Suncherry Extra Sweet Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in moist seed-starting mix and provide warm conditions around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide bright light once seedlings emerge. True Leaf Market reports 65 days from transplant to first harvest, so count backward from your intended outdoor planting date to determine your start timing.

Transplant outdoors after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 55 degrees. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Plant at the spacing indicated: 24 inches between plants and 36 inches between rows. This variety grows well in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses, so you have flexibility in placement.

Pick Suncherry Extra Sweet cherries when they turn deep red and yield slightly to gentle pressure. The fruits will come away cleanly from the stem with a light twist or pull. Since the variety produces fruit with steady set throughout the season, plan to harvest every 2 to 3 days during peak ripeness. You can begin harvesting 60 to 69 days after transplanting, with fruit continuing to ripen as long as temperatures remain above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

As an indeterminate variety that grows 4 to 5 feet tall, Suncherry Extra Sweet benefits from selective pruning to improve air circulation and fruit quality. Pinch off the lowest leaves once the plant is established to reduce disease pressure from soil splash. Remove any damaged or diseased foliage promptly. You can also remove some of the dense interior growth to direct energy toward fruit production, but avoid over-pruning, which stresses the plant and reduces yield.