Sweet Million

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

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

Sun-sweet and jewel-bright, Sweet Million delivers a steady cascade of glossy, true-red cherry tomatoes that taste vividly sweet with a clean, lively snap.

The fruit is small yet satisfyingly firm, with a smooth skin that shines on the vine and a juicy interior that holds its character from first harvest through the season’s peak. Grow Sweet Million for fresh garden baskets and for vibrant sauces and quick pickling—its flavor stays bright and unmistakably tomato-forward.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Sweet Million 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)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Sweet Million’s small, firm fruit and smooth skin make it ideal for high-heat blistering and fast sauces—each tomato keeps its shape while turning syrupy-sweet at the edges. It’s also a great candidate for quick pickles because the flavor stays unmistakably tomato-forward instead of going bland or watery.

Best Uses

slice-and-eat straight off the vine or in a salt-forward garden bowl
quick pan-roast or blister at high heat to concentrate sweetness without collapsing
vibrant, fast stove sauces (5–10 minutes) where the skins tender but the tomatoes keep their shape
quick pickling for bright, red-acid bites that don’t taste flat

Flavor Profile

vividly sweet, candy-fruit tomato flavor clean, lively snap with thin, smooth skin juicy interior that stays coherent (not watery)

Kitchen Pairings

aged balsamic vinegar extra-virgin olive oil garlic mozzarella fresh mozzarella or burrata

Frequently Asked Questions

Sweet Million (Physalis philadelphica) — what pests or diseases commonly affect it and what’s the best home treatment?

Watch for Colorado potato beetle and stink bugs, which can chew leaves and scar developing fruit. Hand-pick early and, if needed, use an insecticidal soap or a targeted spinosad spray, following the label and treating in the evening to protect beneficial insects. Also check for early blight/leaf spots in humid conditions; remove infected leaves promptly and keep plants spaced for airflow to slow spread.

How often should I water Sweet Million during the main growing phase?

During active flowering and fruiting, water about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) per week total, aiming to keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply 1–2 times per week rather than daily, and let the top 1–2 inches of soil dry slightly between waterings to prevent root and disease issues.

How can I tell when Sweet Million is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit fills out inside the husk and turns pale yellow to golden, while the papery husk looks dry and tight around the berry. Typically you’ll start harvesting around 60 days from transplanting and can pick repeatedly as new husks ripen. If the berry pulls easily from the plant when the husk is fully colored, it’s ready.