Carbon Copy

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Carbon Copy to a garden.

Bursting with a glossy, candy-bright sweetness, Carbon Copy cherry tomatoes ripen to a rich, true red that catches the light on the vine.

Each fruit is small yet satisfyingly firm, with a juicy snap and a clean, aromatic tomato flavor that shines whether you’re savoring them straight from the garden or letting their vivid taste carry through sauces and quick roasting. Grow Carbon Copy for a steady, early harvest at about 60 days—an abundant, vine-hugging treat for the home gardener who loves flavor that pops.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

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Carbon Copy 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	Stake
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

Small-fruited and firm, Carbon Copy holds shape while delivering a juicy burst—exactly what you want when you don’t want tomatoes to turn soft and watery. It’s built for high-impact raw snacking and quick-roast sauce work where the aromatic intensity stays loud, not muted.

Best Uses

eating straight—best chilled or just-picked to underline the snap
quick roasting (high heat, short time) so they blister without collapsing into jam
tossing into fast pan sauces where the skins stay intact and the juice emulsifies

Flavor Profile

candy-bright sweetness juicy snap with small, firm bite clean, aromatic tomato tang

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil balsamic vinegar mozzarella fresh mozzarella or burrata black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely to hit Solanum lycopersicum (chocolate cherry type) in home gardens, and how should I manage it?

Watch for early blight (brown concentric spots on older leaves) and gray mold/botrytis if foliage stays wet. Remove the earliest spotted leaves, improve airflow by pruning lower leaves that touch the soil, and water at the soil line so leaves dry quickly. If problems persist, use a labeled fungicide for tomatoes/early blight and repeat according to label directions.

How often should I water Solanum lycopersicum during the main growing phase?

During active fruiting (after flowering), keep soil evenly moist rather than alternating dry and soggy—typically about 1 to 2 inches of water per week total, adjusted for heat and container size. Water deeply at the base and pause when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry to prevent blossom-end rot and cracking. Consistent moisture is especially important around the first fruit set through harvest.

How can I tell when Solanum lycopersicum is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety (deep chocolate/burgundy tone) and have a slight give when gently squeezed, not rock-hard. The seeds inside should look developed, and the fruit should come off easily with a light twist. For most plantings, expect harvest starting around day ~60 and continue picking every few days to avoid overripening.