Sun Sugar Tomato Vs Sungold

If you’re looking for the sweetest, most vibrant cherry tomato for your garden, the debate often comes down to sun sugar tomato vs sungold. These two varieties are famous for their incredible flavor, but they have distinct differences that can make one a better fit for your garden than the other.

Both produce clusters of small, orange fruits that are bursting with sugary flavor. Choosing between them depends on what you value most: absolute sweetness, disease resistance, or growth habit. Let’s look at what sets these popular tomatoes apart.

At first glance, Sun Sugar and Sungold tomatoes look very similar. They both boast beautiful, tangerine-orange fruits that are about one inch in diameter. However, they are different cultivars with unique genetic backgrounds, leading to different experiences in the garden and on your plate.

Understanding these differences is key to picking the right plant for your space and taste buds.

Origin and Plant Type

Knowing where these tomatoes come from helps explain their behavior.

Sungold: This is an F1 hybrid cherry tomato that originated in Japan. It’s an indeterminate vine, meaning it grows tall and continues producing fruit all season until frost. It requires strong, tall support.
Sun Sugar: Also an F1 hybrid, Sun Sugar was developed as an improvement on Sungold, primarily focusing on better disease resistance. It is also an indeterminate vine with similar vigorous growth.

The main point here is that both plants are tall, sprawling vines. You’ll need a large cage or a sturdy trellis system for either one.

Fruit Flavor and Sweetness

This is the most important category for many gardeners. Both are exceptionally sweet, but there’s a nuance.

Sungold Flavor: Sungold is often described as the sweetest tomato you can grow. Its flavor is intensely sugary, with a distinct tropical, fruity tang that some compare to apricots. The sweetness is immediate and powerful.
Sun Sugar Flavor: Sun Sugar is also very, very sweet, but its flavor profile is often considered more “classic” tomato. It has a rich, well-balanced sweetness with less of the extreme fruity acidity. Some find it less tart than Sungold.

It’s a matter of preference. If you want explosive, candy-like sweetness, Sungold often wins. If you prefer a rich, balanced sugariness, Sun Sugar might be your favorite.

Plant Health and Disease Resistance

This is where Sun Sugar has a clear, advertised advantage. Breeders specifically developed it to resist more diseases than its predecessor.

Sun Sugar Resistance: It shows strong resistance to Fusarium Wilt (Race 1 and 2) and Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV). This can be a huge benefit in gardens where soil-borne diseases are a problem.
Sungold Resistance: Sungold has fewer listed disease resistances. It can be more susceptible to various wilts and blights, requiring more vigilant garden management in some areas.

For organic gardeners or those with limited space for crop rotation, Sun Sugar’s resilience is a significant benefit.

Growth Habit and Cracking

How the plants grow and how the fruit holds up are practical concerns.

Fruit Cracking: Sungold tomatoes have a thinner skin, which makes them prone to cracking, especially after heavy rain or irregular watering. Sun Sugar was bred for a tougher skin that resists splitting much better.
Cluster Type: Both produce long, branched clusters (called compound inflorescences) that can have dozens of fruits. Sungold’s clusters can be particularly long and heavy.
Productivity: Both are incredibly productive over a long season. You can expect hundreds of tomatoes from a single healthy plant.

Which One Should You Plant?

Your choice depends on your top priority. Here’s a simple guide:

Choose Sungold IF…

Your absolute top priority is maximum, fruity sweetness.
You have perfect growing conditions and can manage watering carefully to prevent cracks.
You don’t have a history of serious tomato diseases in your garden soil.

Choose Sun Sugar IF…

You need a plant with stronger built-in disease resistance.
You live in an area with unpredictable rainfall and want to avoid cracked fruit.
You prefer a very sweet but slightly more balanced tomato flavor.

You really can’t go wrong with either. Many gardeners plant both to enjoy the subtle differences and ensure a reliable harvest.

How to Grow Them Successfully

Both varieties thrive under the same conditions. Follow these steps for a bumper crop.

Start Seeds Indoors: Start seeds 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. They need warm soil to germinate.
Plant in Full Sun: Choose the sunniest spot in your garden. They need at least 8 hours of direct light to produce their best sugar.
Provide Strong Support: At planting time, install a tall (5-6 foot), sturdy cage or trellis. The plants will quickly outgrow small cages.
Water Deeply and Consistently: Water at the base of the plant, keeping the soil evenly moist. Inconsistent watering leads to blossom end rot and cracking, especially in Sungold.
Feed Regularly: Use a balanced organic fertilizer at planting and switch to a fertilizer higher in potassium (like a tomato feed) once flowering begins to support fruit development.
Harvest When Fully Colored: Pick when the fruit is a deep, uniform orange and detaches easily. Flavors peaks when they are fully ripe on the vine.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even with disease-resistant plants, issues can arise.

Blossom End Rot: Caused by calcium uptake issues during uneven watering. Maintain consistent soil moisture and ensure your soil pH is balanced.
Hornworms: These large green caterpillars can strip leaves quickly. Hand-pick them off or use an organic Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray.
Early Blight: Shows as brown spots on lower leaves. Improve air circulation, water at the soil level (not the leaves), and remove affected foliage. Sun Sugar may handle this slightly better.
Poor Fruit Set: If flowers bloom but don’t set fruit, it’s often due to high nighttime temperatures (above 75°F) or lack of pollination. Gently shake flowering branches to help distribute pollen.

FAQs: Sun Sugar and Sungold Tomatoes

Which is sweeter, Sun Sugar or Sungold?
Most taste tests and reviews crown Sungold as the sweeter tomato, with a more intense, tropical sugariness. Sun Sugar is still very sweet but often considered more balanced.

Can you save seeds from Sun Sugar or Sungold tomatoes?
No, because they are both F1 hybrids. Seeds saved from the fruit will not produce a plant identical to the parent. It may produce fruit, but the flavor, size, and disease resistance will be unpredictable. You need to buy new seeds each year.

How tall do these tomato plants get?
As indeterminate vines, both can easily grow 6 to 8 feet tall in a single season with good conditions. Plan your support system accordingly.

Are Sun Sugar tomatoes actually crack-resistant?
Yes, they are notably more resistant to cracking than Sungold. Their thicker skin holds up better during wet weather or watering fluctuations, which is a major advantage for many gardeners.

Which one produces fruit earlier?
They have similar days to maturity (usually around 55-65 days from transplant). Sungold might fruit a few days earlier in some conditions, but the difference is minimal for most home gardeners.

In the end, the sun sugar tomato vs sungold debate is a win-win for gardeners. You’re choosing between two of the finest cherry tomatoes available. If you prize ultimate sweetness and can manage its care, Sungold is a legendary choice. If you need a tougher, more disease-resistant plant that still delivers exceptional sweetness, Sun Sugar is a fantastic modern variety. Whichever you choose, you’re in for a sweet and vibrant harvest that will be the highlight of your summer garden.