Black Sweet Cherry

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

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

Sink your senses into Black Sweet Cherry’s velvety, near-black fruit—an alluring mahogany-chestnut glow that ripens to a glossy, jewel-like sheen.

Each bite delivers a sweet, fruit-forward burst with a crisp, tender snap and a rich, lingering savor that shines in fresh salads and vibrant salsa, and stands up beautifully for roasting and quick pickling. Compact, productive plants bring a steady harvest of petite cherries from early summer through the heart of the season—ideal for gardeners who want bold flavor in a small, easy-to-grow package.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Black Sweet Cherry

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Black Sweet 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 27th	Sep 25th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Sep 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Aug 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Aug 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Aug 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Jul 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Jul 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jun 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 5th – 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	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

These near-black cherry tomatoes lean sweet and fruit-forward, so they taste best when you let them stay lively—think sharp dressing, fast chopping, and high heat for caramelized edges. Their crisp-tender snap won’t collapse in salsa, and their color holds beautifully in quick pickles.

Best Uses

fresh salad handfuls where they keep their snap
bright salsa that needs fruitiness and a quick, clean finish
roasting on a hot sheet for jammy edges without turning grainy
quick pickling for candy-like acidity and color

Flavor Profile

sweet, fruit-forward tomato flavor crisp-tender snap with juicy bite near-dark, smoky-sweet savor slick, glossy skin with a satisfying chew

Kitchen Pairings

garlic shallot olive oil balsamic vinegar feta cheese fresh mozzarella

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage brown rot on black sweet cherry trees?

Brown rot on cherries shows up as fuzzy gray-brown spores on rotting fruit, often after wet, humid weather. Remove and destroy infected fruit (including “mummies”) as soon as you see them, then thin canopy/weed to improve airflow so fruit dries quickly after rain. For home control, apply a labeled fungicide for stone fruit at early bloom and again per label timing, especially before rainy spells.

How often should I water black sweet cherry during the main growing phase?

During the main growing and fruit-fill period, water deeply about 1–2 times per week, aiming to keep the root zone evenly moist (not soggy). Use a slow soak until the soil 8–12 inches down is moist, and reduce frequency if the site stays wet—cherries are sensitive to waterlogging. Stop increasing water right before harvest to limit fruit splitting, and let the top 1–2 inches dry slightly between soaks.

When are black sweet cherries ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit is fully dark (black to near-black) and sweet, with the flesh pulling away easily from the pit when you bite or cut one open. Cherries should taste fully sweet—not tart—and fruit will come off with a gentle twist; if they still taste sharp or stay reddish, wait a few more days. Typical home timing is about 60 days from planting/start of growth, but always rely on color and flavor first.