Black Cherry

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Black Cherry to a garden.

Sink your senses into Black Cherry’s glossy, inky fruit—small, perfectly round tomatoes that ripen to a dramatic mahogany-black with a subtle cherry-red blush at the shoulders.

Expect sweet, balanced flavor with a juicy snap and a tender skin that feels almost lacquered in the hand. Ideal for fresh snacking, vibrant salads, and striking roasted or blistered pan favorites where their dark color turns richly caramelized and irresistible.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Determinate

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Black Cherry Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Apr 13th	Jul 20th	Sep 18th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 13th	Sep 11th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 7th	Sep 5th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 1st	Aug 30th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Aug 25th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 22nd	Aug 21st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 19th	Aug 18th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 13th	Aug 12th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 8th	Aug 7th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	May 29th	Jul 28th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 20th	Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 11th	Jul 10th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	Apr 24th	Jun 23rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Mar 30th	May 29th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	8

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Black Cherry earns its dramatic color by bringing a sweet, juicy pop and a skin that stays tender even after high heat. Use it where you want that blistered mahogany caramel on the outside while the inside stays wet and snappy.

Best Uses

snack-and-sail: bowl them out and eat them cold for maximum juice-and-snap
toss into salads where they keep their shape and won’t feel watery under vinaigrette
blister or roast on a hot pan until blistered and jammy, letting the mahogany edges caramelize
quick pan “toss” with olive oil and salt so the skins stay silky, not leathery

Flavor Profile

sweet, balanced tomato fruitiness juicy snap with a tender, lacquer-like skin dark, slightly smoky-sweet caramel notes when heat-kissed

Kitchen Pairings

garlic extra-virgin olive oil balsamic vinegar fresh mozzarella black pepper anchovy

Frequently Asked Questions

What disease problem is most common when growing black cherry and how do I fix it?

Black cherry seedlings and young plants are commonly hit by damping-off caused by overly wet, fungus-laden soil (often seen as stems collapsing at the soil line). Sow in sterile seed-starting mix, keep the mix evenly moist but not soggy, and water from the bottom so the stem stays dry. If you see collapse, remove affected seedlings immediately and increase airflow; consider switching to a fresh tray of mix and re-sowing if losses are heavy.

How often should I water black cherry during its main growing phase to avoid problems?

During active growth (after seedlings establish), keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged—aim for top 1 inch to dry slightly between waterings. In full sun, this often means watering about 1–2 times per week depending on your soil and heat, with deeper watering so moisture reaches the root zone. If leaves wilt midday but recover by evening, water lightly more often; if leaves stay wilted, increase the volume of each watering and improve drainage.

How can I tell when black cherry is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit turns fully dark (nearly black) and the cherries are slightly soft to the touch with a sweet, rich flavor. For fresh eating, pick fruit that comes off the stem with minimal tugging; if they remain firm or taste sharply tart, wait a few more days. The plant should be producing steadily around about 60 days from germination (timing varies with temperature), so check clusters every 2–3 days once color darkens.