Midnight Snack

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sink your fingers into a glossy constellation of Midnight Snack tomatoes—small, perfectly round fruits with a velvety, near-black red sheen that catches the light like midnight ink.

Expect sweet, bright flavor with a juicy snap and a tender skin, ideal for snacking straight from the vine, tossing into vibrant salads, and bursting into fresh salsas where their color deepens beautifully. A prolific 60-day performer for home gardeners who crave bold, dark-fruited charm and reliable harvests.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Midnight Snack

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

Midnight Snack’s near-black red fruit gives you that sweet, juicy pop with a lively, bright edge—so it doesn’t taste flat even when eaten raw. Because the skin is tender and the flesh releases cleanly, it’s tailor-made for salsa and warm quick-roasts where it blisters instead of turning mealy.

Best Uses

vine snacking where the tender skin stays crisp under your teeth
quick tosses into salads to keep their shape and color under vinaigrette
bursting into fresh salsa for a slick, jammy release
fast pan-roasting just to blister and concentrate without collapsing

Flavor Profile

sweet-forward cherry flavor bright snap of acidity juicy, tender bite with a delicate skin dark-fruited, slightly smoky richness

Kitchen Pairings

mozzarella balsamic vinegar fresh lime olive oil garlic red onion

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common disease problem for Solanum lycopersicum (tomatoes) and how do I prevent and treat it?

Early blight is a common issue on tomatoes, showing up as dark, concentric spots on lower leaves that can spread upward. Remove affected leaves as soon as you spot them, improve airflow with proper spacing, and avoid wetting foliage by watering at the soil line. If it keeps spreading, treat early with a labeled fungicide for tomatoes (follow the product label for timing and reapplication).

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

During active fruiting, aim for consistently moist but not waterlogged soil—about 1–2 inches of water per week, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Water deeply 1–3 times weekly so the root zone is soaked, and let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings to reduce disease pressure. Keep watering steady to prevent cracking and blossom-end rot (which worsens when moisture swings).

How can I tell when my Midnight Snack tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored (dark, mature red/black at the shoulders for this variety type) and have a slight give when gently squeezed. The skin should look glossy and the fruit should detach with a light twist rather than pulling hard. For best flavor, pick at full maturity and avoid harvesting while the shoulders are still pale or firm.