Tropical Garden Grow Guide
Where you are the student and the teacher
| Botanical Name |
Salanum lycopersicum |
| Plant Type |
Perennial |
| Sun Exposure |
Full Sun |
| Soil Type |
Fertile, well drained, loose soil |
| Soil pH |
5.8 to 6.8 |
| Germination |
7-14 days |
| Maturity | 7 to 9 weeks |
| Water |
1 to 2" per week |
| Fruit size | Thumbnail to golf ball |
| Spacing |
4 ft between rows |
Cherry tomatoes originated from wild tomatoes cultivated in the Andes by Inca peoples about 80,000 years ago.
|
|
Cherry Tomatoes are the best variety to grow in hot climates, as they have better resistance to heat and humidity
The basic difference between cherry tomato plants and other tomato plants is that cherry tomato fruits and seeds are smaller. They both contain the same nutrients, both are healthy sources of vitamins A and C.
Direct
sowing into the garden is not recommended for
tomatoes. Sow seeds into a sterile seed starting mix,
1/8"-1/4" deep. Keep the soil moist and seeds will
germinate in 1 to 2 weeks time.
When transplanting into
the garden place in deep holes 8-10 inches deep provide
plants with a mixture of good topsoil, compost, and bone
meal, which promotes flowering and fruit production.
Eggshells are also good to place in the soil as they
will provide needed calcium and when they begin to
produce fruits, regular feedings with compost tea are
important.
Cherry
tomatoes will quickly outgrow a tomato cage so a
trellis or stakes are the better choice for support. These plants prefer full sunlight to
partial shade, with at least 6 to 8 hours of sun per
day. and prefer temperatures between 75 and 85
degrees. It is best to water cherry tomatoes in the
early morning and drip irrigation is preferred by
soaking soil 6 to 8 inches deep. If drip line is not
available use garden hose but allow it to slowly
trickle.
As your plants get to
be about 12 inches tall, pruning off the bottom leaves
prevents too much moisture that can spread disease
to the rest of your plants and garden. The little sucker
plants that grow from nodes can also be pruned, placed
in water and when roots appear, added to the
garden. Cherry tomatoes can come in a variety of
colors -- most common however are red.
A favorite way to eat
them is right off the vine. Because of their size, they
are not great for canning but dehydrating cherry
tomatoes in direct sunlight is a good way to preserve
them for up to 2 years at room temperature. A bit of
dribbled olive oil can be added to them with some herbs
for extra flavor.
Troubleshooting -- Blossom drop can occur if it gets too hot, so providing a bit of shade will help bring the temperature down. Sun scald can be avoided if you drape some of the larger branches to shade developing fruit. Many of the pests that like tomatoes can be controlled with neem oil, though this should be avoided when plants are flowering. Crop rotation is probably the best way to avoid fungus diseases on your plants.
Recipes
Zucchini Panzanella Salad
| Ingredients | Directions |
| 3 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4-in.
slices 1/4 cup olive oil, divided 1 French bread Baguette - cut into cubes 1 1/2 C halved cherry tomatoes 1 medium chopped green pepper 1/2 medium red onion 1/4 C balsamic vinegar 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1 tsp jarred minced garlic 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes 1 tsp kosher salt 1/2 tsp ground pepper 1 1/2 C mozzerella cheese cut into small pieces |
|
Green Beans with Tomatoes and Crispy Bread Crumbs
| Ingredients |
Directions |
|
|