📋 Key Characteristics
- Scientific Name: Solanum lycopersicum
- Plant Type: Annual
- Variety Type: Heirloom
- Growth Habit: Indeterminate
- Mature Size: 5–7 ft tall, 2–3 ft wide
- Fruit Type: Cherry
- Fruit/Flower Description: Dusky purple-brown cherries with a rich mahogany hue; small yellow flowers
- Fruit Size and Weight: 1–1.5″ diameter, about 0.8–1 oz per fruit
- Days to Germination: 6–14 days
- Days to Maturity/Harvest: 64–75 days
- Hardiness Zones: 3–11 (grown as an annual)
- Ideal Growing Temperature: 70–85°F (21–29°C)—just right for some tomato sunbathing!
- Lowest Survivable Temperature: 40°F (4°C)—brrr, don’t leaf them in the cold!
🌞 Growing Information
- Sunlight Requirements: Full sun (6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day)
- Ideal Soil Type: Loamy, well-draining soil rich in organic matter
- Watering Needs: Consistent moisture; don’t let the soil dry out completely between waterings
- Spacing: 18–24 inches apart
- Planting Depth: ¼ inch for seeds
- Ideal Planting Time: After danger of last frost—no chilly toes for these garden stars!
🌼 Planting & Care Tips
Black Cherry tomatoes thrive on attention—think of them as the drama queens of the tomato patch (but totally worth it!). Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date. Harden them off with some outdoor previews before planting out. Provide strong support like cages or stakes, as these vines will reach for the sky! Prune suckers for airflow and higher yields, and mulch to keep their roots cool and moist.
Pests like aphids and hornworms might show up to crash the garden party—kick them out with neem oil or a quick squirt of water. Got blossom end rot? Add some crushed eggshells or calcium-rich amendments. And remember: “A tomato a day keeps the bland salads away!”
🥗 Culinary or Ornamental Uses
Sweet, complex, and just a little smoky—these bite-sized beauties bring bold flavor to the table! Black Cherry tomatoes are a gourmet favorite, perfect for snacking straight from the vine, tossing into salads, or roasting with herbs. Their rich, earthy undertones make them the dark horse (or dark cherry?) of the tomato world.
Add them to skewers for garden-to-grill goodness or preserve them in oil for year-round sunshine-in-a-jar. Tomato-tally irresistible!
📌 Companion Plants & Recommendations
Pair with basil (for flavor and pest protection), marigolds (to keep bad bugs at bay), and borage (a bee magnet!). Don’t forget to pick up some composted chicken manure or Eggdrasil’s Organic Veggie Boost Blend to give your tomatoes a rootin’-tootin’ head start!
And remember: Growing Black Cherries might turn you into a tomato snob. We won’t ketchup with you after that! 🍅😄
🔖 Keywords & Tags
black cherry tomato, heirloom tomato, cherry tomato, indeterminate tomato, full sun, beginner-friendly, sweet tomato, complex flavor, fresh eating, salad tomato, gourmet tomato, tomato seedling, tomato plant, tomato care, garden tomato, vining tomato, summer planting, container gardening, raised bed gardening, tomato companion plants, organic gardening
📍 Local Pickup Information
This plant is only available for local pickup in Jonesboro, GA—just a hop, skip, and a compost bin away! We package your seedlings with love and care so they’re garden-party ready. Around here, the neighborly gossip is mostly about whose tomatoes taste best (no pressure…but it might be yours!).
