If you’re thinking about starting a vegetable garden, you might be asking, ‘how long does it take to grow cherry tomatoes?’ It’s one of the best questions for a new gardener. The quick answer is that from transplanting a young seedling to your first ripe harvest, it typically takes about 55 to 70 days. But the full journey from seed to snack is a bit longer and depends on a few key factors.
This guide will walk you through the timeline and the simple steps to get a great crop. Cherry tomatoes are fast, productive, and perfect for pots, making them a fantastic choice for beginners and experts alike.
How Long Does It Take To Grow Cherry Tomatoes
The total time to grow cherry tomatoes breaks down into two main phases: starting from seed, and then growing the plant to fruit. Most gardeners don’t start counting the “days to maturity” until they transplant a seedling into its final home.
From that point, you’re looking at roughly 8 to 10 weeks for most popular varieties. Here’s a typical timeline:
- Starting Seeds Indoors: 6-8 weeks before your last frost date.
- Transplanting Outdoors: After all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm.
- Days to Maturity (from transplant): 55 to 70 days for many varieties.
- Total from Seed to Harvest: Approximately 100 to 120 days.
Remember, “days to maturity” is an estimate. It means the average number of days until the plant produces its first ripe fruits under ideal conditions. Your weather, care, and specific chosen variety will influence your actual timing.
Factors That Influence Your Growing Time
Several things can speed up or slow down your tomato timeline. Knowing these helps you set realistic expectations.
- Variety Choice: This is the biggest factor. Early varieties like ‘Early Cascade’ can fruit in under 60 days. Heirloom or larger cherry types might take closer to 75.
- Weather and Temperature: Tomatoes need warm soil and air to thrive. A cool, cloudy spring will delay growth. Ideal temperatures are between 70-85°F during the day.
- Sunlight: Your plants need a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct, full sun each day. Less sun equals slower growth and fewer fruits.
- Plant Health and Care: Proper watering, feeding, and disease prevention keep the plant growing steadily. Stressed plants pause their development.
Step-by-Step: Your Quick Growing Guide
Follow these steps for a smooth and successful season from start to finish.
1. Choosing the Right Variety
Pick a variety that suits your climate and container size. Look at the “days to maturity” on the seed packet or plant tag. For a quick harvest, choose determinate (bush) types or early-maturing indeterminates.
- Fast Options: ‘Sungold’ (57 days), ‘Super Sweet 100’ (65 days), ‘Juliet’ (60 days).
- Container Favorites: ‘Tumbling Tom’, ‘Patio Choice Yellow’, ‘Micro Tom’.
2. Starting Seeds or Buying Transplants
To get a head start, sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected spring frost. Plant them ¼ inch deep in a seed-starting mix. Keep them warm (75-80°F) and moist until they sprout.
For an easier start, buy healthy young transplants from a local nursery. Choose stocky plants with deep green leaves and no flowers or fruit yet. This is often the best route for your first time.
3. Transplanting and Initial Care
Transplant after nights are consistantly above 50°F. Harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days.
Plant them deep! Bury the stem up to the first set of true leaves. This encourages a stronger root system. Space plants about 2-3 feet apart, or use one plant per 5-gallon container. Water them in well.
4. Essential Care for Fast Growth
Consistent care is what gets you to harvest quickly. Stick to these basics.
- Watering: Water deeply and regularly, aiming for 1-2 inches per week. Avoid wetting the leaves to prevent disease. Inconsistent watering can cause problems like blossom end rot.
- Feeding: Use a balanced fertilizer at planting. Once flowers appear, switch to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus and potassium (like a 5-10-10) to support fruiting. Follow package instructions.
- Support: Provide a cage, stake, or trellis for your plants early on. Indeterminate varieties will grow tall and need strong support to keep fruit off the ground.
- Pruning: For indeterminate plants, you can remove some of the “suckers” that grow in the leaf joints. This isn’t strictly nessecary for cherries, but it can improve air flow.
5. Flowering, Fruiting, and the Wait
You’ll see small yellow flowers first. These need to be pollinated, usually by wind or bees. Once pollinated, the flower wilts and a tiny green tomato appears at its base.
This is the final stretch! The green fruit will grow larger, then slowly change color as it ripens. The ripening stage itself can take 2-3 weeks after the fruit reaches full size. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s uniformly colored and comes off the vine with a gentle tug.
Common Problems That Can Delay Harvest
Keep an eye out for these issues. Catching them early saves time and fruit.
- Blossom Drop: Flowers fall off without setting fruit. Caused by extreme temperatures (too hot or too cold) or insufficient pollination.
- Blossom End Rot: A dark, leathery spot on the bottom of the fruit. It’s often caused by uneven watering which leads to calcium uptake issues. Maintain consistent soil moisture.
- Pests: Aphids, hornworms, and whiteflies can weaken plants. Inspect leaves regularly and remove pests by hand or use an appropriate organic spray.
- Diseases: Fungal diseases like early blight can defoliate plants. Use mulch, water at the soil level, and choose resistant varieties to help prevent them.
Harvesting and Enjoying Your Crop
Harvest your cherry tomatoes when they are fully colored and slightly soft to the touch. They taste best when ripened on the vine. Pick regularly to encourage the plant to produce more fruit right up until the first frost.
If frost threatens while you still have green fruits, you can pick them and ripen them indoors in a paper bag with a banana. But vine-ripened is always superior in flavor.
FAQ: Your Cherry Tomato Questions Answered
Q: What is the fastest growing cherry tomato?
A: Varieties like ‘Sungold’ and ‘Early Cascade’ are among the fastest, often producing ripe fruit in under 60 days from transplant.
Q: Can you grow cherry tomatoes in pots?
A: Absolutely. They are excellent for containers. Choose a pot that is at least 12-14 inches deep and wide, with good drainage. Use a high-quality potting mix.
Q: How long do cherry tomato plants produce?
A: Indeterminate plants will produce fruit continuously until killed by frost. Determinate (bush) types produce a large, single harvest over a few weeks.
Q: Why are my cherry tomatoes taking so long to turn red?
A> Ripening slows down in very hot or very cool temperatures. Be patient. Ensure the plant is healthy and has enough leaves to produce the sugars needed for ripening.
Q: How many cherry tomatoes will one plant produce?
A> A healthy indeterminate plant can produce hundreds of fruits over a season. Even a single plant in a pot can give you a steady, generous yield for weeks.
Growing cherry tomatoes is a rewarding project with a relatively quick payoff. By understanding the timeline—from about 55 to 70 days from transplant—and providing simple, consistent care, you’ll be picking sweet, sun-warmed tomatoes from your own garden before you know it. The key is to start with a healthy plant, give it sun, water, and support, and then watch natures process unfold. Your biggest challenge might just be eating them all before you get them back to the kitchen.