precautions

• Overwatering should be avoided and the soil should be well-drained to avoid fungal infection. Water only when the soil is dry 1-2 inches from the top. 
• Vermicompost or any organic soil enrichers should be added once in 2-3 weeks to stimulate growth. Nitrogen rich fertilizers like Azospirillum should be added to balance nitrogen requirements. 
• Fencing or bird netting using Garden Agro Shade nets will help prevent bird attacks. Using biodegradable pesticide like the one we have will prevent pests growths