Cherry Tomato
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Black Cherry Tomato is an heirloom indeterminate variety that produces abundant small, dusky purple-black fruits with the rich, complex flavor black tomatoes are known for. Growing 3 to 8 feet tall, these vigorous vines yield several pounds of sweet, low-acid cherries per plant, ready to harvest in about 70 days from transplant. Hardy in zones 3 to 10, this variety thrives in full sun and performs well in gardens, raised beds, and containers, earning recognition as an AAS winner for its reliable productivity and distinctive taste.
Full Sun
High
3-10
96in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
Moderate
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The fruits look like large, dark grapes hanging in clusters, with a dusky purple-brown color that turns heads at the farmers market or on the dinner table. Their flavor is the real draw: smoky, complex, and intensely sweet with remarkably low acidity, making them taste nothing like typical supermarket tomatoes. These vines are vigorous producers that keep bearing throughout the season, and the lack of cracking makes them far more reliable than many cherry varieties in unpredictable weather.
These cherry-sized tomatoes are at their best eaten fresh straight from the vine, where their complex sweetness shines without competition. They're excellent scattered across salads, piled onto bruschetta, or used in any preparation where you want the fruit's distinctive smoky flavor to take center stage. Their small size and abundant production make them a favorite for snacking and children's gardens alike.
Start seeds indoors 5 to 6 weeks before your outdoor transplanting date, or about 6 to 8 weeks before nighttime temperatures reliably reach 55°F. Sow seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep, spacing them 1 inch apart in seed-starting mix. Keep the mix moist but not waterlogged, and maintain a temperature around 80°F; seeds typically sprout in 5 to 14 days. Once seedlings develop their first true leaves, pot them up into 4-inch containers and maintain a temperature around 70°F, providing strong light and half-strength fertilizer every 2 weeks until they're hardened off and ready to plant outside.
Transplant outdoors when nighttime temperatures are reliably 55°F or warmer and soil has warmed to 75°F or above. Don't rush, leggy, root-bound, or flowering transplants can stunt growth and reduce early production. Plant several inches deeper than they were growing in their pots, burying stems up to the base of the leaves. Space plants 24 inches apart with rows 36 inches apart. Provide sturdy stakes or tall cages at planting time, as these vigorous vines will grow tall with heavy fruit loads.
Pick fruits when they reach full dark color, a deep dusky purple-brown rather than bright red. At about 1 ounce each, they'll be small but fully mature. The plant will continue producing throughout the season, so harvest regularly to encourage more fruit set. Black cherries are delicate, so handle them gently to avoid bruising.
As an indeterminate variety, Black Cherry Tomato grows continuously throughout the season. Keep tall stakes or sturdy cages in place to support the heavy vine growth. If plants outgrow their support system, you can prune the top once they reach a manageable height for easy harvesting, though this will reduce overall production.
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