16 Best Cherry Tomato Varieties for Snacking and Fresh Eating

Yellow cherry tomatoes ripening on the vine — With the right varieties, you can achieve a far superior flavor profile (and nutritional profile!) with homegrown tomatoes, because unlike commercial varieties, they are selected for taste and nutrients, not their ability to ship cross country.

If you’ve ever cooked with tomatoes from the grocery store, you’re probably used to cherry tomatoes that have bright red skin and a relatively mild taste. But homegrown cherry tomatoes can be complex “flavor bombs” with intense sweetness and a melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s truly one of a kind. Plus, if you grow your own plants, you can harvest a veritable rainbow of cherry tomatoes that can spruce up any recipe you add them to!

1. Cherry Bomb

Cherry bomb cherry tomatoes — Anything with "bomb" in the name has got to be good!

Tomato variety:	Cherry Bomb
Days to maturity?	64 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	No
Tomato color:	Bright red

‘Cherry Bomb’ is a pint-sized tomato that just won’t quit. A prolific grower, ‘Cherry Bomb’ is notable for its bright crimson skin, meaty texture, and perfectly balanced, sweet, and tangy flavor. An indeterminate grower, this plant can produce fruit throughout the season, providing you with plenty of delicious cherry tomatoes for snacking right through the end of summer.

‘Cherry Bomb’ is a hybrid-type tomato that was specially developed for its resistance to late blight. While it’s not great for seed saving, this plant is a top choice among market growers due to its uniquely formed fruit. ‘Cherry Bomb’ tomatoes are slightly heart-shaped, which makes them stand out among other cherry tomatoes.

2. Principe Borghese

Principe Borghese cherry tomato, ideal for sundried tomatoes — This heirloom Italian cherry tomato is specifically well suited for making sundried tomatoes.

Tomato variety:	Principe Borghese
Days to maturity?	75 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Determinate
Open-pollinated?	Yes
Tomato color:	Bright red

‘Principe Borghese’ is a remarkable Italian heirloom that is commonly kept for sundried tomatoes. Since these tomatoes have a firm, meaty texture, and minimal seeds, they’re super easy to dry. But whether you eat them dried or fresh, ‘Principe Borghese’ tomatoes will pack a flavorful punch in any recipe.

‘Principe Borghese’ is a determinate grower, meaning it stays small, but it has a long growing season and will produce tons of tomatoes. In fact, just four ‘Principe Borghese’ tomato plants can yield about 2 gallons of dried tomatoes and even more tomatoes for fresh eating! Tomatoes can be dried in the sun or with a food dehydrator for even faster processing.

3. Sweet Aperitif

Tiny Sweet Aperitif tomatoes — This tiny little tomato is one of the sweetest you'll ever eat.

Tomato variety:	Sweet Aperitif
Days to maturity?	70 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	Yes
Tomato color:	Bright red

‘Sweet Aperitif’ may be small, but this plant is known for having some of the sweetest cherry tomatoes you can find. The fruit of ‘Sweet Aperitif’ only measures about ⅞” across – or about the size of a dime – but it has an intense flavor and a sweetness that builds and builds. These tomatoes can be used in salads or for snacking, but they also make unique garnishes for cocktails and other summertime drinks!

‘Sweet Aperitif’ is open-pollinated, so you can save the seeds. It is also an indeterminate grower that produces tomatoes throughout the season, but it may need some extra trellising to keep it from overwhelming nearby plants. With glossy red fruit and a nice bite, there’s so much to love about this sweet cherry tomato!

4. Lucia

Lucia grape tomato — Lucia is indeterminate and will fruit early but keep going all season long.

Tomato variety:	Lucia
Days to maturity?	64 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	No
Tomato color:	Bright red

‘Lucia’ is technically a grape tomato rather than a cherry tomato, but it has small and finely formed fruit that’s ideal for salads, pizza-making, and more. These early producers can begin to fruit in as little as 64 days, but they are indeterminate growers that can fruit throughout the season too.

‘Lucia’ is a hybrid plant that was specially grown for its complex flavor that is equally tart and sweet. The fruit also has the perfect crunch and juicy texture, and it’s even resistant to cracking in the garden. As long as ‘Lucia’ isn’t grown in overly cold and wet weather, this tomato cultivar should produce handfuls of blemish-free tomatoes without any trouble at all.

5. Sun Gold

Orange yellow sun gold tomatoes — Sun gold tomatoes will ripen in under 60 days, then keep going until fall frosts.

Tomato variety:	Sun Gold
Days to maturity?	57 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	No
Tomato color:	Golden orange

‘Sun Gold’ has a flavor that is often likened to ‘Lucia,’ with a balance of zingy tang and subtle sweetness. But unlike ‘Lucia,’ ‘Sun Gold’ has a brilliant, bright orange skin that can add extra color to whatever recipes you add these tomatoes to. Another prolific grower, ‘Sun Gold’ tomatoes grow in clusters, and they can be blended into homemade sauces or devoured as a delicious snack while you’re working in your garden.

‘Sun Gold’ tomatoes ripen long before many other tomato varieties, and they can be harvested just 57 days after planting. But ‘Sun Gold’ plants have a long growing season, and they can continue to fruit until the frosts of fall arrive. Although ‘Sun Gold’ tomatoes have a good level of disease resistance, they are vulnerable to cracking in wet weather, so always pick your tomatoes if rain is in the forecast!

6. Gardener’s Sweetheart

Gardener's Sweetheart cherry tomato — This variety was developed for its thicker skin that holds up better in the garden and after harvest.

Tomato variety:	Gardener’s Sweetheart
Days to maturity?	62 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	Yes
Tomato color:	Bright red

Formed by crossing ‘Gardener’s Delight’ with ‘Royal Chico’ tomatoes, ‘Gardener’s Sweetheart’ has all the flavor of its parent plants, but it has thicker skin that helps it hold up better in the garden. An open-pollinated cultivar, ‘Gardener’s Sweetheart’ has a distinct heart shape and deep red color. These tomatoes last a long time in the garden, and they also have a good shelf life in the fridge too.

The secret to getting the best flavor out of ‘Gardener’s Sweetheart’ is to let the tomatoes ripen as long as possible on the vine until they develop a deep red color. When harvested too early, their flavor can be mild, but if you pick them at the peak of freshness, ‘Gardener’s Sweetheart’ tomatoes are firm and have a sweet and nuanced taste. Thanks to their thick skin, these tomatoes are also great for cooking, and they can even be used to make shish kabobs!

7. Pocket Star

Ripe green cherry tomatoes, Pocket Star — Do these tomatoes look unripe to you? They're not! They're a green variety of cherry tomato.

Tomato variety:	Pocket Star
Days to maturity?	74 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	Yes
Tomato color:	Green with gold specks

If you love oddball plants and crave colorful tomatoes, you need to save some room in your garden for ‘Pocket Star.’ This green tomato type has beautifully colored skin that exhibits fine, golden speckles when ripe. Plus, it has all the flavor you could want, with just the right balance of sweetness and acidity and a rich, tomatoey taste too.

‘Pocket Star’ tomatoes take a bit longer to mature than some of the other plants on this list, but they are indeterminate growers, which means they can produce fruit through the end of summer and into early fall. You can use ‘Pocket Star’ tomatoes for fresh snacking, but they can also be blended into salsa verde and other vibrant sauces and salsas. The trick to picking green tomatoes at their peak flavor is to wait for the fruit to develop a light, golden-yellow color on their bottoms!

8. Honeydrop

Golden yellow Honeydrop tomatoes — One of the advantages of Honeydrop cherry tomatoes is that they are crack resistant.

Tomato variety:	Honeydrop
Days to maturity?	62 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	Yes
Tomato color:	Bright yellow

‘Sun Gold’ is one of the most popular yellow tomatoes, but if you’re looking to mix things up and try another light-colored tomato variety, ‘Honeydrop’ can be a rewarding tomato cultivar. These sweet and juicy tomatoes have a slightly fruity flavor with notes of grape, which will add something new to any dish you mix them into. They also have rich, honey-toned skin that is pretty and easy to see in garden beds.

When it comes to flavor, early ripening, and sweetness, ‘Honeydrop’ can best a lot of other cherry tomatoes. Plus, these tomatoes are also quite resistant to cracking. Sometimes ‘Honeydrop’ tomatoes may produce a pink or red blushed tomato, but these oddball fruits are just as tasty!

9. Italian Ice

Light yellow Italian ice cherry tomatoes — This light yellow variety looks especially nice when mixed with dark varieties like Black Cherry.

Tomato variety:	Italian Ice
Days to maturity?	65 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	No
Tomato color:	Pale yellow

Just like the dessert, ‘Italian Ice’ tomatoes are sweet and juicy and extra refreshing on a hot summer day, especially if you chill them in the fridge before serving. These popular hybrid tomatoes are relatively easy to find, and you can often locate them in garden centers, although you can also order the seeds online. ‘Italian Ice’ is famous for its uniquely colored fruit, which is a pale yellow to ivory white color and makes a fine complement to ‘Black Cherry’ and other dark cherry tomato cultivars.

‘Italian Ice’ is an indeterminate tomato, and it can begin to fruit in about 65 days after planting. The fruit forms in neat little clusters that look very pretty in container gardeners or in-ground plantings. And, of course, because these tomatoes have such light skin, they’re very easy to spot in the midst of dark tomato leaves.

10. Black Cherry

Large Black Cherry cherry tomatoes — One big advantage of this larger cherry tomato is that it is resistant to most common tomato viruses.

Tomato variety:	Black Cherry
Days to maturity?	75 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	Yes
Tomato color:	Dark red

Sometimes called a “two-bite cherry,” ‘Black Cherry’ tomatoes are slightly larger than other cherry tomatoes, but they’re still the perfect snack size. With a dusky, deep red skin and a complex flavor, ‘Black Cherry’ brings something different to the kitchen and garden, and they look particularly appealing when plated up with the contrasting colors of ‘Sun Gold’ and ‘Cherry Bomb’ tomatoes.

‘Black Cherry’ tomatoes are slower to mature than many other cherry tomato types, but they’re worth the wait, and you’ll get the best flavor if you allow them to ripen fully on the vine. These tomatoes tend to ripen one at a time, and you may need to inspect your plants closely when harvesting because it’s easy to miss these dark beauties in a tomato patch! Plus, ‘Black Cherry’ tomatoes are resistant to most tomato diseases, but they are prone to cracking.

11. Maglia Rosa

Maglia Rosa, elongated cherry tomato variety — If you love the look of long cherry tomatoes, you'll love the Maglia Rosa.

Tomato variety:	Maglia Rosa
Days to maturity?	70 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	Yes
Tomato color:	Mottled pink

There’s no doubt that ‘Maglia Rosa’ tomato plants produce some of the most attractive tomatoes around. The elongated fruit measures about 2 to 3” long, and it sports a mottled, pink, and orange skin. Inside, ‘Maglia Rosa’ has bright red flesh with a sweet and savory flavor that tastes a bit like ketchup with a perfect, mildly acidic bite.

A semi-determinate grower, ‘Maglia Rosa’ stays compact enough that you can grow it in pots or hanging baskets, but it won’t get lost in your garden bed if you’d prefer to plant it among your other veggies. For the best flavor, harvest ‘Maglia Rosa’ tomatoes just when the fruit begins to turn light pink and before the skin blushes a full red. With a versatile shape and flavor, these tomatoes are ideal for homemade pizza or pasta, and they can also be dehydrated to make sundried tomatoes!

12. Esterina

Yellow clusters of ripe Esterina cherry tomatoes — Esterina is a tomato of choice for gardeners who struggle with blight and mosaic virus.

Tomato variety:	Esterina
Days to maturity?	60 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	No
Tomato color:	Golden orange

‘Esterina’ yields sunny, golden-orange tomatoes that are sure to be a hit at farmer’s markets and the kitchen table too. An exceptional snaking tomato, ‘Esterina’ is similar to ‘Sun Gold’ tomatoes, although it has a milder flavor and a juicier interior. As a hybrid tomato variety, ‘Esterina’ isn’t good for seed saving, but it has a long growing season, and it begins to fruit relatively early too.

‘Esterina’ is a hardy plant that has good resistance to verticillium wilt and tomato mosaic virus, making it a top pick for any gardener who has struggled to manage these tomato diseases. This plant is also a heavy producer, and its tomatoes form in big clusters for easy picking. Not to mention, ‘Esterina’ tomatoes are resistant to cracking, even in rainy weather.

13. Rote Murmel

Wild Rote Murmel cherry tomato — These wild tomatoes come with their own natural blight resistance--always a winning feature for a variety!

Tomato variety:	Rote Murmel
Days to maturity?	80 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	Yes
Tomato color:	Red

Also known as the wild tomato (Solanum pimpinellifolium), ‘Rote Murmel’ can be a fun tomato to grow if you’re an adventurous foodie or you love learning a bit about food history. This tomato type can still be found growing in the wilds of North and South America, but it makes a no-fuss garden plant too. Unlike many other tomato varieties, ‘Rote Murmel’ maintains a tidy, bush-like shape as it grows, and it rarely needs pinching.

When properly maintained, ‘Rote Murmel’ is a prolific fruiting plant and can produce up to 1000 cherry tomatoes in a season. The fruit is smaller than many other cherry tomatoes, but it impresses with a full-mouth flavor and bright sweetness too. These plants are also naturally resistant to blight, making them a good choice for any gardener who wants a no-fuss plant!

14. Yellow Pear

Yellow pear tomatoes — Not only do yellow pear tomatoes bring an interesting look, but the flavor of yellow tomatoes tends to be more subtle, too.

Tomato variety:	Yellow Pear
Days to maturity?	80 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	Yes
Tomato color:	Yellow

‘Yellow Pear’ isn’t a cherry tomato, but it is one of the oldest small-fruited tomato cultivars around. This plant was first developed around 1805, and it produces very recognizable yellow tomatoes that are shaped like adorable mini pears. Fruit measures about 1 ½ to 2” long, and it has a mild sweetness that will work well in most dishes.

‘Yellow Pear’ fruits prolifically throughout the summer, although it is slower to mature than some other tomato types. An addictive snacking tomato, ‘Yellow Pear’ is also a favorite at farmer’s markets since it’s just so cute! As far as small-fruited tomatoes go, ‘Yellow Pear’ is usually easy to find at local garden centers, but the seeds are readily available online as well.

15. Super Sweet 100

Super Sweet 100 tomato variety — Super Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes were bred for increased resistance to verticillium wilt.

Tomato variety:	Super Sweet 100
Days to maturity?	78 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Indeterminate
Open-pollinated?	No
Tomato color:	Bright red

With a name like ‘Super Sweet,’ you know this cherry tomato will delight anyone with a sweet tooth! A hybrid tomato developed from ‘Sweet 100,’ ‘Super Sweet 100’ has all the sugary goodness of its ancestor but with even better disease resistance. ‘Super Sweet 100’ can withstand verticillium wilt, and it grows vigorously throughout the season too.

Like many other tomatoes, ‘Super Sweet 100’ can be prone to cracking in wet weather, but it is otherwise a hardy plant. This indeterminate growing plant should be staked to keep it from spreading too vigorously and prevent stems from breaking under the weight of all the cherry tomatoes it produces! Ripe ‘Super Sweet 100’ tomatoes are a bright, fiery red color, and they’re perfectly round, measuring about 1” in diameter each.

16. Tiny Tim

Tiny Tim cherry tomatoes — Tiny Tim is a tried and true cherry tomato variety for small space and container growing.

Tomato variety:	Tiny Tim
Days to maturity?	60 days
Indeterminate or determinate?	Determinate
Open-pollinated?	Yes
Tomato color:	Bright red

If you have a small space garden or you want to grow cherry tomatoes in pots, ‘Tiny Tim’ is one of the bests tomatoes for the job. This dwarf tomato plant only grows about 18” tall, and it can be kept in small pots, grow bags, or window boxes. But despite its small size, ‘Tiny Tim’ can yield masses of tasty, red fruit that measures roughly 1” in diameter.

‘Tiny Tim’ was developed by the University of New Hampshire in 1945 for its miniature size and disease resistance. As a determinate grower, ‘Tiny Tim’ produces most of its fruit in mid-season, which can make harvesting ultra-efficient. Just be sure to grow this plant in full sun to maintain its dwarf size and prevent legginess.

Frequently asked questions

A variety of cherry tomatoes in wooden pint containers — Cherry tomatoes are often among the first tomatoes to mature to harvest. Many do equally well in the ground as they do in containers.

What is the best time of year to grow cherry tomatoes?

Like other tomatoes, cherry tomatoes are usually planted outdoors in late spring; after all, the danger of frost has passed, and the temperatures have begun to warm. After planting, tomatoes can produce fruit from summer until fall, depending on the variety you’re growing. Tomatoes can also be grown indoors all winter long as long as you provide them with lots of bright light.

Do cherry tomatoes grow better in pots or in the ground?

Cherry tomatoes can grow in inground gardens or containers; however, due to their small size, these plants are especially well suited for pots. Determinate cherry tomato plants can be kept in small containers, hanging baskets, or window boxes, and they’re a top choice among urban growers and other gardeners with limited outdoor space.

Do cherry tomatoes need a trellis or cage?

Indeterminate cherry tomato varieties have a sprawling growth habit that will usually benefit from trellising or tomato cages. Determinate cherry tomato plants, on the other hand, naturally stay more compact, and they don’t necessarily need extra support. That said, cherry tomato stems may break under the weight of their fruit during the peak of tomato season, so many gardeners choose to add extra support to their plants just in case.

How do you ripen cherry tomatoes off the vine?

Green cherry tomatoes can ripen on your counter, but if you want to speed things up a bit, you can place them in a brown paper bag for a few days. The bag will trap ethylene gas near your tomatoes and cause them to ripen earlier.

What do you do with an abundance of cherry tomatoes?

Cherry tomatoes are often eaten fresh in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes, but if you have more tomatoes than you know what to do with, you can dry them and make your own homemade sundried cherry tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes can also be processed into tomato sauces and salsas. Another creative way to use up cherry tomatoes is to ferment them just like you would pickles!

Is grape tomato different than cherry tomatoes?

Grape tomatoes and cherry tomatoes are both small-fruited tomato types, but they do differ in a few ways. Grape tomatoes usually have elongated fruit that’s meaty and has a thicker skin. Conversely, cherry tomatoes are usually sweeter and a bit juicier, and they have an excellent “pop” when you bite into them!

Summary

Sauteed cherry tomatoes in a pasta dish — Don't think of cherry tomatoes as just for fresh eating and salads--they make delicious additions to many cooked dishes and are great for preserving, too!

Cherry tomatoes taste like sunshine and summer, and they’re one of the best snacks you can find while working in your garden. With all the variety on the market today, it can be hard to decide what cherry tomatoes to grow. Yellow, red, or black, there’s no wrong choice… just delicious cherry tomatoes!

Beyond cherry tomatoes, there are lots of other delicious tomato varieties that you can grow in your garden beds. If you’d like to learn more about different types of canning tomatoes or heirloom slicers, don’t miss our other guides on tomato varieties!

Comments

Vyfster groentesaad en organiese bemesting verspreiders

June 06, 2023 at 3:44 am

seed prices please!!!!
Schweizer- Reneke
2780
North west
South Africa

- Mary Ward
  
  June 06, 2023 at 9:54 am
  
  Please follow links to find seeds. You will find most seeds to range from $2 to $4 USD. We are an informational site, not a seed vendor. Thank You for reading.
  
Goodhope Gardens

September 25, 2023 at 11:36 am

Good afternoon sir /madam
My name is Lawrence from Harare and my plot name is Goodhope Gardens I'm doing a small scale project of farming and I'm interested in yo varieties of cherry tomatoes u have
I need price of all 16 types seeds of cherry tomatoes u have 1kgs of each varieties
Yours
Goodhope Gardens

- Mary Ward
  
  September 25, 2023 at 4:42 pm
  
  Please follow the links to vendors. We are an informational service that provides some links, but we do not directly sell seeds--just recommend them! Links may be affiliate links, so we can earn a bit to keep the site going, but affiliate links never cost you more.