How to Grow Determinate Cherry
Solanum lycopersicum 'Determinate Cherry'
Determinate Cherry tomatoes are compact, easy-to-grow plants perfect for small spaces and containers. Gardeners choose them for their reliable fruit production and resistance to common wilts and viruses.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Determinate Cherry: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 8 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
Move seedlings outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are warm enough for tomatoes.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date or direct sow after the ground warms post-frost. Press seeds gently into the soil at a depth of about 1/4 inch. Expect germination within 7 to 10 days.
Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in full sun. Although determinate varieties do not require tall trellises, staking can prevent fruit from touching damp soil. Provide consistent moisture and apply mulch to retain water. Feed regularly during the growing season to support heavy fruiting.
Watch for tomato hornworms, aphids, spider mites, and thrips by inspecting leaves frequently. Prevent fungal issues like early blight with good air circulation; avoid blossom end rot by watering consistently. Harvest ripe fruit approximately 65 to 70 days after planting.
When to Plant Determinate Cherry
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Determinate Cherry
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Helps break up soil and doesn't compete for nutrients or space
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Provides living mulch and utilizes space efficiently without competition
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repels various pests and attracts beneficial pollinators
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone which is toxic to tomatoes and causes wilting
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Inhibits growth through allelopathy and attracts harmful insects
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
