VegetableTomato
Sugary Tomato
Sugary Tomato is a 2005 AAS award-winning hybrid cherry tomato bred specifically for sweetness, delivering an extraordinary 9.5% sugar content in each small, grape-shaped fruit. This determinate variety matures in just 60-69 days from transplant and reaches only 18-36 inches tall, making it perfect for compact garden spaces, raised beds, and even greenhouse growing. Hardy across zones 2-11, it produces prolifically in full sun and offers strong resistance to major tomato diseases including Fusarium Wilt, Verticillium Wilt, and Tobacco Mosaic Virus. For gardeners seeking intense cherry tomato flavor without the sprawl of indeterminate vines, this is a genuinely game-changing choice.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeDeterminate
Spacing
24
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-11
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The standout here is the sugar content: at 9.5%, these tiny fruits rival candy for pure sweetness, yet they're packed into a compact, manageable plant that fits anywhere. The hybrid vigor means you get reliable productivity, strong disease resistance, and the kind of consistent quality that makes this variety a genuine workhorse. Ripening in under 70 days from transplant, it's fast enough to squeeze into short seasons while staying small enough to thrive in containers or tight garden spots.
Common Uses
These sweet cherry tomatoes shine eaten fresh, plucked warm from the vine and popped into your mouth as a snack. Their concentrated sugar and small size make them ideal for salads where you want maximum flavor impact from minimal fruit, roasting whole until the skins burst and caramelize, or halving and using in pasta dishes where their natural sweetness balances acidic sauces. The compact plant also makes them excellent for container gardening on patios or balconies, bringing gourmet cherry tomatoes right to your kitchen door.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, pressing them into moist seed-starting mix at the proper depth. Maintain soil temperature around 70-75°F for germination, which typically occurs within 5-10 days. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge, keeping them under grow lights for 14-16 hours daily. Fertilize weekly with diluted liquid fertilizer once true leaves appear.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60°F, ideally 65°F or warmer. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days, starting with 1-2 hours of gentle outdoor time and increasing daily. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. Dig planting holes slightly deeper than the root ball and bury the stem up to the first true leaves to encourage a stronger root system.
Harvesting
Pick fruits when they reach full color and yield slightly to gentle pressure; Sugary cherry tomatoes should be fully ripe before harvesting to maximize their legendary sweetness. Watch for the fruit to develop rich, vibrant color (typically deep red) and feel slightly soft in your palm. The small grape-shaped fruits will detach cleanly from the vine with a gentle twist. Because this is a determinate variety, most fruit will ripen over a concentrated 2-3 week window, so plan to harvest frequently during peak season.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum lycopersicum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Growth Habit
Determinate
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Sugary Tomato earned its AAS (All-America Selections) award in 2005, a recognition reserved for varieties that demonstrate superior performance across diverse growing regions. This hybrid represents modern tomato breeding at its best, combining the compact determinate growth habit with cherry tomato genetics and enhanced sugar production. The deliberate breeding for sweetness reflects a shift in home gardening toward flavor-focused selections, moving away from purely commercial considerations toward what actually tastes remarkable on the vine.”