A trendy tomato variety among home gardeners is Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes for a good reason. This variety’s vines grow close together, meaning the plant takes up a minimal area in the garden.
These tomatoes can be grown quickly in huge containers. Read on to find out insider information to help you make the most out of these beautiful tomatoes.
Contents
What Is A Husky Cherry Red Tomato?
Cherry Red Tomatoes are a type of tomatoes that are both indeterminate and hybrid, they’re also called Solanum Lycopersicum. Husky Red is one of the types that will provide you with a plentiful supply of luscious tomatoes.
Husky Cherry Red Tomato Plant Care Tips
– Water Requirements
Only water the Cherry Tomatoes’ root zone, approximately six to twelve inches (or 15-30 cm) from the plant’s base.
Use a watering can with a sprinkler attached to its head to water the plant with your hands. This stage allows you to control the amount of water you use. The frequency with which you water your plant is determined by the temperature, rain, and the plant’s ability to absorb moisture.
If you have a big yard, water first thing in the morning and let the foliage dry out for the rest of the day. Diseases and molds will emerge on overwatered and damp leaves, causing your tomatoes to degrade and die. Another strategy to save your plant is to water it properly every two to three days rather than a little each day.
Deep watering your tomatoes will aid in developing deep, robust roots, which will make your plant tolerant to drought. You can check moisture in the soil using your fingers.
Conversely, you examine moisture by digging a hole. If two to four inches (which is almost 5-10 cm) of soil seems dry, you must water the plant immediately.
– Light Requirements
Place your Husky Red in a sunny setting because it likes a warm climate. Given its affinity for warmth, it must constantly be exposed to direct sunlight.
Your Cherry Tomato needs 10 to 12 hours of light per day indoors for optimum growth.
Use artificial grow lights if you don’t have enough natural light. Artificial light for eight to 10 hours will undoubtedly aid the plant’s growth. If you keep it in the dark place, it will only yield subpar, dull results.
– Soil Requirements
Add organic food like peat moss, manure, or garden compost, for healthy Cherry Red Tomatoes, because for good growth, the plant requires well-drained, organic soil.
Break down the soil in your garden or container with a spade at 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) in depth to begin prepping your garden. It’s critical that you work through the soil correctly to loosen it. Adding organic elements to your plant can help it drain better. Containers with drainage holes can also be used.
To keep your soil healthy and productive for the tomatoes, add nutrients, earthworms, and other organisms. The pH level of the soil should be regulated between 5.5 and 7.
– Temperature Requirements
The Cherry Red Tomato can withstand temperatures as low as 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, keeping the temperature at 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit is a good idea (26.6 to 29.4°C). Remember it will thrive in a sunny environment.
– Humidity Requirements
If you’re growing your Husky Red indoors, keep the humidity between 80 and 90 percent during the day. On the other hand, the evening humidity will be approximately 65 to 75 percent.
Your tomato will suffocate and dies if the humidity level exceeds the specified range. If the air around the plant seems dry, use a humidifier or a heating mat to bring it back to the optimal humidity level.
– Fertilizer Requirements
Manure or compost should be added to your planting bed. A mild general-purpose and granular fertilizer labeled 5-10-5 will be a perfect way to get your Cherry Red Tomato fertilization started. Since using a 5-10-5 vegetable fertilizer for best results.
Later in the growing season, you can boost your plant with a vegetable-specific fertilizer. Organic and synthetic fertilizers, as well as fast and slow-release fertilizers, are available.
Also, keep an eye out for weeds growing in your garden. There are fertilizers on the market that will help your plant thrive while also preventing the growth of weeds.
Weeds are nasty for your tomatoes because they suck up the essential nutrients and absorb moisture.
Harvesting
Harvesting is the time when your tomatoes have to be reaching their perfect time to be picked and enjoyed. For Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes, read below to know the ideal harvesting moment.
– How to Harvest
It will take 65 days for your Cherry Tomato to ripen fully. After that, it’s ready to eat directly off the vine. It will weigh roughly one oz (or 28 g) when fully mature. You’ll know that these tomatoes are mature when they change colors, they become more vibrant in their redness and less green color is apparent.
However, it is important for you to remember that these tomatoes will give a bit more complex taste the longer they ripen, that is why it is important to wait for them to reach their perfect moment to be consumed.
– How to Store
Although the clear signs of maturity may differ, fully ripe tomatoes have a rich color and feel solid when gently squeezed. The tomatoes you pick should be stored at room temperature indoors or in a shady location outside.
Tomatoes must not be stored in the refrigerator. This is because their flavor ingredients degrade at temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. To continue enjoying delicious fruit, provide your Cherry Red Tomato with the proper care and affection.
The color of red cherry tomatoes varies as they ripen, from a vivid medium green to a lighter hue with subtle pink or yellow stripes. These ripe green tomatoes, often known as “breakers,” can be cut into salsas, pickled, or pan-fried to make a crispy appetizer.
However, the flavors grow much more complex when the fruits ripen, so you have excellent reason to wait.
Common Problems
The following are some issues that your Husky Red Tomato may face during its development
– Blossom End Root
Leathery and brown spots occur on the ends of the first few fruits of the growing season, indicating the presence of the disease. Because the damaged areas facilitate the entry of rot-causing organisms, the patches eventually turn black and decay.
This is basically a medical ailment caused by a lack of calcium in your Cherry plant. The leading cause of calcium deficiency is poor watering, as calcium is not adequately absorbed. It can, however, be triggered by a large amount of magnesium and nitrogen.
Keep your soil well mulched and moist to avoid Blossom end rot. Also, don’t over-fertilize your soil medium with nitrogen.
Finally, remove all the damaged plants to rescue what’s left of the plant.
– Verticillium Wilt
Your Cherry Tomato is susceptible to this disease, a common fungal disease. In a warm climate, the sickness thrives.
The fungus will enter your plant through the perforations in its roots and infiltrate the stems, cutting off the plant’s supply of nutrition.
This will cause the top of your plant to wilt in the midday sun, but it will recover when it gets cold.
Yellowing of the leaves is one of the earliest signs of this fungus, followed by leaf dropping and death. It will eventually spread over the rest of the plant.
Keep your plant well-watered and fertilized to avoid infestation of this illness. Another approach is to use a mulch to keep the soil medium cold.
– Septoria Leaf Spot
When the weather is damp and warm, Septoria Leaf is common in these tomatoes. Browning of the foliage is one of the signs, followed by yellow haloes on the leaves.
This will turn grey and have spores in the center sooner or later. It will then attack the rest of your plant, killing your plant in the worst-case scenario.
You must provide your plant with enough air circulation. Always use clean, disinfected pots and remove diseased plants.
Seed-borne illness can be reduced by soaking the seed in hot which is approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit, water for 30 minutes before planting (this must be done accurately).
FAQ
– How Tall Should A Husky Red Tomato Be?
The Husky Tomato can reach over three-four feet. In its natural habitat, though, it can grow slightly more prominent.
– What Are the Pruning Requirements of Husky Cherry Red Tomato?
You should prune your tomato plant regularly to grow healthy and quickly. If you don’t prune the dead leaf, it will absorb the energy that the young ones require to flourish.
Pruning is necessary for various reasons. You prune to maintain your plant’s size, encourage bushy growth, and eliminate sick or dead stems. Pruning your Cherry Red tomato plants will result in larger, healthier tomatoes.
Pinching the flower buds is an excellent place to start trimming. Because this type is vining and grows in a small space, it’s critical to prune it regularly to keep it from becoming invasive. Oftentimes, you’ll need to prune the vine entirely from top to bottom just to keep it under control.
If you prune more than 1/3 of the plant, you may end up with unproductive and fragile tomatoes. It is critical to remove the mature tomatoes as soon as possible. Unnecessarily leaving them on the plant will result in a terrible flavor and tomatoes with odd textures.
Also, remember that adult tomatoes consume more energy than immature tomatoes. While pruning, you need to take several measures. To keep illnesses away from your tomatoes, sterilize your pruning equipment thoroughly. Keep yourself safe by using gloves and eyewear.
– What Are the Best Growing Zones And Conditions for Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes?
Cherry Red Tomatoes reach a maximum height of three to four feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters). It spreads to an area of roughly two to three feet simultaneously (0.6 to 0.9 meters). This variety’s fruit weighs between 1 and 1.5 oz (28 to 43 g).
It can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 11 through 12 and matures in 65 days.
– How Can I Propagate Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes?
Your tomatoes will be produced more quickly if Husky Red Tomatoes are grown from seedlings rather than tomato seeds. Purchase seedlings from a nursery or garden if you have previously produced tomatoes to begin your propagation procedure.
This is a vining plant; you’ll also need to purchase a cage. A metal cage is preferable over a vinyl or plastic cage because it is less hazardous to your plant. Because this plant grows quickly, it will require support as the vines begin to grow. The next step is selecting a container; you can grow the tomatoes in a pot or garden.
Any pot will suffice; however, terra-cotta pots are preferred. Ensure the pot has drainage holes as well. Now you must decide where you will grow your tomato.
Remember that red cherry tomatoes like the sun, so find a spot that gets plenty of it. To fill your pot, use a fresh soil medium; soil media from your yard can transmit pests and illnesses. If you’re using soil from your garden, take the time to test it first.
Once the threat of frost has passed, begin the planting process. The outside temperature should be in the 70 degrees Fahrenheit range (21 degrees Celsius).
Start by placing the metal cage in the container and filling it with soil. To make the mixture moist, add some water. Continue to add soil material until it reaches a depth of 12 inches below the rim of your container.
Dig a little hole right in the center of the container to place your seedlings. Then, to cover the gap, add more soil material. Place your pot in your garden or on your balcony’s deck.
Water your newly planted tomatoes at least twice daily for the first two to three days. It is important that you keep the soil moist but not soggy.
When repotting or transplanting your Cherry Red Tomato, do the following steps. Start the repotting process six weeks before the first frost season.
It’s critical to remove any flowers or fruit from the plant before repotting to concentrate on the vegetative growth. After that, harden off your plant for around five days for healthy growth. Afterward, prepare your soil medium and add the appropriate amount of fertilizer. Adding fish emulsions is a fantastic idea.
Keep in mind that your tomato’s growth requires a spacing of 22 to 35 inches (60 to 90 cm) for this kind. Finally, deeply bury your stems and water the plant regularly.
Husky Red Cherry Tomato is an excellent choice for the vegetable garden, but it also works well in pots and containers outside. It may be used as a ‘filler’ or a ‘thriller’ in the ‘spiller-thriller-filler’ based on the height and form of other plants used in the container planting.
A “thriller” is a tall plant with a bold statement of form and color; “filler” plants fill the area behind the soil, and; “spiller” plants weep over the pot’s edge. As a result, the three-dimensional arrangement appears to be a rich, mature, and long-lasting container combination.
This plant can even be big enough to be grown by itself in a proper container. It’s important to remember that plants grown in outdoor pots and baskets may demand frequent watering more than plants grown in the yard or garden.
Conclusion
Now that you have read all about these beautiful tomatoes you know all about them! However, remember that:
- Grow the Husky Cherry Tomatoes at a sunny site
- Give the tomato seeds plenty of water to keep the soil moist.
- When pruning, make sure to use disinfected tools.
- Use an organic fertiliser to fertilise.
After reading about it all, you have the confidence to grow them, propagate them, care for them properly, and even the best ways to store them.
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