Chocolate Pear

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Chocolate Pear to a garden.

Sink your senses into Chocolate Pear’s velvety, smoky-sweet fruit—an elegant pear shape with a deep mahogany-brown blush that tastes richly complex and pleasantly tangy.

The flesh is tender and juicy with a refined, slightly creamy bite, making these tomatoes a standout for fresh salads, vibrant sauces, and slow-roasted flavor. Grow this 60-day showstopper for a garden-to-table harvest that looks as sumptuous as it tastes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Determinate

Botanical illustration of Chocolate Pear

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Chocolate Pear 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 6th	Jul 27th	Sep 25th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Mar 30th	Jul 20th	Sep 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 24th	Jul 14th	Sep 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 18th	Jul 8th	Sep 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 13th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 9th	Jun 29th	Aug 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 6th	Jun 26th	Aug 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 28th	Jun 20th	Aug 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 23rd	Jun 15th	Aug 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 13th	Jun 5th	Aug 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 4th	May 27th	Jul 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 26th	May 18th	Jul 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 9th	May 1st	Jun 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 15th	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	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Chocolate Pear brings a darker, smoky-sweet profile with tangy lift, plus a tender, slightly creamy flesh that doesn’t turn watery as easily as many red varieties. Slice it for contrast on the plate or roast until jammy—its flavor reads elegant, not “rustic,” even with simple seasoning.

Best Uses

thick slices on flaky salt + olive oil where its color and acidity stay front-and-center
charred/slow-roasted halves until jammy—great for spreading and spooning
quick sautéed pan sauce (deglaze with vinegar, reduce to a glossy cling)
salads with light, sharp dressing so the smoky-sweet note doesn’t get flattened

Flavor Profile

smoky-sweet, mahogany-deep tomato flavor pleasant tangy snap with a refined finish tender, juicy flesh with a slightly creamy bite silky texture that turns luscious when warmed

Kitchen Pairings

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common diseases that affect Solanum lycopersicum (chocolate pear tomatoes), and how can I prevent them?

Chocolate pear tomatoes are especially prone to early blight (dark concentric spots) and leaf mold/other fungal issues in humid conditions. Water at the base and keep foliage dry, remove yellowing lower leaves, and space plants for airflow; if spots appear early, begin a labeled fungicide program promptly and continue as directed. Avoid working in the plants when leaves are wet to reduce spread between rows.

How often should I water chocolate pear tomatoes during the main growing phase?

During fruiting (roughly after flowering begins), keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, aiming for about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and container size. Water deeply 1–2 times weekly rather than small daily splashes, and use mulch to steady moisture and reduce cracking. If you notice blossom-end rot or fruit cracking, adjust toward more even moisture—irregular drying followed by heavy watering is a common trigger.

How do I know when chocolate pear tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored—deep chocolate-brown with a slight red/mahogany tone—and feel slightly firm but not hard. They should come off the vine with an easy twist; if the fruit is still green or the color is patchy, give it a bit more time. For best flavor, harvest near full ripeness (about 60 days after planting in ideal conditions) rather than early—chocolate cultivars often develop color later than you expect.