When it comes to home gardening, cherry tomatoes are probably one of the classic choices.
They are often introduced as a beginner-friendly vegetable.
However, personally, they are one of the vegetables I have struggled with the most.
Every year, the plants grow well until around May, but since I grow them without pesticides, moth larvae often start eating the fruits around mid-June. Before I noticed, the tomatoes were full of holes...
I used to cover only the fruits with small drain nets for kitchen sinks.
However:
- I had to cover the fruits one by one
- it did not completely prevent damage
- it required too much work
Altogether, it became very frustrating.
In addition, heavy rain during the rainy season or summer often causes the fruits to split because they absorb too much water.
Switching to a Tower Support and Cylindrical Net
So last year, I changed my growing method a little.
Instead of planting directly in the ground, I switched to pots and started using tower-shaped supports.
I also covered the entire structure with a cylindrical net.
It looks like this in the photo.
This is what it looks like when the net is opened.
The Moths Were Almost Completely Blocked
After switching to this method, damage from moth larvae almost completely disappeared.
I would say the moths are now almost fully blocked out.
However, this created a different problem.
Pollination Is Done by Hand
Since the plants are covered by the net, insects obviously cannot get inside.
Because of that, I now pollinate the flowers manually using cotton swabs.
It is a surprisingly tedious task.
Still, it feels much less stressful than the old situation where something was being eaten every single day. It is pretty discouraging when fruits you carefully grew get destroyed.
Currently, I do the following tasks every morning:
- watering
- removing side shoots
- pollination
I usually do all of them together in the morning.
Mid-Summer Is Still Tough
To prevent the soil from drying out, I place rice straw on the surface.
Even so, the plants still struggle quite a bit during peak summer heat.
Places with strong afternoon sunlight may be especially difficult.
Ideally, they grow better in a location with decent airflow and less intense heat.
Preventing the Tower from Falling Over
Tower supports catch the wind easily, so I also take measures against strong winds.
I secure the structure to a parking-space pillar using nylon rope and carabiners.
It does not look particularly neat, but practicality comes first.
The parking area also has a roof, which helps protect the tomatoes from rain and reduces fruit splitting. On the other hand, it means I need to water them manually.
Low-Maintenance Rating
This is my own rough rating system that I plan to use for other vegetables as well.
(Example)
★☆☆☆☆ Needs frequent care
★★★★★ Almost carefree
Initial
★★☆☆☆
The setup using pots, tower supports, and cylindrical nets requires some initial investment and takes a fair amount of preparation. However, if you can keep the structure assembled during winter, maintenance becomes much easier from the second year onward because you mainly just replace the soil.
Maintenance
★☆☆☆☆
Since pollination requires regular attention, I need to check the plants every day or at least every other day. During summer, daily watering is also necessary.
Harvest
★★★☆☆
Harvest timing is fairly flexible.
You can harvest a little every day or collect everything together on the weekend.
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