Chocolate Cherry Tomato

If you’re looking for a garden snack that’s both fun to grow and a joy to eat, look no further than the chocolate cherry tomato. This little fruit is a sweet and savory treat that surprises everyone who tries it.

These tomatoes are not actually chocolate-flavored. The name comes from their beautiful, deep brown-red color. When ripe, they look like they’ve been dusted with cocoa. The flavor, however, is the real star. It’s a complex mix of rich sweetness with a smoky, savory finish that makes them utterly addictive straight from the vine.

This variety is an indeterminate heirloom type, which means the plants will keep growing and producing fruit until the first frost hits. They are vigorous vines that can reach over 6 feet tall, so they need strong support. Each plant will yield hundreds of one-inch tomatoes throughout the season.

Why Grow Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes?

You should consider these for your garden for several key reasons. They offer more than just a unique taste.

Exceptional Flavor: The balance of sugar and acidity is superb. They are much less tart than many red cherries, with a depth of flavor that is rare.
High Productivity: A single healthy plant is incredibly generous. You’ll have plenty for fresh eating, salads, and sharing with neighbors.
Garden Conversation Piece: Their unique color always sparks interest and questions from fellow gardeners and visitors.
Disease Resistance: Many growers find this heirloom to be quite resilient against common tomato foliar diseases when given proper care.

How to Grow Them From Seed or Seedling

Starting your chocolate cherry tomatoes is straightforward. You can begin seeds indoors or buy young plants from a nursery that specializes in heirlooms.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Begin this process about 6-8 weeks before your last expected spring frost date. You’ll need seed trays, a quality seed-starting mix, and a warm, sunny spot.

Fill your trays with moistened seed mix and plant 2-3 seeds per cell, about 1/4 inch deep.
Cover the trays with a plastic dome to retain humidity and place them in a warm location (70-80°F).
Once seeds sprout, remove the dome and move them to the sunniest window you have, or under grow lights. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
When seedlings get their first set of true leaves, thin to the strongest one per cell.
A week before transplanting outside, begin hardening off your plants. This means setting them outdoors for a few hours each day in a sheltered spot to aclimate them to sun and wind.

Planting in the Garden

Choose the sunniest spot in your vegetable garden. Tomatoes need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily. Wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up.

Space plants about 24-36 inches apart to ensure good air circulation.
Plant them deep! Bury the stem up to the first set of leaves. The buried stem will grow additional roots, making a stronger plant.
Immediately install a tall, sturdy cage or stake at planting time. It’s much harder to add one later without damaging roots.
Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.

Essential Care for a Bumper Crop

Consistent care is the secret to a healthy, productive plant. It’s not difficult, but paying attention to a few details makes all the difference.

Watering and Feeding

Tomatoes need steady moisture. Inconsistent watering is a common cause of problems like blossom end rot.

Water deeply at the base of the plant 1-2 times per week, depending on weather. The goal is to keep the soil evenly moist, like a wrung-out sponge.
A layer of straw or shredded leaf mulch around the base helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep soil from splashing onto leaves.
Feed your plants with a balanced organic fertilizer or one formulated for tomatoes when you first see flowers, and then again when fruits start to set. Follow the instructions on the package carefully.

Pruning and Support

Because they are indeterminate, chocolate cherry tomatoes benefit from some pruning. This directs the plants energy into fruit production rather than excessive foliage.

Check the plant regularly for “suckers.” These are the small shoots that grow in the V between the main stem and a branch.
While the plant is young, you can pinch off these suckers with your fingers. This is called simple pruning. It keeps the plant managable and improves air flow.
As the plant grows, gently tie the main stem to your support structure using soft plant ties or strips of cloth. Don’t use wire or string that can cut into the stem.

Harvesting and Enjoying Your Tomatoes

Knowing when to pick is key for the best flavor. The color is your main clue.

A ripe chocolate cherry tomato will be a deep, dusky brown-red with a slight give when gently squeezed. If it’s still mostly green or red, leave it on the vine a bit longer. The full, complex flavor develops at peak ripeness. Simply grasp the fruit and give it a gentle twist; it should come away easily from the stem.

Once you start harvesting, you’ll have lots of these gems. Here are some simple ways to use them:

Fresh Eating: The absolute best way. Eat them warm from the sun in the garden.
Salads: Their color and flavor make any salad more interesting.
Roasting: Toss a pint with olive oil, salt, and herbs, then roast until caramelized. This intensifies their sweetness.
Pasta Sauces: Add them whole to a simmering sauce; they burst and add a wonderful richness.
Preserving: They can be dried in a dehydrator or oven for a chewy, sweet snack, or frozen whole for use in cooked dishes later.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Even with great care, you might encounter a few issues. Here’s how to handle common ones.

Blossom End Rot

This appears as a dark, leathery spot on the bottom of the fruit. It’s usually caused by calcium deficiency in the fruit, often due to irregular watering. Ensure consistent soil moisture and avoid over-use of high-nitrogen fertilizers.

Cracking or Splitting

This happens after a heavy rain or deep watering following a dry period. The fruit expands to fast. Maintaining even soil moisture is the best prevention. Cracked fruit is still edible; just use it quickly.

Pests

Aphids or hornworms might visit. Check the undersides of leaves regularly. For aphids, a strong spray of water often works. For hornworms, hand-picking is the most effective method.

FAQ

Are chocolate cherry tomatoes easy to grow?
Yes, they are as easy to grow as any other tomato variety. They require the same basic conditions: full sun, consistent water, good support, and warm soil.

What do chocolate cherry tomatoes taste like?
They are known for a rich, sweet flavor with low acidity and subtle smoky, savory notes. They are often described as exceptionally sweet and complex.

How tall do chocolate cherry tomato plants get?
As indeterminate vines, they can easily grow 6 to 8 feet tall in a full season. A strong, tall cage or stake is essential from the start.

Can I save seeds from my chocolate cherry tomatoes?
Absolutely! Since they are an heirloom variety, the seeds will come true to type. Simply ferment the seeds from a ripe tomato to remove the gel coating, dry them thoroughly, and store in a cool, dry place for next year.

Growing chocolate cherry tomatoes is a rewarding experience for any gardener. They provide a long season of harvest and a unique flavor that’s hard to find in stores. With a little preparation and consistent care, you can enjoy these sweet and savory treats right from your own backyard all summer long. Give them a try this season—you won’t be disappointed by their performance or their taste.