Sweetie Tomato is an heirloom cherry tomato that has earned its place in gardens across North America by delivering an exceptionally sweet bite. These tiny globes, weighing less than 1 ounce and measuring just 1 to 1.5 inches across, pack a sugar content of 12 to 14 percent, making them among the sweetest cherry varieties available. An indeterminate plant that grows 36 to 96 inches tall, Sweetie produces continuously until frost, reaching harvest readiness in just 60 to 69 days from transplant. Open-pollinated and non-GMO, this variety suits garden beds, raised beds, and containers alike, making it a rewarding choice for gardeners seeking concentrated sweetness in a compact package.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
96in H x ?in W
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High
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Sweetie Tomato produces clusters of 15 to 20 fruits in rapid succession, each globe delivering a distinctive 12 to 14 percent sugar content that makes this variety stand apart from ordinary cherry tomatoes. The fruit is so naturally sweet that it can be used to make preserves without added sugar, a rare quality that speaks to the intensity of its flavor. As an indeterminate heirloom, it fruits continuously throughout the season, thriving equally well sprawling across a trellis in the garden or confined to a container on a sunny patio.
Sweetie Tomato excels as a fresh eating tomato, perfect for snacking directly off the vine or adding to salads where its concentrated sweetness becomes the focal point. The variety's high sugar content makes it exceptional for preserving; the natural sweetness allows jam and sauce makers to forgo added sugar, resulting in a pure tomato preserve. Its small, uniform size also makes it visually appealing for garnishing dishes or serving whole on appetizer platters.
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Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix kept at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Seedlings should emerge in 7 to 10 days and need bright light immediately to prevent legginess.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before transplanting. Transplant outdoors 60 to 69 days after sowing, once nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees. Space plants 18 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. Bury seedlings slightly deeper than their pot depth to encourage strong root development.
Pick Sweetie Tomatoes when they reach full color and feel slightly soft to gentle pressure, typically 60 to 69 days from transplant. The fruits should detach easily from the vine with a light twist; if they resist, wait another day or two for fuller ripeness. Harvest clusters of 15 to 20 fruits as they mature, which encourages continued production throughout the season. For maximum sweetness, allow tomatoes to ripen fully on the vine rather than picking green fruit.
As an indeterminate variety, Sweetie Tomato benefits from pruning lower leaves once the plant is established and flowering, improving air circulation and reducing disease pressure. Remove suckers (shoots that develop in the crotch between the main stem and branches) selectively to direct energy toward fruit production rather than excessive foliage. Focus pruning on maintaining an open canopy that allows light to penetrate and air to move freely around developing fruit clusters.
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