Cherry Chocolate

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sweetly fragrant as ripe cherries, Cherry Chocolate delivers a rich, cocoa-kissed sweetness with a glossy, thin-skinned bite.

At maturity, clusters of deep mahogany-red to chocolate-brown fruits form a tidy cascade of color, each one bursting with juicy flavor and a pleasantly firm, succulent texture. Ideal for fresh snacking, vibrant salads, and quick pan-roasted bursts of color, Cherry Chocolate also shines in sauces and relish for gardeners who love bold, dessert-like tomato character.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Cherry Chocolate

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Aug 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

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)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Cherry Chocolate tastes like a ripe cherry wearing a chocolate ribbon—sweet with a fast, juicy pop that doesn’t turn mealy. Thin skin means it sears and collapses beautifully in a hot pan, but it still holds enough structure for salads and spoonable relish.

Best Uses

snack-and-salt as-is for maximum glossy burst
quick pan-roast or blistering to concentrate sugars without splitting
cherry-tomato relish or quick chutney (sweet-tart, colorful)
high-gloss salad toss where they stay intact under vinaigrette

Flavor Profile

cocoa-kissed sweetness ripe-cherry brightness glossy thin-skin snap juicy, pleasantly firm bite

Kitchen Pairings

smoked mozzarella burrata fresh chèvre balsamic vinegar garlic olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) like Cherry Chocolate, and how can I manage it at home?

Look out for early blight and leaf spot (Alternaria), which show up as dark, target-like spots that spread from the lower leaves upward. Remove and discard affected leaves right away, avoid overhead watering, and water at the soil line to keep foliage dry. If the problem keeps spreading, use an appropriate labeled fungicide for tomatoes and repeat according to the label interval.

How often should I water Cherry Chocolate tomatoes during the main growing phase?

During active fruit set and bulking (roughly weeks 4–8), keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week total, adjusted for your heat and rainfall. Water deeply 1–2 times weekly rather than lightly daily, and ensure the soil dries slightly on top between waterings. Uneven moisture increases blossom-end rot in tomatoes, so try to maintain steady moisture from flowering onward.

How do I tell when Cherry Chocolate tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully sized and have a uniform dark brown to mahogany “chocolate” color with a slight give when gently squeezed. You should be able to detach the fruit easily from the vine with a light twist; if it resists, let it color a bit longer. At about 60 days to maturity, start checking daily once plants begin coloring.