Sweet Chocolate

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

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

Sweet Chocolate cherry tomatoes drape the vine in clusters of small, glossy fruits that read like polished mahogany—deep chocolate-brown with a subtle, warm blush at the shoulders.

Their flavor is strikingly sweet and softly fruity, with a juicy, tender bite and a balanced, gentle acidity that makes them irresistible straight from the garden. Grow Sweet Chocolate for standout snacking, vibrant color in fresh salads, and rich, dark-hued sauces and salsas that taste as lush as they look.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Sweet Chocolate

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Sweet Chocolate 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	Cage
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

These tomatoes land on the sweeter side, with tender juiciness and a mellow acid that keeps the flavor from getting aggressive in salads. Use them for quick heat (roast/conf it) or straight snacking where their chocolate-brown fruitiness can carry the whole bite.

Best Uses

snack them halved on warm buttered bread—no weeping, just jammy pop
cherry-tomato confit or slow roast until skins wrinkle and centers turn spoonable
fresh salads where you want sweet color without sharpness
dark-hued salsa with lime and a little sugar to amplify the caramel side

Flavor Profile

sweet, cocoa-tinged tomato fruitiness juicy with a tender, not-too-firm bite balanced gentle acidity slightly warm, almost earthy finish

Kitchen Pairings

sea salt and flaky salt basil (optional if you’re not avoiding it) garlic black pepper olive oil fresh mozzarella

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Solanum lycopersicum (sweet/tomato type), and how do I control it at home?

Early blight (Alternaria) commonly shows up as dark, concentric spots on lower tomato leaves and can move upward fast in warm, humid weather. Remove and discard affected lower leaves early, water at the soil line (not on foliage), and spray with a labeled tomato fungicide such as chlorothalonil or copper only according to the product directions. Improve airflow by spacing plants and avoid working in the canopy when leaves are wet.

How often should I water Solanum lycopersicum during the main growing phase (when plants are flowering and fruiting)?

Water deeply so the root zone stays evenly moist—typically about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) per week total, split into 2–3 watering sessions depending on heat and soil type. Aim to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; let the top 1 inch (2–3 cm) dry slightly between waterings to reduce the risk of blossom-end rot. Mulch helps stabilize moisture and prevents the fruit cracking that comes from swings between dry and wet.

How can I tell when Solanum lycopersicum is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit reaches full color (for this cultivar, the mature chocolate-brown/red tones) and the shoulders are uniformly colored without a green or pale ring. The fruits should be slightly soft to gentle pressure and detach easily when twisted upward. Start picking at first full color and harvest regularly because tomatoes continue ripening after picking only partially, especially under warm conditions.