Overwintering guide
How to overwinter black cherry tomato
Winter watering
Cut watering right back — black cherry tomato uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
The mistake that kills black cherry tomato in winter
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and black cherry tomato rots from the base.
More black cherry tomato care
Overwintering black cherry tomato — FAQ
Does black cherry tomato need to come indoors for winter?
No hardiness zone is recorded for black cherry tomato; it prefers to stay above about 18°C (64°F) while in growth, so treat it as frost-tender unless you know otherwise for your area. Black Cherry Tomato is frost-tender, so overwintering means bringing it inside and letting it rest rather than pushing it to grow. Move it indoors well before the first frost, give it the brightest spot you have (light levels indoors drop sharply in winter), and keep it away from both cold window glass and hot radiators — the swing between the two does more damage than the cold itself.
When should I move black cherry tomato for winter?
Bring indoors when nights start dropping below about 10°C, ahead of the first frost.
How often should I water black cherry tomato in winter?
Cut watering right back — black cherry tomato uses far less while growth slows, and cold, wet compost is the usual cause of winter root rot. Stop feeding until spring.
What kills black cherry tomato over winter?
Watering on the same schedule as summer. In winter that keeps the roots sodden while the plant is barely drinking, and black cherry tomato rots from the base.