They thrive just as luxuriantly in the bed as in the pot or flower box. Cocktail tomatoes are the favorite among tomato varieties. No wonder, because they are very easy to plant. This is how it works in the hobby garden.
When and how do you plant cocktail tomatoes?
Cocktail tomatoes are best planted after the Ice Saints in mid-May in nutrient-rich, slightly calcareous soil in a sunny and protected location. Create pits at a distance of 60-80 cm, insert the young plants and install a climbing aid.
When is planting time for cocktail tomatoes?
Native to South America, cocktail tomatoes only thrive at temperatures of 13-15 degrees Celsius. A level of 20 to 24 degrees Celsius is ideal. Therefore, the planting season in our regions starts after the Ice Saints, from mid-May.
Can cocktail tomatoes tolerate a partially shaded location?
All tomato varieties are true sun worshipers. Cocktail tomatoes only need a place in partial shade when they are being grown on the windowsill and for hardening before planting tomatoes outdoors. The baby tomatoes only produce a rich harvest in sunny locations with a slight breeze every now and then. Rain protection is essential at the location, either under a tomato canopy or in the greenhouse.
What is important when planting?
In addition to the sunny lighting conditions, the soil quality is also important at the chosen location. The soil should be rich in nutrients, interspersed with busy microorganisms, fresh and slightly calcareous. Correspondingly, nutritious compost-based vegetable soil (€13.00 on Amazon) can be used as a pot substrate. Given such optimal conditions, planting cocktail tomatoes is easy:
- create small pits in the bed at a planting distance of 60-80 centimeters
- spread out a drainage system made of pottery shards in the bucket or balcony box
- Insert young plants just below the first pair of leaves
- install a climbing aid without damaging the root ball
- water abundantly without wetting the foliage
- ideally mulch with grass clippings, nettle leaves or straw
Read how to care for your tomato plants.
When does the harvest time for cocktail tomatoes begin?
If the weather cooperates, the harvest time for cocktail tomatoes begins at the end of July/beginning of August. With a little luck, you can snack on juicy, sweet mini tomatoes until October. It is important to ensure that the fruits are completely colored. If cocktail tomatoes are still green, they contain toxic solanine.
Tips & Tricks
Cocktail tomatoes are not only undemanding when it comes to planting. Thanks to their bushy, stable growth, they also save the hobby gardener the time-consuming pruning.
