The Ultimate Guide to 17 of the Best Cherry Tomatoes to Plant in Your Garden

Are you looking to add some vibrant colors and delicious flavors to your garden this season? Look no further than cherry tomatoes! These vigorous plants are not only easy to grow but also produce large clusters of delightful fruits all summer long. With mild, sweet, or tangy flavors, depending on the variety, cherry tomatoes are a versatile addition to any garden.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore 17 of the best cherry tomato cultivars for you to plant in your garden. From determinate to indeterminate varieties, we will cover a wide range of options to suit your gardening needs. So grab your gardening gloves and get ready to dive into the wonderful world of cherry tomatoes!

Why Cherry Tomatoes?

Before we jump into the list of top cherry tomato cultivars, let’s take a moment to appreciate why cherry tomatoes are such a fantastic addition to any garden. Here are a few reasons why you should consider planting cherry tomatoes this season:

Fast Growing: Cherry tomatoes are known for their fast growth, quickly producing large clusters of fruits all summer long.
Variety of Colors: From black to yellow, cherry tomatoes come in a range of delightful colors, adding visual interest to your garden.
Versatile: Cherry tomatoes are not only great for fresh snacking but also for roasting, grilling, and adding to salads.
Low Maintenance: These plants are easy to cultivate in containers or in the garden, making them perfect for beginner gardeners.

With these benefits in mind, let’s explore some of the best cherry tomato cultivars you can plant in your garden this season!

Determinate Varieties

Determinate cherry tomato plants have a predetermined mature size and are typically compact in growth. This makes them ideal for small spaces such as containers, hanging baskets, or patio gardens.

1. Baby Boomer

Description: Expect a big, bountiful crop from the ‘Baby Boomer’ plant, which produces about 300 bright red, one-inch tomatoes per plant through the season.

Flavor: The fruit has a full, sweet flavor ideal for fresh snacking or grilling.

Plant Size: This hybrid plant grows to 20 to 25 inches and develops fruit in 50 to 55 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds and starter plants are available from Burpee.

2. Maglia Rosa

Description: ‘Maglia Rosa’ features two to three-inch ovate fruits in mottled shades of pink and orange, making them look like jewels on the vine.

Flavor: These tasty gems have a lightly acidic, rich, and sweet flavor.

Plant Size: The semi-determinate plants grow 24 to 36 inches tall, with fruits ripening in 70 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds are available from Burpee.

3. Sweetheart of the Patio

Description: A superior yield from ‘Sweetheart of the Patio’ produces clusters of bright red, one-inch fruits.

Flavor: These clusters of supersweet fruits are perfect for snacking.

Plant Size: The hybrid plant grows 24 to 36 inches tall, with fruit ripening in 68 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds can be purchased from Burpee.

4. Tiny Tim

Description: ‘Tiny Tim’ is an early-maturing heirloom cultivar that produces deep red, four-ounce fruits.

Flavor: The compact plants have a full, sweet flavor and are ideal for container growing.

Plant Size: This variety grows to 12 to 16 inches and matures in just 55 to 60 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds are available from Eden Brothers or Amazon.

Indeterminate Varieties

Indeterminate cherry tomato plants grow freely, requiring more space for cultivation. These tall, bushy plants typically need cages or stakes for support.

5. Black Cherry

Description: ‘Black Cherry’ is an heirloom variety with a complex, sweet flavor and firm texture.

Flavor: The one-inch fruits ripen to a deep mahogany brown and are great for snacking or adding to various dishes.

Plant Size: Plants grow to approximately 60 inches tall and mature in 64 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds can be purchased from Eden Brothers or Burpee.

6. Black Pearl

Description: ‘Black Pearl’ features one-and-a-half-inch tomatoes with a rich, tangy bite.

Flavor: The dark mahogany fruits have a delightful, complex flavor and are perfect for snacking.

Plant Size: The vigorous vines grow to 60 inches and the fruits mature in 65 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds are available from Burpee.

7. Green Envy

Description: The hybrid ‘Green Envy’ produces sweet, juicy one-inch fruits that ripen to a deep, translucent emerald green.

Flavor: These firm and meaty tomatoes are perfect for grilling or adding to salads and salsas.

Plant Size: Fruits mature in 60 to 70 days on plants that grow 63 to 67 inches tall.

Where to Buy: Seeds and plants are available at Burpee.

8. Italian Ice

Description: ‘Italian Ice’ is a sugary sweet hybrid plant with clusters of one-inch fruits in a soft, creamy yellow hue.

Flavor: The mild, low-acid taste of these tomatoes makes them perfect for salads or snacks.

Plant Size: Plants grow 60 to 72 inches tall, with fruits ready to harvest in 65 days.

Where to Buy: Seed packets can be found at Burpee.

9. Midnight Snack

Description: ‘Midnight Snack’ is one of the tastiest purple tomatoes with a dramatic coloration thanks to anthocyanin pigments.

Flavor: The deep purple-black fruits have a balanced taste and are ideal for salads and grilling.

Plant Size: Vines grow 72 to 84 inches tall, with fruit ready to harvest in 65 to 70 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds are available at Burpee.

10. Mirabelle Blanche

Description: The pretty one-inch globes of ‘Mirabelle Blanche’ ripen to a pale yellow with a hint of blush pink.

Flavor: These fruits have a unique, sweet flavor that is perfect for dehydrating, salads, or grilling.

Plant Size: Plants reach a height of 40 to 48 inches and mature in 75 to 80 days.

Where to Buy: Seed packets can be purchased from Burpee.

11. Orange Sunsugar

Description: ‘Orange Sunsugar’ produces sweet, orange one-inch fruits on vigorous vines.

Flavor: With a high vitamin A content, these thin-skinned fruits are perfect for snacks and resist common diseases.

Plant Size: Vines grow 84 to 108 inches tall and require caging for support, with fruits maturing in 62 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds are available at True Leaf Market.

12. Power Pops

Description: ‘Power Pops’ is a sweet and flavorful hybrid with bright red one-inch fruits.

Flavor: This variety boasts higher levels of antioxidants, making it a healthy choice for your garden.

Plant Size: Growing only nine to 12 inches tall, ‘Power Pops’ is perfect for patio pots and hanging baskets, with fruits ripening in 45 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds can be purchased via Amazon.

13. Sunchocola

Description: ‘Sunchocola’ produces juicy one-inch fruits in a deep brick red color with a smoky and sweet flavor.

Flavor: These fruits are delicious fresh off the vine or roasted on the grill, making them a versatile choice for your garden.

Plant Size: Fruits ripen in 67 days on plants that grow to 70 inches tall.

Where to Buy: Seeds are available at Burpee.

14. Sungold

Description: ‘Sungold’ is a popular cherry tomato with tangerine-orange fruits in long clusters.

Flavor: The sweetly tropical fruits are perfect for fresh snacking, grilling, and salads.

Plant Size: Plants grow 48 to 60 inches tall, with fruits maturing in 57 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds can be purchased at True Leaf Market.

15. Supersweet 100

Description: ‘Supersweet 100’ is a sweet and flavorful cherry tomato with long, large clusters of bright red fruits.

Flavor: This variety is perfect for drying, snacks, salads, and even juicing.

Plant Size: Plants can reach 90 to 144 inches and require sturdy caging for support.

Where to Buy: Seeds are available from True Leaf Market.

16. Sweetie

Description: ‘Sweetie’ is an heirloom cherry tomato with a high sugar content and large clusters of fruit.

Flavor: These sweet fruits are perfect for fresh snacking, juice, and preserves.

Plant Size: Vines grow 48 to 60 inches tall, with fruits ripening in 65 to 70 days.

Where to Buy: Seeds can be found at Botanical Interests.

17. Yellow Pear

Description: ‘Yellow Pear’ is an old-fashioned heirloom favorite producing bright yellow, pear-shaped fruits.

Flavor: With a mild, sweet taste, these fruits are perfect for fresh eating or making preserves.

Plant Size: Vines grow up to 90 inches tall and require cages or stakes for support.

Where to Buy: Seed packets and live plants are available at Burpee.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, cherry tomatoes are a fantastic addition to any garden, providing a burst of colors and flavors that will delight your taste buds all summer long. Whether you choose determinate or indeterminate varieties, there is a cherry tomato cultivar to suit every gardener’s needs.

So why wait? Start planning your cherry tomato garden today and enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious fruits this season. Let us know your favorite cherry tomato cultivars in the comments below, and happy gardening!

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