If you’re lucky enough to have a balcony, you’ve got the perfect spot for a “snack garden” full of sweet, juicy cherry tomatoes! These little powerhouses do amazingly well in balcony boxes, hanging baskets, or large pots. Here’s everything you need to know to grow your own mini-tomatoes and enjoy a massive harvest all summer long.
Starting from Seed vs. Buying Starter Plants
If you want to be picking fresh tomatoes off the vine by mid-summer, you’ll want to get a head start in March. You can either buy a packet of seeds or use seeds you saved and dried from your favorite variety last year.
Start your seeds indoors around mid-February or March. Plant them in seed-starting trays, give them a good drink, and place them somewhere warm and bright. You should see those little sprouts popping up in about 14 to 24 days. If starting from seed isn’t your thing, no worries! You can easily pick up healthy starter plants at your local garden center in May.
Moving Your Tomatoes Outdoors in May
Tomatoes are total sun-worshippers and hate the cold. Because they’re so sensitive to frost, wait until mid-May—once the threat of a night freeze has passed—to plant them outside. Make sure your pot is big enough for the specific variety you’re growing. Pro tip: Add a drainage layer (like gravel or clay pebbles) at the bottom of the pot, because tomatoes hate “wet feet.” Use a high-quality potting mix and mix in some compost or organic fertilizer like guano to give them a nutrient boost.
The best spot on your balcony is somewhere warm and sunny. A south-facing wall is perfect because it reflects heat back onto the plant and offers a bit of protection from the wind and rain.
Care Tips for the Best Cherry Tomatoes
To make sure you’re harvesting crunchy, fresh fruit by early summer, keep your plants out of the rain. Wet leaves are an open invitation for late blight, a fungus that can ruin your crop. Here are a few more golden rules for tomato success:
- Give your plants a stake or trellis to climb.
- Water them deeply and consistently.
- Always water at the base; never get water on the leaves or flowers.
- Feed your plants regularly with compost, organic fertilizer, or nettle tea.
- Don’t forget weekly pruning (suckering) to help the plant focus its energy on growing fruit.
