Chocolate Cherry
Solanum lycopersicum 'Chocolate Cherry'
An extraordinary cherry tomato that produces abundant clusters of small, mahogany-brown fruits with an incredibly complex flavor profile. The rich, wine-like taste with hints of smokiness makes these tiny treasures a gourmet favorite for fresh eating and elegant garnishes. Their unusual color and exceptional flavor make them a conversation starter in any garden.
Harvest
65-75d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Chocolate Cherry in USDA Zone 7
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Chocolate Cherry · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – May | July – August | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | — | September – September |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| 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
Chocolate Cherry tomatoes demand consistent warmth and patience since their complex flavor develops fully only in sustained heat above 75°F, making them better suited for longer growing seasons or early starts indoors. These plants exhibit vigorous indeterminate growth, often exceeding 6 feet, and require sturdy support to prevent branch breakage under heavy fruit loads. While generally disease-resistant, their dense foliage can trap moisture and invite early blight in humid conditions, so aggressive pruning of lower leaves and careful spacing promote air circulation. The thin-skinned fruits are prone to cracking after heavy rain, making consistent watering more critical than with thicker-skinned varieties. Start seeds 8–10 weeks before your last frost date, and once established, pinch off lower suckers ruthlessly to direct energy into fruit production rather than excessive vegetative growth, which can delay the wine-like flavor development these fruits are prized for.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. 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
Chocolate Cherry tomatoes reach peak harvest readiness when their mahogany-brown skin deepens to an almost black hue and the fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure, indicating optimal sugar development within. These diminutive fruits should feel plump and weightier than their size suggests, a reliable indicator of juice concentration. Unlike single-harvest varieties, Chocolate Cherry produces continuously throughout the season when regularly picked, with plants yielding abundant clusters every few days once fruiting begins. For best results, harvest in early morning after dew dries but before afternoon heat peaks, as the fruits' delicate skins and complex flavors are most pronounced when temperatures remain moderate. Leaving fruits on the vine slightly past initial ripeness intensifies their characteristic wine-like, smoky notes.
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
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 Chocolate Cherry tomatoes at room temperature away from direct sunlight to preserve their complex wine-like flavor and smoky character. Keep humidity around 60–70% in a breathable container—paper bags or wooden crates work well. Expect a fresh shelf life of 5–7 days at room temperature, or up to 14 days refrigerated, though chilling may mute their nuanced taste.
For preservation, freezing works reliably: whole tomatoes can be flash-frozen on trays, then transferred to freezer bags for up to eight months. Drying concentrates their rich sweetness beautifully and suits their small size; slice in half and dry at 200°F until leathery. These make excellent pantry staples for winter cooking. Fermentation is also worthwhile—their complexity deepens with time in a salt brine. Avoid traditional canning whole, as their small size makes processing inconsistent.
History & Origin
The Chocolate Cherry tomato emerged from the broader heritage of dark-fruited cherry tomato selections that gained popularity among heirloom enthusiasts and specialty seed companies in the early 2000s. While specific breeder attribution remains undocumented in major academic records, this variety represents the culmination of decades of cherry tomato breeding focused on color novelty and flavor complexity. Its development likely involved crosses among brown and mahogany-fruited heirloom lines, building on the genetic foundation of varieties like Cherokee Purple and other dark tomatoes adapted to cherry fruit size. Seed companies specializing in gourmet vegetable varieties have since popularized Chocolate Cherry as part of the broader movement toward unusual tomato colors and sophisticated flavor profiles in home gardening.
Origin: Peru
Advantages
- +Produces abundant clusters of small, mahogany-brown fruits with extraordinary gourmet flavor.
- +Complex wine-like taste with smoky undertones creates unique culinary appeal.
- +Relatively quick maturity at 65-75 days suits most growing seasons.
- +Unusual color and exceptional flavor make excellent conversation starters.
- +Ideal for elegant garnishes and sophisticated fresh eating applications.
Considerations
- -Moderate difficulty level requires attentive care and gardening experience.
- -Susceptible to cracking in wet weather, reducing harvest quality.
- -Vulnerable to late blight and early blight fungal diseases.
- -Prone to multiple pest infestations including hornworms and spider mites.
Companion Plants
Basil planted within 18 inches is a standard pairing, and it's worth being honest: the pest-disruption evidence is thin, but Chocolate Cherry and basil ripen at the same time and you'll harvest both in the same handful — that's reason enough. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) pull more concrete weight; their root exudates suppress root-knot nematodes, which matters more for an heirloom like this one — NC State Extension specifically flags that heirloom tomatoes lack resistance to soilborne diseases, so cutting root pressure from any direction helps. Carrots and lettuce fill the low canopy without fighting for the same soil depth. Keep fennel out of the bed entirely — it's broadly allelopathic and will set back most vegetables around it — and black walnut trees produce juglone, a compound toxic to tomatoes, across a wide root zone that extends well past the visible drip line.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and whiteflies with natural compounds
Carrots
Aerates soil and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Lettuce
Provides ground cover and utilizes different soil layers
Oregano
Repels pests and attracts beneficial pollinators
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth through allelopathic compounds
Corn
Both attract tomato hornworms and corn earworms
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #171719)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Limited disease resistance typical of heirloom varieties
Common Pests
Aphids, whiteflies, tomato hornworm, spider mites
Diseases
Late blight, early blight, cracking in wet weather
Troubleshooting Chocolate Cherry
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Dark, water-soaked lesions on leaves and stems, spreading fast after wet weather — whole branches can collapse in 48 hours
Likely Causes
- Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) — airborne spores, moves fast in cool, wet conditions above 60% humidity
- Overhead watering that keeps foliage wet overnight
What to Do
- 1.Pull and bag affected plants immediately — don't compost them; late blight spreads to neighbors fast
- 2.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base only, early in the morning
- 3.Rotate tomatoes and other nightshades out of that bed for at least 3-4 years; NC State Extension notes the rotation period for some tomato diseases may be 5-7 years
Lower leaves developing brown bullseye-patterned spots with yellow halos, starting around day 45-50 after transplant
Likely Causes
- Early blight (Alternaria solani) — soil-borne fungus that splashes up onto lower leaves during rain or irrigation
- Overcrowded planting under 24 inches apart, blocking airflow at the base
What to Do
- 1.Strip the affected lower leaves and trash them — not the compost pile
- 2.Mulch 3-4 inches deep with straw to stop soil splash
- 3.Space plants at least 24-36 inches apart next season and stake early to get foliage off the ground
Fruit splitting or cracking through the skin, mostly on ripe or near-ripe cherry tomatoes after a rain
Likely Causes
- Irregular soil moisture — dry spell followed by heavy rain or sudden deep watering causes the fruit interior to expand faster than the skin can stretch
- Leaving ripe fruit on the vine too long before picking
What to Do
- 1.Mulch heavily and water consistently — aim for 1-1.5 inches per week so soil moisture doesn't swing hard between wet and dry
- 2.Harvest Chocolate Cherry at full color, every 2-3 days during peak season; cracked fruit left on the vine draws fruit fly and bacterial rot
- 3.If heavy rain is forecast and you have ripe clusters, pick them early — they'll finish on the counter just fine
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Chocolate Cherry tomato take to grow from seed?▼
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Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.