VegetableTomato
Tasmanian Chocolate Tomato
Slicer Tomato
Born from the Dwarf Tomato Project's ambitious breeding collaboration, Tasmanian Chocolate delivers the perfect marriage of compact growth and full-sized flavor in gardens across zones 3-11. This indeterminate dwarf reaches just 24-36 inches tall yet produces prolific harvests of deep mahogany fruits with hints of green shoulders, typically ready in 70-80 days. Craig LeHoullier's development has earned this variety a devoted following among gardeners who want serious tomato flavor without sacrificing precious garden space.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Preferred Temp65-85°F
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
—
Width
24 in
Spacing
70–79
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual, Perennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-11
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual, Perennial
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What makes Tasmanian Chocolate extraordinary is its dwarf indeterminate nature, offering the best of both worlds with compact, bushy growth that keeps producing throughout the season like a full-sized indeterminate. The medium to large fruits showcase a distinctive deep mahogany color that signals their sweet yet slightly smoky flavor profile. Heat tolerance makes this variety particularly valuable in warmer climates, while its compact stature and prolific yields make it ideal for container gardens, patios, and small spaces without compromising on fruit quality.
Common Uses
These versatile tomatoes excel in fresh eating applications where their sweet yet slightly smoky flavor can shine, making them perfect for salads and sandwiches. Their medium to large size and smooth texture also make them excellent for cooking applications, adding depth to sauces and cooked dishes. The compact plant size and prolific yields make them particularly valuable for urban gardeners, patio growers, and anyone working with limited space who still wants serious tomato flavor.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Late Spring
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before nighttime temperatures reliably reach 50-55°F. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in seed starting mix, maintaining very warm conditions at 80°F for optimal germination. Provide strong light for 12-16 hours daily, expecting seedlings to emerge in 7-10 days.
Transplant Outdoors
When seedlings reach 2 inches tall, transplant into individual 4-inch pots and maintain at 70°F. Feed with half-strength fertilizer every 2 weeks until outdoor transplanting. Once nights consistently reach 55°F, gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions before planting 24-36 inches apart in rich soil.
Harvesting
Harvest when fruits turn a deep, rich mahogany color with characteristic hints of green shoulders, feeling firm but giving slightly to gentle pressure. Use garden shears or gently twist fruits from the vine to avoid plant damage. As an indeterminate variety, expect continuous harvest over an extended period rather than all fruits ripening at once.
Pruning
As an indeterminate variety, this dwarf tomato benefits from regular pruning of suckers and lower leaves to maintain good air circulation and focus energy on fruit production, though its compact nature requires less intensive management than full-sized indeterminates.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum lycopersicum L.
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Duration
Annual, Perennial
Growth Habit
Indeterminate
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Tasmanian Chocolate emerged from the innovative Dwarf Tomato Project, a groundbreaking breeding collaboration between amateur tomato enthusiasts and experienced growers led by Craig LeHoullier, author of Epic Tomatoes, and Patrina Nuske Small. This ambitious project aimed to create entirely new tomato varieties that combined the space-saving benefits of compact growth with the superior flavor and size of traditional full-season tomatoes. The result was a new class of dwarf indeterminate varieties, with Tasmanian Chocolate becoming one of the most celebrated successes, earning a loyal following among home gardeners who previously had to choose between plant size and fruit quality.”