Cherry Belle
Solanum lycopersicum 'Cherry Belle'
A prolific cherry tomato that produces hundreds of sweet, bite-sized fruits throughout the growing season. These vigorous indeterminate plants are perfect for snacking straight from the garden and add color to salads and appetizers. Kids love picking and eating these candy-like tomatoes right off the vine.
Harvest
65-70d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Cherry Belle in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Cherry Belle · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Cherry Belle tomatoes at room temperature for 5-7 days to maintain optimal flavor and texture. Never refrigerate unless fully ripe, as cold temperatures below 55°F break down flavor compounds. Once fully ripe, refrigerate for up to 10 days in the crisper drawer.
For preservation, Cherry Belle's small size makes them perfect for freezing whole. Simply wash, dry, and freeze on baking sheets before transferring to freezer bags. They'll keep for 8-10 months and work excellently in cooked dishes. Dehydrating is another excellent option – cut in half and dry at 135°F for 8-12 hours until leathery.
These sweet cherries also excel in quick pickles. Pack whole tomatoes with herbs and garlic in sterilized jars, cover with hot vinegar brine, and refrigerate for tangy preserved tomatoes that last 2-3 months.
History & Origin
Cherry Belle is a modern hybrid tomato variety developed in the late 20th century specifically for home gardeners seeking reliable cherry tomato production. Unlike many heirloom cherry varieties that trace their origins to South American wild tomatoes, Cherry Belle was bred using selective breeding techniques to combine the best traits of multiple parent varieties.
This hybrid was developed to address common problems with older cherry tomato varieties, particularly their tendency toward cracking and splitting during periods of heavy rain or irregular watering. Plant breeders focused on creating a variety that maintained the beloved sweet flavor of traditional cherry tomatoes while offering improved disease resistance and more consistent fruit production.
The variety gained popularity throughout the 1990s and 2000s as home gardening expanded, particularly appealing to families with children due to its candy-like sweetness and prolific production. Cherry Belle represents the modern approach to tomato breeding – combining traditional flavor profiles with enhanced reliability and vigor for contemporary growing conditions.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds
Carrots
Loosens soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve tomato growth and flavor
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Lettuce
Provides ground cover and doesn't compete for space or nutrients
Oregano
Repels various pests and may enhance tomato flavor
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits tomato growth through allelopathic compounds
Corn
Both attract corn earworm and compete for similar nutrients
Brassicas
May stunt tomato growth and compete for soil nutrients
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #171719)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to cracking and splitting. Moderate disease resistance typical of cherry varieties.
Common Pests
Birds, tomato hornworm, aphids, spider mites
Diseases
Late blight, early blight, powdery mildew