No. 066 · open-pollinated
Gold Nugget
Gold Nugget is a determinate open-pollinated cherry tomato with golden yellow fruit. It ripens in about 56 days.
Flavor
Described as sweet and mild, an early golden cherry that is nearly seedless on the first fruit. This is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.
Origin
An open-pollinated golden cherry tomato developed by Dr. James Baggett at Oregon State University, bred for early ripening and container culture.
What it does well
- One of the earliest yellow cherry tomatoes
- Compact determinate bush, 2 to 3 feet, good for containers
- Heavy early set of golden fruit
Where it frustrates
- Determinate, so production is concentrated rather than season-long
- Small fruit and a short main window
Growing it
- Determinate bush. It sets most of its crop in one concentrated flush, which suits batch cooking and canning, and needs only light support.
- Ripens early, under about 70 days, one of the safer picks where the summer is short.
- Generally forgiving and beginner-friendly to grow.
- Will set in cooler conditions, though warmth still helps it along.
- One of our picks for the cold, short-season gardens of New England.
Disease resistance
An open-pollinated variety, sold without formal disease-resistance codes.
Why no hardiness zone?
Tomatoes are warm-season annuals, so variety choice comes down to days to maturity and your local frost dates.
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Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.
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Where to buy seed
Related reading
Common questions
- Is Gold Nugget determinate or indeterminate?
- Gold Nugget is a determinate variety. Determinate bush. It sets most of its crop in one concentrated flush, which suits batch cooking and canning, and needs only light support.
- How long does Gold Nugget take to ripen?
- Gold Nugget ripens in about 56 days from transplant. Ripens early, under about 70 days, one of the safer picks where the summer is short.
- Is Gold Nugget an heirloom or a hybrid?
- Gold Nugget is open-pollinated, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.
- What can I grow instead of Gold Nugget?
- A close swap is Sungold, but open-pollinated, determinate, and container-friendly.
Sources
- Gold Nugget Organic Tomato Seed · Johnny's Selected Seeds
- Gold Nugget Tomato Seed · Territorial Seed Company
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