When to Plant Cherry Tomatoes
Bite-sized tomatoes that produce massive quantities with less effort than full-size varieties. Perfect for snacking, salads, and kids.
The Short Answer
How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are the most forgiving type for beginners — they ripen earlier, resist cracking better, and produce more prolifically than full-size varieties, even in imperfect conditions. A single Sun Gold plant can produce over 200 fruits in a season. The tradeoff is managing the sprawl: indeterminate cherry tomatoes grow like vines and need sturdy caging or trellising. Ripe cherry tomatoes split after rain, so harvest before storms when possible. For kids' gardens, cherry tomatoes are unbeatable — the instant gratification of popping a warm, sweet tomato straight from the vine creates lifelong gardeners.
Starting Seeds Indoors
Begin cherry tomatoes seeds indoors 6 weeks before your average last frost date. Seeds need soil temperatures of at least 60°F to germinate, which typically takes 5-10 days. Provide 14 hours of light per day using a south-facing window or grow lights.
Transplanting
Move seedlings outside 2 weeks after your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 60°F. Harden off seedlings for 7 days before transplanting by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.
Growing Tips
More forgiving than full-size tomatoes — they ripen faster, resist cracking better, and produce even in imperfect conditions. Sun Gold is widely considered the best-tasting cherry tomato ever bred. Expect 200+ fruits per plant.
Companion Planting
Good companions:
Keep away from:
Cherry Tomatoes Planting Dates by State
Click your state for cherry tomatoes planting dates specific to your location:
Last reviewed: March 29, 2026