How to Grow Heirloom Black Cherry
Solanum lycopersicum 'Black Cherry'
Heirloom Black Cherry tomatoes deliver a sweet, complex flavor that distinguishes them from standard varieties. Gardeners prize this cultivar for its compact size and vibrant dark fruit, making it ideal for containers or small plots where space is limited.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Heirloom Black Cherry: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Heirloom Black Cherry is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are consistently warm.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare rich, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8 before planting. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date when nights are still cool. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep in biodegradable pots; they typically germinate within 7 to 14 days once soil temperatures rise.
Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart and provide sturdy cages or trellises for support as vines grow. Maintain consistent moisture by watering regularly, ensuring the deep roots stay hydrated without waterlogging. Apply organic mulch around the base to retain soil temperature and add balanced fertilizer every few weeks during the fruiting period.
Watch for tomato hornworms, aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites; inspect leaves frequently and remove pests manually or use insecticidal soap. Prevent late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, and bacterial speck by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest ripe fruit 65 to 75 days after transplanting when the skin is smooth and slightly soft.
When to Plant Heirloom Black Cherry
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Heirloom Black Cherry
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially enhancing tomato flavor
Helps break up soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Provides living mulch, conserves soil moisture, and can be harvested before tomatoes need full space
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, draws pests away from tomatoes
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control tomato pests
Share similar growing requirements and don't compete significantly for resources
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Can stunt tomato growth and attract pests that also affect tomatoes
Both are heavy feeders that compete for nutrients, and corn can harbor tomato fruitworm
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit tomato growth and development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
