Sakura

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

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

Sweetly perfumed, Sakura cherry tomatoes glow in the garden with a luminous, blushing red that tastes like bright summer—tender, juicy flesh with a crisp snap and a gently balanced sweetness.

At maturity in about 60 days, the compact plants bear clusters of bite-size fruits that are especially satisfying for fresh snacking and for vivid, quick sauces where their color and flavor shine. Grow Sakura for a steady harvest of glossy, crowd-pleasing tomatoes that look as beautiful as they taste.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Sakura 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

Sakura’s sweet perfume and crisp snap make it ideal for eat-fresh tomatoes that still perform in fast heat—use it quickly so the skins stay lively and the juice coats instead of puddles. It’s a color-forward cherry tomato: great when you want a quick sauce that tastes like summer rather than boiled-down red.

Best Uses

snack-on-the-spot cherry tomato bowls with flaky salt
flash sauté or quick toss for a glossy pan sauce
cherry tomato confit-style slow warm without collapsing
caprese-style skewers where they stay snappy under salt and olive oil

Flavor Profile

bright, balanced sweetness sweetly perfumed tomato aroma tender juicy flesh with a crisp bite

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil garlic balsamic vinegar fresh mozzarella black pepper grilled chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Solanum lycopersicum (sakura tomatoes), and how do I treat it?

Look out for early blight (dark, concentric spots on older leaves) and leaf mold/late blight in humid weather. Remove and discard the affected leaves immediately, improve airflow with wider spacing, and avoid wetting the foliage when you water; for persistent outbreaks, use an appropriate tomato fungicide label rate and repeat as directed. If plants keep collapsing with rapidly spreading dark lesions, remove infected plants to limit spread.

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

During active fruit set and growth, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week total depending on heat and rainfall. Water deeply 1–2 times per week rather than frequent light sips, and check the top 1–2 inches of soil; if it’s dry at that depth, water again. Mulch helps prevent the soil from drying out between waterings, which reduces cracking and blossom-end rot risk.

How can I tell when sakura tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored (species-appropriate red/yellow depending on your plant) and slightly firm but not hard; they should give a little under gentle pressure. Use the days to maturity (~60) as a guide, but rely on color and texture—tomatoes that are still pale or glossy-green need more time. Pick regularly to keep plants producing and prevent overripening on the vine.