How to Grow Sweet 100
Solanum lycopersicum
Sweet 100 is a popular indeterminate tomato variety known for producing abundant clusters of small, sweet cherry fruits throughout the season. Gardeners favor this hybrid for its reliable yield and versatility in salads or as snacks straight from the vine.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Sweet 100: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Sweet 100 is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after the last spring frost when the soil is warm enough to support this heat-loving plant.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 to ensure optimal growth. Since Sweet 100 is a warm-season crop sensitive to cold, start seeds indoors only after all danger of frost has passed or wait until soil temperatures are consistently warm. Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep; they typically germinate within five to ten days.
Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart and provide sturdy trellising or cages early, as this variety grows tall and produces heavily. Maintain consistent moisture by watering regularly at the base of the plant to prevent cracking. Apply a layer of mulch around the stems to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds while feeding with balanced fertilizer during fruiting.
Monitor for aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and tomato fruitworms; use insecticidal soap or hand-picking to manage infestations. Watch for early blight, late blight, and tobacco mosaic virus by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest ripe fruits approximately 60 days after planting when they are fully colored and slightly soft.
When to Plant Sweet 100
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 | — | July – September |
| 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 Sweet 100
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor
Repels hornworms and may improve tomato growth
Help break up soil and don't compete for nutrients
Repel aphids and may deter some fungal diseases
Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Similar growing requirements and compatible root systems
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Both attract corn earworm which also damages tomatoes
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
