Cultivating cherry tomatoes, although it involves a significant amount of work, offers higher returns. Therefore, the author has compiled and shared the planting experiences of some vegetable farmers in Tianma Town, Shouguang City, Shandong Province, to help others improve their own cultivation techniques.
First, cultivating strong seedlings is essential. In early spring, cherry tomato seeds are typically sown in greenhouses at the end of December and transplanted into greenhouses around the beginning of February. The seedlings are about 60 days old before being moved. Before sowing, the seeds should be soaked in a 10% trisodium phosphate solution for 20-30 minutes, then rinsed thoroughly and soaked in clean water for 4-6 hours. After drying slightly, they are allowed to germinate for two days. Due to the high cost of seeds, many growers use nutrient cartridges or bags to raise healthy seedlings.
Second, timely planting is crucial. For every 667 square meters, it's recommended to apply 5-8 cubic meters of high-quality organic fertilizer, 50-100 kg of potassium sulfate, 200 kg of wood ash, 50 kg of diammonium phosphate, and 500 kg of cooked cake fertilizer. After deep plowing, the field is shaped into ridges with a large row spacing of 90 cm, a small row spacing of 60 cm, and a ridge height of 15 cm. Cooked cake fertilizer can be applied at the bottom of the ridges. When the seedlings reach 15 cm in height and have 5-6 true leaves, they are planted at intervals of 40-45 cm, with approximately 2000-2200 plants per 667 square meters.
Third, effective management is key.
1. Fertilization and irrigation: Water the base of the plants first, then loosen the soil after cutting to encourage root growth. Cultivate 2-3 times before the first fruit set to strengthen the seedlings. Once the first clusters of fruits begin to set, apply fertilizer and water promptly. Each time, apply 15-20 kg of compound fertilizer per 667 square meters, adjusting the frequency based on plant growth and weather conditions.
2. Pruning vines: When the first inflorescence opens, use plastic ropes to support the vines. A double-vine pruning method is commonly used—retaining one main vine and one strong side vine while removing all other side shoots and branches.
3. Flower and fruit thinning: Fruit drop in tomatoes is often caused by extreme temperatures, insufficient light, poor nutrition, or unbalanced fertilization and watering. If these factors are not the cause, hormone treatment can be used. A 2.4-D solution at a concentration of 10-15 mg/kg can be applied to the flower stalks. It’s best to treat the second or third node of the stalk. To ensure even fruit development and improve commercial quality, it’s important to thin out flowers and fruits, leaving about 10-15 fruits per cluster.
Fourth, pest and disease control is necessary. Like regular tomatoes, cherry tomatoes are susceptible to gray mold, early and late blight, blossom end rot, thrips, and whiteflies. Prevention and treatment methods are similar to those used for regular tomatoes. For blossom end rot, applying calcium sulfate as fertilizer and foliar spraying with a 0.5% calcium chloride solution or a 1% calcium superphosphate solution can be effective.
By following these practices, farmers can significantly improve their yield and quality, making cherry tomato cultivation more profitable and sustainable.
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