Chocolate Cherry

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sink your senses into Chocolate Cherry’s richly colored, dark mahogany fruit—sweet-tasting with a gentle, cocoa-cherry depth that feels almost velvety on the palate.

These compact cherry tomatoes ripen in about 60 days, forming clusters of glossy, bite-size spheres with a firm, juicy texture and a satisfying snap. Grow them for fresh snacking, vibrant salads, and striking roasted or pan-simmered sauces where their deep color and mellow sweetness shine through.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Chocolate Cherry

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)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Chocolate Cherry earns its place on the plate with a dark, velvety cocoa-cherry character and a firm snap that holds up under heat. Roast or pan-simmer it and the mahogany juices reduce into a spoonable, mildly sweet gloss—no need to fight for flavor.

Best Uses

snack-and-savor cherry tomatoes—serve slightly warm so the sweetness reads louder
roast hot and fast (halved or whole) to concentrate their mahogany juices without collapsing
toss into salads where the skins stay intact and dressing clings instead of flooding
pan-simmer into a glossy, quick sauce that turns dark and gently sweet

Flavor Profile

mellow sweetness cocoa-cherry depth with a faint smoky tang firm, juicy bite with a satisfying snap

Kitchen Pairings

burrata aged balsamic vinegar smoked mozzarella fresh black pepper garlic olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common disease problem for Chocolate Cherry (Solanum lycopersicum) and how can I treat it?

A very common issue is early blight (Alternaria), which shows as dark, concentric spots on lower leaves that gradually yellow and drop. Remove affected lower leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil line (not onto foliage). If new spots keep appearing, spray with an appropriate labeled fungicide for tomatoes and repeat according to the label interval.

How often should I water Chocolate Cherry while it’s actively growing and fruiting?

During the main growing phase (flowering through fruit set), keep the root zone consistently moist with about 1–2 inches of water per week total, adjusting for heat and container size. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry, and avoid letting soil swing from very dry to very wet because cherry tomatoes like Solanum lycopersicum can crack or develop blossom-end rot. Mulch around the plants to stabilize moisture and reduce evaporation.

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

Harvest when the fruits are fully colored (deep “chocolate” red/brown depending on your plant) and slightly yield when gently squeezed. They should detach easily from the vine without pulling, and they’re typically ready around 60 days from transplanting with ongoing picking as they ripen. Pick regularly to prevent overripening on the cluster.