When can I plant cherry tomato outside?

Direct sow or transplant 2 weeks after your last spring frost.

How long until cherry tomato is ready to harvest?

55-70 days. Fruit is fully colored and slightly soft when gently squeezed; should pop off the vine easily when ripe

When to Plant Cherry Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme

fruitZones 3–11beginner

Prolific producer of sweet, bite-sized tomatoes perfect for snacking and salads. Easier to grow than large tomatoes. Indeterminate varieties produce until frost.

Planting calendar

Start seeds indoors

6 weeks before your last spring frost.

Direct sow / transplant

2 weeks after your last spring frost.

Most productive tomato type; provide sturdy support as plants get large; prune suckers for airflow

Spacing & harvest

Plant spacing: 24-36 inches
Row spacing: 24-36 inches
Days to harvest: 55-70 days
Ready when: Fruit is fully colored and slightly soft when gently squeezed; should pop off the vine easily when ripe

Companion planting

Plant near

Basil — Repels pests and attracts pollinators
Carrot — Loosens soil around roots

Keep away from

Fennel — Inhibits tomato growth
Cabbage — Both heavy feeders

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Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns