Cherry Tomato
Where to buy seeds
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Matt's Wild Cherry Tomato is an heirloom indeterminate variety that originated in Hidalgo, Mexico, where it grows as a wild relative of cultivated tomatoes. These vigorous plants produce marble-sized, deep red fruits in remarkable abundance, reaching maturity in just 50 to 59 days from transplant. The variety combines prolific production with exceptional disease resistance and an intense, tangy-sweet flavor that makes it as rewarding to grow as it is to eat. Hardy enough for gardens, raised beds, and even containers, it will climb to 4 to 5 feet tall and reward you with a continuous harvest throughout the season.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
60in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
High
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These untamed beauties live up to their name: small but mighty plants that produce an almost relentless supply of tiny, intensely sweet cherries with a robust tang that keeps you reaching for more. The genetic vigor that kept this variety thriving wild in Mexico translates to vigorous vines that shrug off the diseases that plague many tomatoes, including early blight, late blight, bacterial canker, and fusarium wilt. Gardeners love growing Matt's Wild Cherry not just for flavor and resilience, but for the sheer abundance; the plants seem to produce faster than you can eat them.
Matt's Wild Cherry shines as a snacking tomato; the small, intensely flavored fruits are perfectly sized to pop straight into your mouth. They excel in fresh salads where their concentrated sweetness and tanginess can shine without being overwhelmed by other ingredients. Their size and appearance make them ideal for garnishing plates, and their abundance means you'll have plenty to share with friends or preserve. Some gardeners dry or roast them to intensify their flavor even further, while others simply keep a bowl on the counter for casual grazing.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in moist seed-starting mix, keep soil at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge. Seeds typically germinate in 7 to 10 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space transplants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows, positioning them slightly deeper than they grew indoors to encourage strong root development.
Harvest fruits when they turn deep red and feel slightly soft to gentle pressure, typically 50 to 59 days after transplanting. Pick cherries regularly to encourage continued flowering and production throughout the season. Twist gently or snip with scissors to avoid damaging the delicate vines. Matt's Wild Cherry produces prolifically, so check plants every few days during peak season to catch ripe fruits at their sweetest.
As an indeterminate variety, Matt's Wild Cherry will continue growing indefinitely until frost, so some gardeners remove lower leaf growth once plants are established to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Pinch or remove suckers (shoots that emerge between the main stem and branches) if you want to direct the plant's energy toward fruit production rather than excessive vine growth. However, moderate pruning is all you need; this variety's natural vigor means it will produce abundantly even without aggressive sucker removal.
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“Matt's Wild Cherry arrived in gardens through the work of seed savers and heirloom enthusiasts who recognized its potential. This variety originates from Hidalgo, Mexico, where it grows as a wild or semi-wild relative of cultivated tomatoes, retaining the genetic traits that allowed it to thrive in its native region. It represents the kind of vegetable archaeology that defines the heirloom movement: someone preserved these seeds, recognized their exceptional flavor and vigor, and brought them into the hands of home gardeners who continue to save and share them today. The variety's open-pollinated nature means you can save seeds from your best plants and grow identical tomatoes year after year.”