Photo: "Black cherry cultivar tomato" by hedera.baltica
· CC BY-SA 2.0
Tomato · Cherry
Black Cherry Tomato
Indeterminate · Solanaceae
Black Cherry is the heirloom cherry tomato famous for dusky mahogany fruit, rich sweet flavor, and heavy trusses over a long season. It suits gardeners who care more about standout flavor than a compact plant or a heavy disease package.
At a Glance
Days to Maturity
64–75 days
Sun
8+ hours
full sun 8+ hours
Spacing
18–30 "
Seed Start
6–8 weeks
before transplant
Container
Not Ideal
10+ gallon pot
Height
5–7 ft
Zone Planting Guide
Growing Guide
Germination
Germination Time
5–10 days
Optimal Temp
80°F
Seed Depth
0.25"
Transplanting
Min Soil Temp
60°F
Harden Off
7 days
Watering
Weekly Water
1–2 "
Needs
Consistent
Method
Drip
Soil
pH Range
6–6.8
Soil Type
Warm, fertile loam with good drainage and high organic matter.
Support
Cage — Even dwarf cherries benefit from a short stake or cage to keep fruit clean and stems from breaking.
Resilience
Heat: Moderate
Cold: Low
Drought: Low
Common Problems
early-blight
Cause: Leaf wetness, splashing soil, and aging foliage let fungal spots move upward.
Prevention: Mulch, prune lower leaves, water at the base, and rotate plantings.
blossom-end-rot
Cause: Moisture swings limit calcium movement into fast-growing fruit.
Prevention: Keep watering consistent and avoid sudden drought stress.
Nutrition
Feeding Intensity
Heavy feeder
Calcium
Critical — supplement recommended
Recommended Recipes
Root drench, Silica foliar, Worm castings topdress
Harvest
Fruits should be fully colored, glossy, and slightly soft with a sweet tomato aroma.
Expected Yield
6–15 lbs/plant
Storage
5 days — Store at cool room temperature for best flavor, refrigerating only when fully ripe and you need to slow softening.
Sources
seed_catalog
Johnny's Selected Seeds
university
University of Minnesota Extension
More Tomatos
Black Cherry Tomato Planting Dates by Zone
Planting dates for Black Cherry Tomato vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.
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