Field guide
How to grow tomato (cherry): planting, care, and harvest guide
Tomato (Cherry) typically reaches first harvest in 55–70 days. This guide covers when to plant by USDA zone, common pests, harvest cues, and companion plants where relevant.
Open plannerWhen to plant tomato (cherry) by USDA zone group
- USDA Zones 1–4 — June
- USDA Zones 5–6 — May to June
- USDA Zones 7–8 — April to May
- USDA Zones 9–10 — March to April
- USDA Zones 11–13 — February to March
Companion plants
Good companions: Basil, Carrots, Parsley, French Marigolds
Avoid planting with: Cabbage, Florence Fennel, Potatoes
Harvest
When to pick
- Fruit is fully colored and slightly soft when squeezed
- Comes off the vine easily with a gentle twist
- Cherry tomatoes will crack/split if left too long — pick promptly
How: Pick continuously every 1-2 days as fruits ripen. Grasp the fruit and twist gently, or snip the stem with scissors. Regular picking encourages more production.
Storage: Never refrigerate — it ruins flavor and texture. Store at room temp, stem-side down. Use within a week.
Common pests and problems
Tomato Hornworm
Signs: Large green caterpillars (3-4 inches), stripped leaves and stems, dark droppings
Control: Hand-pick (they're well camouflaged — look for droppings first). Leave them if they have white parasitic wasp cocoons attached. Apply Bt spray for heavy infestations.
Aphids
Signs: Clusters on stem tips and new growth, sticky honeydew, sooty mold
Control: Strong water blast, insecticidal soap, neem oil. Attract beneficial insects with flowering herbs.
Early Blight
Signs: Brown spots with concentric rings on lower leaves, spreading upward
Control: Remove and destroy affected lower leaves. Mulch to prevent soil splash. Water at soil level. Apply copper fungicide preventively.
About this field guide
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