Matt's Wild Cherry
Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
These small cherry tomatoes are deep-red, tender, smooth, and full-flavored with a high sugar content. Though the flavor is superior, it doesn't yield as well as modern varieties, and the fruits are soft. Fantastic in salsa and for fresh eating. Some resistance to early blight and late blight. The story of how we obtained 'Matt's Wild Cherry' seeds can be traced back to Teresa Arellanos de Mena, who brought them to Maine from her family's home state of Hidalgo in Eastern Mexico (the region where these tomatoes grow wild). Teresa gave the seeds to her friend Matt Leibman, a former Univ. of Maine AG faculty member, who then gave the seeds to us. Avg. fruit size 5 gm. Indeterminate.
Harvest
60d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Matt's Wild Cherry in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Matt's Wild 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 | — | July – September |
| 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 Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes at room temperature for 3-5 days for best flavor — refrigeration dulls their intense taste. Once fully ripe, they'll keep in the refrigerator for up to one week in a breathable container.
Their small size and concentrated flavor make them ideal for preservation. Dehydrate whole tomatoes in a food dehydrator or low oven (135°F) for intensely flavored dried tomatoes perfect for winter cooking. They also freeze beautifully whole — simply wash, remove stems, and freeze in bags for adding to soups and sauces.
For canning, their high acidity and crack resistance make them excellent for whole-pack canning or turning into cherry tomato sauce. Many gardeners make cherry tomato jam or pickle them whole. The concentrated flavor intensifies beautifully when preserved, making them more valuable than fresh tomatoes for winter cooking.
History & Origin
Matt's Wild Cherry originates from Mexico, where wild cherry tomatoes have grown for centuries. This particular strain was popularized in the United States through seed exchanges among heirloom enthusiasts in the 1980s and 1990s. The variety gained its name from Matt Liebman, an Iowa farmer and agricultural researcher who helped preserve and distribute these seeds throughout the Midwest.
Unlike many modern cherry tomato hybrids bred for uniform appearance and shipping ability, Matt's Wild Cherry represents the genetic diversity of wild tomato species (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). These wild characteristics include exceptional disease resistance, vigorous growth, and the ability to self-seed — traits largely bred out of commercial varieties.
The variety became particularly valued among permaculture gardeners and sustainable agriculture advocates because of its ability to naturalize in gardens, requiring minimal inputs while providing maximum yields. Today, it's considered an essential variety for seed-saving and represents the resilience of pre-industrial tomato genetics.
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 flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and whiteflies with natural compounds
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Carrots
Helps break up soil for tomato roots, doesn't compete for space
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve tomato growth and flavor
Borage
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, may deter hornworms
Lettuce
Grows well in tomato shade, doesn't compete for nutrients
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #171719)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Exceptional disease resistance and stress tolerance. Very crack resistant.
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, but vigorous growth typically outpaces pest damage
Diseases
Highly resistant to most common tomato diseases