Chocolate Cherry brings the deep taste of black tomatoes to a productive, snackable cherry. The glossy brown fruit looks beautiful in a bowl and tastes even better. This guide covers its flavor, growing needs, common problems, and key facts.
Chocolate Cherry Tomato Quick Facts
| Type | Open-pollinated |
|---|---|
| Growth Habit | Indeterminate |
| Days to Maturity | 70 days |
| Fruit Size | Cherry, about 1 oz |
| Fruit Color | Reddish-brown |
| Shape | Round cherry |
| Flavor | Rich, sweet, smoky |
| Best Uses | Snacking, salads |
| Plant Height | 6 to 8 feet |
| Spacing | 24 to 36 inches |
| Support | Tall stake or cage |
| Sun | Full sun, 6 to 8 hours |
| Container Friendly | Yes |
| Disease Resistance | Low to moderate |
| Origin | United States |
What Is a Chocolate Cherry Tomato?
Chocolate Cherry is an open-pollinated cherry tomato in the family of dark or black tomatoes. The fruit ripens to a deep reddish-brown that looks like dark chocolate. It is a little larger and more uniform than many brown cherries. The plant is indeterminate and sets fruit in long clusters. Because it is open-pollinated, you can save seeds and grow it again next year.
Chocolate Cherry Flavor and Best Uses
Chocolate Cherry has a rich, sweet taste with the smoky depth that makes black tomatoes famous. The flavor is fuller than a plain red cherry, with a pleasant savory note.
It is best eaten fresh. Snack on the cherries whole, halve them for salads, or mix them with red and golden cherries for a striking, flavorful bowl.
How to Grow Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes
Chocolate Cherry is easy to grow and very productive. Follow these basics.
- Sun: give plants 6 to 8 hours of direct sun.
- Spacing: set plants 24 to 36 inches apart.
- Support: use a tall cage or stake, since vines reach 6 to 8 feet.
- Water: water deeply and evenly to limit cracking.
- Feeding: feed with a balanced tomato fertilizer once fruit sets.
Common Problems and Disease Resistance
Chocolate Cherry has low to moderate disease resistance, and its dark color makes ripeness tricky.
- Judging ripeness: wait for a deep reddish-brown color and a slight softness.
- Cracking: uneven water or over-ripeness can split the fruit.
- Tall vines: the vigorous plants need regular pruning and tying.
Chocolate Cherry vs Black Cherry
Both are dark brown cherries, so gardeners compare them. Chocolate Cherry has slightly larger, more uniform fruit and a clean, sweet flavor. Black Cherry is famous for an even richer, more complex taste. Growing both gives you a range of dark, sweet cherries to snack on.
When to Harvest Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes
Pick Chocolate Cherry when the fruit turns a deep reddish-brown with darker shoulders and feels slightly soft. The dark color hides ripeness, so use softness as your guide. Harvest often, since ripe fruit cracks and drops quickly in warm weather.
Growing Chocolate Cherry in Containers
Chocolate Cherry grows well in a container of at least 15 gallons with a tall, sturdy cage. Keep the soil evenly moist, since pots dry out faster than garden beds. A potted plant on a patio puts these rich, dark snacking tomatoes within easy reach.
Companion Plants for Chocolate Cherry
Chocolate Cherry pairs well with basil, which may improve flavor and repel pests. Marigolds deter nematodes and aphids, and borage attracts bees for better pollination. Keep tomatoes away from potatoes, which share diseases. Good companions help the plant stay healthy.
Chocolate Cherry Nutrition
Chocolate Cherry is low in calories and rich in nutrients. A handful gives you vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium. Dark tomatoes also contain anthocyanins, the antioxidants behind their color, along with lycopene. Their rich sweetness makes them a healthy, satisfying snack.
Where to Buy Chocolate Cherry Seeds and Plants
Chocolate Cherry seeds are sold at most seed companies in spring, and many nurseries carry plants because of its unusual color. Because it is open-pollinated, one packet can supply your garden for years if you save seeds from your best fruit.
Care Notes
Plant in rich, well-drained soil and mulch around the base to keep that soil evenly moist. Seed racks carry both open-pollinated and modern hybrid strains. Steady watering also helps prevent blossom end rot.
Related Tomato Varieties
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Chocolate Cherry Take to Grow?
About 70 days from transplant.
Is Chocolate Cherry Determinate or Indeterminate?
It is indeterminate and produces until frost, so it needs tall support.
What Color Is a Chocolate Cherry Tomato?
A deep reddish-brown, like dark chocolate, with darker shoulders.
What Does Chocolate Cherry Taste Like?
Rich and sweet, with the smoky depth of a black tomato in cherry form.
Is Chocolate Cherry an Heirloom?
It is open-pollinated, so you can save seeds and grow it again.
Can You Grow Chocolate Cherry in Containers?
Yes, in a 15 gallon or larger pot with a tall, sturdy cage.
Shakeel Muzaffar is the founder of TomatoAnswers.com, a gardener, and a content writer. He combines hands-on tomato growing experience with evidence-based research from horticultural and nutrition sources. His work focuses on tomato cultivation, nutrition, and practical gardening advice, helping readers grow healthier plants and make informed food choices