Cherry Tomato
Black Strawberry Tomato is a jewel-toned heirloom that delivers on both visual drama and flavor depth. Its 2-ounce fruits arrive in just 60 days, marbled in purple, pink, green, and gold like a bowl of luminous gems. The taste is equally captivating: a perfect balance of sweet and tart with fruity undertones of grape and plum. Growing in zones 3 through 12, this indeterminate variety thrives on full sun and moderate water, producing abundantly throughout the season with the early vigor that makes it beloved by tomato enthusiasts.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-12
?in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
High
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These small, strikingly marbled fruits taste like no ordinary tomato. The flavor is decadent and indulgent, with a sugar-sweet profile tempered by bright acidity and subtle notes of stone fruit. At 2 ounces each, they're perfectly sized for popping straight off the vine into a salad or cocktail glass. The extreme productivity of this early heirloom means you'll have a steady harvest of these gems from midsummer onward, making it hard to resist planting multiple plants.
Black Strawberry excels as a cocktail tomato, where its small size and striking appearance shine in mixed platters and drinks. The balanced sweet-tart flavor and fruity complexity make it exceptional for fresh eating straight from the vine. Its productivity also suits it well for fresh sauces, though the small individual fruit size means you'll need many to yield sauce in quantity.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Maintain soil temperature between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged until seedlings emerge.
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days before transplanting. Transplant outdoors only after the last frost date has passed and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 24 inches apart in full sun.
Black Strawberry fruits reach maturity around 60 days from transplanting. Harvest when the fruits are fully colored in their characteristic marbled purple, pink, and gold tones. The fruits should feel slightly soft when gently squeezed. Pick fruits regularly to encourage continued production throughout the season.
As an indeterminate variety, Black Strawberry will grow continuously throughout the season. Prune suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) to direct energy into fruit production and improve air circulation. Remove any leaves that touch the ground or show disease to prevent fungal infections.
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