20 of the Best Cherry Tomatoes to Grow in Your Garden
Have you ever wondered why cherry tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners? It’s not just because they’re easy to grow or because they add a pop of color to any dish—they’re also incredibly delicious! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, cherry tomatoes are a must-have in your garden. Their small size, sweet flavor, and abundant yield make them perfect for snacking, salads, or just popping in your mouth straight from the vine. In this article, we’ll explore 20 of the best cherry tomato varieties to grow, each with its unique characteristics that will make your garden flourish.
1. Sun Gold: The Sweet Golden Delight
Let’s kick off the list with Sun Gold, a cherry tomato variety that’s beloved by gardeners and chefs alike. This indeterminate hybrid produces small, golden-orange fruits that are bursting with sweetness. Sun Gold is often described as having a tropical, fruity flavor that’s simply irresistible. The plants are prolific producers, offering a continuous harvest throughout the growing season. Not only are Sun Gold tomatoes delicious, but their vibrant color also adds a beautiful contrast to the garden. They are perfect for fresh snacking, salads, and garnishes.
2. Sweet 100: The Prolific Producer
Sweet 100 is another popular cherry tomato variety known for its exceptional yield. As the name suggests, these plants can produce hundreds of tiny, sweet tomatoes in a single season. The fruits grow in long clusters, making them easy to harvest and enjoy. Sweet 100 tomatoes are perfect for adding a burst of sweetness to salads or eating straight off the vine. The plants are indeterminate and require staking or caging to support their vigorous growth. If you’re looking for a reliable and abundant harvest, Sweet 100 is an excellent choice.
3. Black Cherry: The Dark and Delicious Heirloom
For something a little different, try growing Black Cherry tomatoes. This heirloom variety produces dark purple-brown fruits with a rich, complex flavor that’s both sweet and savory. Black Cherry tomatoes are often described as having a smoky, wine-like taste, making them a favorite among gourmet gardeners. The plants are indeterminate and produce fruit throughout the season. Black Cherry tomatoes are as beautiful as they are tasty, adding a unique color and flavor to your tomato collection.
4. Juliet: The Small Roma Hybrid
Juliet is technically a grape tomato, but its small size and versatility make it a great addition to any cherry tomato garden. This hybrid variety produces oblong, deep-red fruits that have a slightly tangy flavor. Juliet tomatoes are perfect for salads, cooking, or even drying. The plants are indeterminate and produce a steady stream of fruit throughout the season. Juliet tomatoes are resistant to cracking, making them a reliable choice for gardeners in areas with heavy rain or fluctuating temperatures.
5. Chocolate Cherry: The Sweet and Rich Hybrid
Chocolate Cherry tomatoes are a unique hybrid variety that produces small, deep red to brown fruits with a sweet, rich flavor. These tomatoes are not only delicious but also visually striking, with their dark color adding a touch of elegance to any dish. The plants are indeterminate, meaning they will continue to produce fruit throughout the growing season. Chocolate Cherry tomatoes are perfect for those who want to try something different in their garden while still enjoying the sweetness of a classic cherry tomato.
6. Sun Sugar: The Golden Sweet Treat
If you love the sweetness of Sun Gold, you’ll adore Sun Sugar. This hybrid variety produces small, bright orange fruits that are incredibly sweet and flavorful. Sun Sugar tomatoes are often compared to candy because of their high sugar content and fruity taste. The plants are indeterminate and produce a steady supply of fruit throughout the season. Sun Sugar is also resistant to cracking, making it a reliable choice for gardeners who want a continuous harvest of sweet, juicy tomatoes.
7. Green Envy: The Unique Green Cherry
For a truly unique addition to your garden, consider growing Green Envy tomatoes. This hybrid variety produces small, bright green fruits with a sweet, tangy flavor. Green Envy tomatoes are perfect for adding a pop of color to salads and other dishes. The plants are indeterminate and produce fruit throughout the season. Green Envy tomatoes are also resistant to cracking, making them a reliable choice for gardeners who want something different in their tomato patch.
8. Tiny Tim: The Dwarf Variety
If you’re limited on space or want to grow cherry tomatoes in containers, Tiny Tim is the perfect choice. This dwarf variety produces small, red cherry tomatoes on compact plants that only grow about 12 to 18 inches tall. Despite their small size, Tiny Tim plants are prolific producers, offering a steady supply of sweet, juicy tomatoes throughout the season. Tiny Tim tomatoes are perfect for container gardens, patios, or small spaces where larger tomato plants might not fit.
9. Yellow Pear: The Vintage Heirloom
Yellow Pear tomatoes are an heirloom variety that produces small, pear-shaped fruits with a bright yellow color and mild, sweet flavor. These tomatoes are as charming as they are delicious, adding a vintage touch to any garden. Yellow Pear tomatoes are perfect for fresh snacking, salads, and garnishes. The plants are indeterminate and produce a continuous harvest throughout the growing season. If you’re looking for a unique and visually appealing tomato variety, Yellow Pear is an excellent choice.
10. Gardener’s Delight: The Old-Fashioned Favorite
As the name suggests, Gardener’s Delight is a cherry tomato variety that’s a favorite among gardeners. This old-fashioned variety produces small, round, red tomatoes with a sweet, tangy flavor. Gardener’s Delight tomatoes are perfect for fresh eating, salads, and cooking. The plants are indeterminate and produce fruit throughout the season. Gardener’s Delight is known for its reliable performance and exceptional flavor, making it a must-have for any tomato garden.
11. Sweet Million: The High-Yielding Hybrid
Sweet Million is a hybrid cherry tomato variety that’s known for its high yield and sweet flavor. The plants produce long clusters of small, bright red tomatoes that are perfect for snacking, salads, and garnishes. Sweet Million tomatoes are similar to Sweet 100 but are bred to have even better disease resistance and crack resistance. The plants are indeterminate and will continue to produce fruit throughout the season. If you’re looking for a reliable and abundant cherry tomato variety, Sweet Million is an excellent choice.
12. Isis Candy: The Marbled Heirloom
Isis Candy is an heirloom cherry tomato variety that produces small, round fruits with a beautiful marbled appearance. The fruits are red with golden streaks and have a sweet, fruity flavor with a hint of spice. Isis Candy tomatoes are perfect for adding a touch of color and flavor to salads and other dishes. The plants are indeterminate and produce fruit throughout the season. If you’re looking for a unique and visually striking tomato variety, Isis Candy is a great choice.
13. Favorita: The Sweet Hybrid
Favorita is a hybrid cherry tomato variety that’s known for its sweet flavor and high yield. The plants produce small, round, bright red tomatoes that are perfect for fresh eating, salads, and garnishes. Favorita tomatoes are similar to Sweet Million but have a slightly different flavor profile, with a bit more sweetness and a hint of acidity. The plants are indeterminate and will continue to produce fruit throughout the season. Favorita is a reliable choice for gardeners who want a steady supply of sweet, juicy tomatoes.
14. Matt’s Wild Cherry: The Tiny Heirloom
Matt’s Wild Cherry is a small heirloom variety that produces tiny, intensely flavorful tomatoes. The fruits are bright red and have a rich, sweet flavor that’s perfect for snacking or adding to salads. Matt’s Wild Cherry plants are indeterminate and produce a continuous harvest throughout the growing season. This variety is known for its vigorous growth and high yield, making it a favorite among gardeners who want a prolific and flavorful cherry tomato.
15. Sprite: The Long-Lasting Grape Tomato
Sprite is a grape tomato variety that produces small, oblong fruits with a sweet, tangy flavor. The fruits are bright red and grow in long clusters, making them easy to harvest. Sprite tomatoes are perfect for snacking, salads, and garnishes. The plants are determinate, meaning they will produce a concentrated harvest, making it easier to manage your garden and plan your meals. Sprite tomatoes are also known for their long shelf life, making them a great choice for gardeners who want to enjoy fresh tomatoes over a longer period.
16. Super Sweet 100: The Successor to Sweet 100
Super Sweet 100 is the improved version of the classic Sweet 100 variety, known for its even higher yield and improved disease resistance. The plants produce long clusters of small, bright red tomatoes that are incredibly sweet and flavorful. Super Sweet 100 tomatoes are perfect for fresh eating, salads, and garnishes. The plants are indeterminate and will continue to produce fruit throughout the season. If you loved Sweet 100, you’ll definitely want to try Super Sweet 100 for an even better cherry tomato experience.
17. Bumblebee: The Striped Cherry
Bumblebee is a unique hybrid cherry tomato variety that produces small, round fruits with vibrant stripes. There are several types of Bumblebee tomatoes, including Pink, Sunrise, and Purple, each with its distinct color pattern and flavor profile. These tomatoes are sweet, juicy, and perfect for adding a splash of color to salads, snacks, and dishes. The plants are indeterminate and produce a continuous harvest throughout the season. Bumblebee tomatoes are not only delicious but also visually stunning, making them a must-grow for any tomato enthusiast.
18. Cherry Bomb: The Disease-Resistant Dynamo
Cherry Bomb is a hybrid cherry tomato variety that’s prized for its exceptional disease resistance and high yield. This variety produces bright red, round fruits that are bursting with sweet, classic tomato flavor. Cherry Bomb tomatoes are particularly resistant to late blight, making them an excellent choice for gardeners in areas prone to this devastating disease. The plants are indeterminate and will continue to produce fruit throughout the season. With Cherry Bomb, you can enjoy a consistent, high-quality harvest without worrying about common tomato diseases.
19. Blue Berries: The Indigo Delight
Blue Berries is a striking cherry tomato variety known for its unique appearance and rich flavor. The fruits are small, round, and have a deep indigo-purple hue that darkens in the sun, with a red blush when fully ripe. Blue Berries tomatoes offer a sweet, fruity flavor with a hint of tartness, making them a delightful addition to salads and snacks. The plants are indeterminate and produce fruit steadily throughout the growing season. Blue Berries tomatoes are not only delicious but also add an eye-catching element to your garden with their unusual color.
20. Napa Chardonnay: The Golden Grape
Napa Chardonnay is a grape-shaped cherry tomato variety that produces small, golden-yellow fruits with a sweet, mild flavor. This variety is known for its exceptional sweetness and juicy texture, making it perfect for fresh eating, salads, and garnishes. The plants are indeterminate and produce an abundant harvest throughout the season. Napa Chardonnay tomatoes are also resistant to cracking, ensuring that you get the most out of your harvest without losing fruit to splits. If you’re looking for a sweet, golden addition to your tomato garden, Napa Chardonnay is a fantastic choice.
Growing cherry tomatoes is a rewarding experience for gardeners of all levels. With so many varieties to choose from, you can find the perfect cherry tomato to suit your taste preferences, growing conditions, and gardening goals. Whether you’re looking for a classic red cherry tomato, a sweet golden treat, or a unique heirloom variety, there’s a cherry tomato out there for you. By selecting from these 20 top cherry tomato varieties, you’ll ensure a bountiful and flavorful harvest that you can enjoy all season long.
Happy gardening, and may your cherry tomato plants thrive and produce abundantly!