AdewebsThere is a moment every growing season that reminds me why I keep planting cherry tomatoes year after year. It usually happens early in the morning, before the heat settles in. I walk the rows with a small bowl, brushing past vines heavy with fruit, and one tomato finds its way into my mouth before it ever reaches the kitchen. Warm from the sun, skin barely holding together, sweetness bursting before I can even finish chewing. That single bite carries more flavor than an entire store bought clamshell. If you have tasted that once, you know exactly why growing cherry tomatoes becomes a habit you never quite break.
Cherry tomatoes are generous plants. They forgive missed waterings, reward even small spaces, and seem determined to feed you whether you feel ready or not. I have grown them in raised beds, old buckets, fabric pots, and once even out of a cracked wheelbarrow. They show up, grow tall, and keep producing long after larger tomatoes have called it quits. And the flavor. That is where they truly shine. From honey sweet to tangy and rich, cherry tomatoes prove that size has nothing to do with taste.
Over the years, neighbors, friends, and market customers have asked the same question. Which cherry tomatoes taste the best? The answer depends on what you like, but there are varieties that consistently stop people mid sentence. These are the tomatoes folks come back asking for. Below are the ten best tasting cherry tomatoes I have grown, saved seeds from, and planted again with confidence. Whether you are starting from cherry tomato seeds or scanning a types of tomatoes chart trying to decide what deserves space in your garden, these varieties earn their place.
What Makes a Cherry Tomato Taste Amazing
Flavor in cherry tomatoes comes from a balance of sugars and acids. The sweetest tomatoes still need a little bite to keep them interesting. Soil health matters more than fertilizer. Sunlight matters more than anything else. When plants struggle just enough, flavor concentrates.
I have learned not to baby cherry tomatoes too much. Deep watering instead of constant watering, moderate feeding, and good airflow all lead to better tasting fruit. Treat them like the resilient plants they are.
1. Sungold
Sungold is often the first cherry tomato people fall in love with. Bright orange and explosively sweet, it tastes almost like fruit candy. I have seen kids who swear they hate tomatoes eat these straight off the vine.
This variety grows vigorously and produces heavily. It needs support and regular harvesting to keep up. If you want the sweetest tomatoes to convert skeptics, Sungold does the job every time.
2. Sweet Million
Sweet Million lives up to its name. Long trusses of red cherries hang like grapes and keep coming all season. The flavor is classic tomato sweetness with a clean finish.
It handles heat well and resists cracking better than many others. This one is a favorite for growers who want reliable flavor and production without fuss.
3. Black Cherry
Black Cherry brings depth. Dark purplish red fruit with rich, wine like flavor that feels almost indulgent. It is less sugary and more complex.
This variety shines when fully ripe. Pick too early and you miss the magic. Let it darken fully and you understand why people guard these plants carefully.
4. Sun Sugar
Often compared to Sungold, Sun Sugar offers similar sweetness with slightly firmer skin. The flavor is bright and tropical.
If cracking has been an issue in your garden, this one performs better. It grows strong and keeps producing well into late summer.
5. Matt’s Wild Cherry
This is a wild thing in the best sense. Tiny red fruits packed with intense tomato flavor. Sweet but bold.
Plants grow like vines on a mission and self seed readily. I have found volunteers popping up year after year. Once you grow it, you may never be without it again.
6. Honeydrop
Honeydrop produces elongated yellow cherries with a mild honey sweetness. The flavor is gentle, not overpowering.
This one is perfect for mixed salads or fresh eating without acidity. It also grows well in containers and smaller spaces.
7. Gardener’s Delight
An old favorite that still earns respect. Balanced sweetness and acidity make it incredibly versatile.
It performs well in cooler climates and shorter seasons. If you are growing cherry tomato seeds for the first time, this one rarely disappoints.
8. Sweet Aperitif
This variety consistently ranks high on sweetness charts. Small red fruit with concentrated sugars and excellent shelf life.
It takes a bit longer to ripen but rewards patience. Once it starts producing, it does not stop.
9. Chocolate Sprinkles
Chocolate Sprinkles combines beauty and flavor. Red fruit with green striping and deep sweetness.
The plants are manageable and productive. This variety always draws attention at the table and the garden.
10. Yellow Pear
Yellow Pear is more about charm and mild sweetness than intensity. It adds brightness and shape variety to any harvest.
It grows vigorously and keeps producing until frost. While not the sweetest tomatoes on the list, it balances salads beautifully.
Choosing Cherry Tomato Seeds That Fit Your Garden
Not all gardens are the same. Some run hot. Some get partial shade. Read seed descriptions carefully. Look at growth habits and disease resistance.
Indeterminate varieties grow tall and produce longer. Determinate types stay compact. Knowing this helps you plan support and spacing.
Is There Really a Cherry Tomato Tree
People sometimes talk about a cherry tomato tree, usually when plants grow taller than expected. While not a tree, some varieties can reach impressive heights.
Strong staking or cages are essential. Letting plants sprawl reduces airflow and flavor. Support keeps fruit clean and plants healthy.
How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes for Maximum Flavor
Start seeds indoors if your season is short. Transplant after danger of frost passes. Give plants full sun and rich but well drained soil.
Avoid over fertilizing. Too much nitrogen leads to leafy plants with diluted flavor. Mulch to maintain even moisture.
A Garden Moment Worth Remembering
One summer evening, my youngest niece followed me into the garden. She picked a cherry tomato, hesitated, then bit into it. Her eyes widened. She laughed. That laugh was worth every hour spent tending those plants. Flavor creates memories.
Watering and Feeding Tips That Matter
Water deeply and less often. Let roots stretch. Inconsistent watering leads to cracking and bland taste.
Feed lightly with compost or balanced fertilizer early on. Once fruit sets, ease off. Stress equals flavor.
Harvesting at the Right Time
Cherry tomatoes taste best fully ripe. Color should be deep and rich. Fruit should release easily from the vine.
Harvest often. Leaving ripe fruit slows production. Regular picking encourages more sweetness.
Using a Types of Tomatoes Chart Wisely
A types of tomatoes chart helps compare growth habits, flavor profiles, and uses. Use it as a guide, not a rulebook.
Personal taste matters more than rankings. Grow a few and discover your favorites.
FAQs About Growing Cherry Tomatoes
Which cherry tomato is the sweetest
Sungold and Sweet Aperitif often rank highest for sweetness.
Can cherry tomatoes grow in pots
Yes, many thrive in containers with enough sun and support.
How long do cherry tomatoes take to mature
Most produce fruit in sixty to seventy five days from transplant.
Are cherry tomatoes easier than large tomatoes
Generally yes. They are more forgiving and productive.
How to Save Cherry Tomato Seeds
Choose ripe healthy fruit. Scoop seeds into a jar with water and let ferment a few days. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
Saving seeds lets you preserve flavor you love and adapt plants to your garden.
Encouragement From One Grower to Another
Cherry tomatoes teach patience and reward attention. They remind us that the best food rarely comes from convenience. It comes from care, soil, sun, and time.
If you are deciding what to plant this year, make room for at least one of these varieties. Let yourself experience the joy of eating something truly ripe, truly sweet, and truly yours, and ask yourself whether any store bought tomato could ever compare?
