Heirloom Black Cherry
Solanum lycopersicum 'Black Cherry'
These stunning dark purple-black cherry tomatoes are like edible jewels with an incredibly rich, complex flavor that's both sweet and savory. Developed by Vince Sapp of Florida, they're prolific producers that keep delivering these gourmet treats all season long. Perfect for gardeners who want something truly special that will impress at farmers markets or dinner parties.
Harvest
65-75d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Heirloom Black Cherry in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Heirloom Black Cherry · 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
Fresh Black Cherry tomatoes maintain peak quality for 5-7 days when stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Their thin skins make them more perishable than larger varieties, so refrigeration extends storage to 10-14 days, though cold temperatures can diminish their complex flavor profile.
For preservation, these tomatoes excel when oven-roasted with olive oil and herbs—their concentrated flavor intensifies beautifully. Freeze whole fruits in freezer bags for up to 8 months; their skins slip off easily after thawing, making them perfect for sauces. Due to their high sugar content, Black Cherry tomatoes also dehydrate exceptionally well, creating intensely flavored 'tomato raisins' perfect for salads and charcuterie boards. Their unique color and flavor make them unsuitable for traditional canning, but they create stunning purple-hued fermented salsas and hot sauces.
History & Origin
Heirloom Black Cherry tomatoes were developed by Vince Sapp, a dedicated plant breeder and gardener from Florida, who spent years perfecting this stunning variety through careful selection and crossing. Sapp, known for his work with unique tomato varieties, created Black Cherry by focusing on combining exceptional flavor complexity with reliable production in warm, humid climates.
Introduced to the broader gardening community in the 1990s, this variety quickly gained recognition among heirloom enthusiasts and specialty produce growers for its distinctive appearance and gourmet flavor profile. Unlike many heirloom varieties with centuries-old lineages, Black Cherry represents modern heirloom development—demonstrating how contemporary plant breeders continue the tradition of creating genetically stable, open-pollinated varieties.
The variety's development reflects Florida's unique contribution to tomato breeding, where heat tolerance and disease resistance in humid conditions are paramount. Sapp's work with Black Cherry has inspired numerous other dark-fruited cherry tomato varieties, establishing a new category of 'black' cherry tomatoes that have become increasingly popular at farmers markets and among home gardeners seeking unusual, flavorful varieties.
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, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially enhancing tomato flavor
Marigolds
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Carrots
Helps break up soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control tomato pests
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, draws pests away from tomatoes
Lettuce
Provides living mulch, conserves soil moisture, and can be harvested before tomatoes need full space
Peppers
Share similar growing requirements and don't compete significantly for resources
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit tomato growth and development
Brassicas
Can stunt tomato growth and attract pests that also affect tomatoes
Corn
Both are heavy feeders that compete for nutrients, and corn can harbor tomato fruitworm
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 heirlooms
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, whiteflies, spider mites
Diseases
Late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, bacterial speck