Cherry Tomato Taste-Off

Top 5 Cherry Varieties

For many years, 'Sweet 100' has been the standard by which all other cherry tomatoes are measured. But that hasn't stopped breeders from trying to develop new, even better choices. Last summer, we grew a number of cherry tomatoes in our test garden. Then we rated them against 'Sweet 100', judging by sweetness, rich tomato flavor, and sweet-tart (sugar-acid) balance.

SunSugar

In a tasting by our Garden and Food staff, two orange-skinned varieties ran neck and neck, with 'SunSugar' winning the number one spot. Vigorous, indeterminate (continually growing) plant bears long clusters of crack-resistant orange fruit with rich, full-bodied flavor. 62 days from transplanting seedling to reaching maturity. Resistant to fusarium wilt, tobacco mosaic virus.

Source:
Tomato Growers Supply Company

Sun Gold

A very close second, 'Sun Gold' is a vigorous, indeterminate plant that produces long clusters of orange tomatoes with fruity, sweet flavor. 57 days from seedling to maturity.

Sources:
The Natural Gardening Company
Tomato Growers Supply Company

Sugar Snack

Red-skinned 'Sugar Snack' received high praise as the third-place finisher. Vigorous, indeterminate plant yields lots of fruit with great tomato flavor. 65 days from transplanting seedling to reaching maturity. Resistant to nematodes, tobacco mosaic virus.

Source:
Tomato Growers Supply Company

Supersweet 100

This prolific, indeterminate plant bearing juicy, sweet fruit is similar to 'Sweet 100' but resists diseases. 65 days from transplanting seedling to maturity. Resistant to fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt.

Source:
Park Seed Co.

Sweet 100

Very vigorous, indeterminate plant is a prolific producer of crack-prone fruit with good tomato flavor. 65 to 70 days from transplanting seedling to maturity.

Sources:
The Natural Gardening Company
Tomato Growers Supply Company

Getting Started

Tomatoes are heat-loving plants, some of which tend to grow tall, so give them full sun (at least six hours per day), rich soil, and a trellis or stake to grow on.

Plant seedlings in the garden or large containers (18 inches or more in diameter) after all danger of frost is past, or plant a bit early and protect crops with row covers.

If your soil is rich and well amended with compost, you won't need to fertilize. But if it's nutrient-poor, apply controlled-release complete fertilizer once at planting time.