Husky Cherry Red Tomato Plant Care – The Gardener’s Guide

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You want to learn more about Husky Cherry Red Tomato plant care and read about the Cherry Red Tomato Plant.

The Husky Cherry Red Tomato is a popular dwarf tomato variety. The vines on this tomato plant grow close to one another, meaning the plant takes up little space in the garden. 

Grow these tomatoes in containers and place them on your deck or patio.

Dwarf Tomato ‘Husky Cherry Red’ Takeaways

What Is A Husky Cherry Red Tomato Plant?

Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes belong to the Solanum genus. The Tomato ‘Husky Cherry Red’ botanical name is Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme ‘Husky Cherry Red.’ The Cherry Tomato is an indeterminate tomato hybrid. It belongs to the Solanaceae family or also called the nightshade family.

Cherry Reds produce small, round, juicy cherry tomatoes. They are perfect for salads. I grow these dwarf tomatoes yearly, and my family (especially the kids) loves them.

Husky Cherry Red Tomato Care Tips

Husky Red needs well-draining and organic soil for healthy growth. Use a liquid vegetable fertilizer labeled 5-10-5. These tomatoes enjoy full sun. These plants tolerate temperatures between 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit (4-10 degrees Celsius). The optimal temperature is 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit (26.6-29.4 degrees Celsius).

What Soil is Best for a Cherry Red Tomato Plant?

Organic matter like peat moss, garden compost, or manure is best for healthy Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes. 

Start preparing your garden by breaking down the soil in your garden or container using a spade of about 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm).

It’s vital that you properly work through the soil to loosen it. Adding organic ingredients will help in improving the drainage of your plant. You can also use containers with drainage holes.

Add nutrients, earthworms, and other organisms to keep your soil healthy and prosperous for the tomatoes. The pH must be kept between 5.5 to 7.

Husky Cherry Red Tomato Watering

Water a Husky Cherry Red Tomato every 2-3 days. Apply water only to the root zone of the Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes. The root zone is an area almost 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) from the base of the plant. 

Water the plant with your hands using a watering can that has a sprinkler attached to its head. This step helps you control the water amount you apply. 

Your plant’s watering frequency depends on the temperature, rain, and the plant’s water absorption ability.

If your garden is big, it will be a good idea to water in the morning, allowing the foliage to dry out for the rest of the day. 

Overwatered and moist leaves will lead to diseases and mold formation, deteriorating and killing your tomatoes.

Watering your tomatoes deeply will help them grow deep, sturdy roots that will keep your plant drought-tolerant. 

You can examine the soil moisture using your fingers or digging a hole. If you feel 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) of soil is dry, water the plant immediately.

How much Light does a Husky Cherry Red need?

Husky Cherry Reds need direct sunlight (full sun).

Your Cherry Tomato must receive 10 to 12 hours of light for healthy growth.

In case you do not have sufficient natural light, use artificial grow lights. 8 to 10 hours of artificial light will help the plant thrive. 

Placing it in a dark area will only produce poor and dull fruits.

What is the ideal Temperature for Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes?

The optimal temperature for Husky Cherry Tomatoes is 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit (26.6-29.4 degrees Celsius).

The lowest temperature your Husky Cherry Red Tomato will survive ranges from 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit (4-10 degrees Celsius). 

How much Humidity do Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes need?

The ideal humidity for Husky Tomatoes lies between 65-90%.

If you have planted your Husky Cherry Red indoors, keep the daytime humidity at around 80 to 90%. The nighttime humidity should be between 65 to 75 percent, according to the University of Arizona.

If humidity levels exceed the range, your tomato will suffocate and die. If the air around your plant gets dry, use a humidifier or a heating mat to raise the humidity to the ideal range.

How Often Should I Fertilize Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme ‘Husky Cherry Red‘?

Fertilize Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme ‘Husky Cherry Red‘ every 2-3 weeks. Prepare your planting bed with manure or compost in it.

Mild general-purpose and granulated fertilizer labeled 5-10-5 will be a great option to kick start your Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes fertilization.

You can give your plant a boost of fertilizer specially made for vegetables later in the growing season. Various fertilizers are available, from organic to synthetic and fast-release to slow-release. 

Also, be very cautious about the growth of weeds in your garden. There are fertilizers available in the market that will prevent the development of weeds yet help your plant thrive. 

Weeds harm your tomatoes since they will eat up important nutrients and soak your plant’s moisture.

Repotting

Following steps must be taken when repotting or transplanting your Husky Cherry Red Tomato:

• Start your repotting procedure six weeks before the date of the first frost.
• It is important that you remove any flower or fruit attached to the plant so that when you repot, the focus can be on the vegetative growth.
• Next, do not forget to harden off your plant for about five days for healthier growth.
• Then prepare your soil medium and add the needed amount of fertilizer into it. Adding fish emulsions will be a great idea.
• Keep in mind the spacing needed for the growth of your tomato that is around 22 to 35 inches (60 to 90 cm) for this variety.
• Lastly, bury your stems very deeply and water the plant on a regular basis.

Pruning

Pruning is quite important due to several reasons. You prune to keep a consistent size of your plant, to help bushy growth of it, and also to remove diseased, dead stems. 

Pruning your Husky Cherry Red will certainly promote healthier and larger tomatoes.

You can start pruning by pinching the flower buds. Since this variety is a vining one and grows in a compact space, therefore it is important that you prune it regularly to avoid the plant from becoming invasive.

There might be circumstances when you would have to prune the whole vine from top to bottom to keep the plant under control. 

Avoid pruning more than 1/3 of the plant, or you might have unproductive and weak tomatoes.

It is important that you remove the mature tomatoes instantly. Unnecessarily leaving them on the plant will only produce a bad flavor and weirdly textured tomatoes. 

Also, remember that mature tomatoes steal the energy needed to grow young tomatoes.

Some precautions are needed while you plan to prune. Thoroughly disinfect your pruning tools to keep diseases away from your tomatoes. 

Also, wear gloves and protective goggles to keep yourself safe.

Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes Propagation

You can propagate Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes from seeds through cuttings or grafting. Growing Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes from seedlings rather than seeds will produce tomatoes quickly.

Seedling Propagation

Start your propagation process by purchasing seedlings from a nursery or your garden if you have previously grown tomatoes. You also need to buy a cage since this is a vining plant.

Avoid buying a vinyl or plastic cage as it is very toxic for your plant; use a metal cage instead. This plant grows rapidly and needs support when the vines start to grow. 

The next step is to choose a container; you can either grow the tomatoes in your garden or in a pot. 

Any pot will do, but terra-cotta pots will be ideal. Also, make sure the pot contains drainage holes.

Now choose the location you will grow your tomato. Remember, cherry tomatoes love the sun so choose a location that receives a ton of sunlight.

Use a fresh soil medium to add to your pot; using soil medium from your garden can spread pests and diseases. In case you are using soil from your garden, test the soil. 

Start the planting process once the frost threat has passed. The outdoor temperature should be around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).

Place the metal cage into the container and start adding the soil medium. Now add some water into the mix to make it moist. Keep adding soil medium until the level is ½ inch below the rim of your container.

Dig a tiny hole in the container’s center to insert your seedlings. Then, add more soil medium to cover the hole. Place your pot in either your garden or on your deck in the balcony.

Keep watering your newly planted tomatoes regularly, preferably for 2 to 3 days. You should keep the soil saturated but not flooded.

Husky Cherry Red Tomato Blooms

The Husky Cherry Red Tomato blooms during the summer season. This tomato plant produces small yellow flowers that later turn into cherry tomatoes.

Husky Cherry Red Tomato Growth

The Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes grow to a height of about 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters). At the same time, it spreads to an area of about 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters).

The fruit size of this variety is around 1 to 1.5 oz (28 to 43 g). It grows in USDA hardiness zones 11 through 12 and takes around 65 days to mature. 

How does the Husky Cherry Red Tomato Taste?

The Cherry Red Tomato tastes sweet and fruity.

Common Problems for Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes

Following are some problems that your Husky Cherry Red Tomato might go through during the growth process:

Blossom End Rot

It can be detected by the appearance of leathery and brown patches on the ends of the first few fruits of the growing season.

The patches ultimately turn black and rot since the damaged areas help in the entrance of rot-causing organisms. 

It is not a disease but a physical problem caused in your Husky Cherry due to insufficient calcium.

The main reason for insufficient calcium is improper watering, as the calcium is not absorbed properly. However, adding a lot of magnesium and nitrogen can also trigger it.

To avoid Blossom end rot, keep your soil properly mulched and moist. Also, avoid adding too much nitrogen into your soil medium. 

Lastly, remove all the affected plants to save what’s left of the plant.

Verticillium Wilt

Verticillium Wilt is a prevalent fungal disease that your Cherry Tomato is prone to. The disease prevails in a warm environment. 

The fungus will enter your plant through the openings in your roots and invade the stems cutting the supply of nutrients to the rest of the plant. 

This will cause wilting of the top of your plant during the sunny afternoon, which recovers when it gets cold.

The first few symptoms of this fungus are the yellowing of the leaves followed by the dropping and death of leaves. It will ultimately distribute to the rest of the plant.

Keep your tomato plant properly watered and fertilized to prevent the invasion of Verticillium Wilt. Another trick is to keep the soil medium cool using some mulch. 

Septoria Leaf Spot

Septoria Leaf Spot is prevalent in your Cherry Tomato when the conditions are wet and warm. The symptoms include the browning of leaves followed by yellow haloes on the leaves.

This will sooner or later turn gray and have spores at the center. It will then attack the rest of your plant and, in extreme cases, kill your tomato plant.

It is important that you provide your tomato plant with excellent air circulation. Use clean and disinfected containers, and always throw away the infected plants.

Tips for Growing Husky Cherry Red Tomatoes

• Grow the Husky Cherry Tomatoes in a sunny location.
• Please give them a good amount of water to keep the soil moist.
• Use disinfected tools when you plan to prune.
• Fertilize with an organic fertilizer.

Frequently Asked Questions about Husky Cherry Red Tomato Care

How long will my Husky Cherry Red Tomato take to ripe?

Your Husky Cherry Tomato will take about 65 days to ripen fully. After this, it can be consumed right from the vine. It will weigh around 1 oz (28 g) after maturity.

What is the optimum height of Husky Cherry Red Tomato?

The Husky Cherry Tomato grows up to almost 3-4 feet. However, it can grow slightly bigger in its natural habitat.

Is it necessary to prune the Husky Cherry Tomato?

To promote tomatoes’ healthy and fast growth, you must frequently prune your plant. If you do not prune dead foliage, they will take up the energy the young ones need to grow.

What is the ideal Pot Size for a Husky Cherry Red Tomato?

The optimal pot size is at least a 5-gallon pot. The bigger the pot, the better. Ensure the pot has drainage holes.

Is the Husky Cherry Red Tomato a Determinate or Indeterminate Tomato Plant?

Cherry red tomato plants are indeterminate tomatoes. They fruit later and have a larger harvest. The first frost kills indeterminate tomatoes.

Conclusion

The Husky Tomato is a delicious cherry tomato enjoyed by kids and adults. You can enjoy it directly from the vine or slightly cook it before adding to your meals. 

The bright red color and sweet flavor of the Husky Cherry Red Tomato make them irresistible. 

Give your Husky Cherry Red Tomato the right care and love to keep receiving yummy and delicious fruit.