VegetableTomato
Cherry Bicolor Tomato
Cherry Bicolor tomatoes deliver a striking two-tone appearance alongside genuine sweet flavor in compact 1-2 inch fruits. These German heirloom plants grow tall and vigorous, reaching 6-8 feet, and produce generous harvests in just 70-79 days from transplant. The colorful cherry tomatoes are globe-shaped and delicious, thriving across hardiness zones 2-11 with full sun exposure. Strong plants benefit from staking, making them excellent candidates for vertical gardening in beds, raised gardens, or under cover.
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
96 in
Height
TypeIndeterminate
Spacing
24
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-11
Size
96in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The distinctive bicolor coloring makes these cherry tomatoes as much a visual treat as they are flavorful. Ample yields emerge from indeterminate vines that demand support, rewarding staked plants with continuous production throughout the season. Bred as an open-pollinated heirloom variety, this tomato connects you to German growing traditions while delivering the disease resistance modern gardeners appreciate: protection against Bacterial Canker, Fusarium Wilt, Late Blight, Powdery Mildew, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, and Verticillium Wilt.
Common Uses
Cherry Bicolor tomatoes shine in fresh applications where their striking appearance and sweet flavor command attention. The petite 1-2 inch fruits work beautifully halved in salads, roasted whole as a side dish, or served fresh on a platter. Their size and flavor make them excellent candidates for preserving through simple roasting, slow drying, or pickling, allowing gardeners to extend the harvest season.
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. Maintain soil temperature around 70-75°F for germination, which typically occurs within 5-10 days. Transplant seedlings into individual pots once they develop their first true leaves, continuing to provide bright light and warmth.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before transplanting. Plant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60°F, spacing plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. Plant deeper than the original pot, burying the stem up to the first true leaves to encourage strong root development.
Harvesting
Cherry Bicolor tomatoes are ready to harvest 70-79 days after transplanting when the fruits reach full color development and yield slightly to gentle finger pressure. Harvest cherry tomatoes at their peak sweetness by gently twisting or cutting from the vine. Check plants every 2-3 days during peak season, as these prolific plants produce continuous flushes of ripe fruit throughout the growing season.
Pruning
As an indeterminate variety, Cherry Bicolor tomatoes benefit from selective pruning to improve air circulation and fruit quality. Remove lower leaves once plants are established to enhance airflow and reduce disease pressure. Pinch out suckers (side shoots between the main stem and branches) on the lower two-thirds of the plant to direct energy toward fruit production, but allow upper canopy growth to continue.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum lycopersicum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Growth Habit
Indeterminate
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Cherry Bicolor traces its roots to German heirloom breeding traditions, where regional growers selected and maintained seed lines for specific flavor and appearance traits. Open-pollinated and non-GMO, this variety represents generations of seed saving by families who valued both productivity and the ornamental bicolor fruits that distinguish it from single-colored cherry tomatoes. Its preservation and availability through modern seed catalogs reflects the broader heirloom movement's commitment to maintaining genetic diversity and cultural plant knowledge.”