Sungold

Catalog and grower descriptions put Sungold among the sweetest cherry tomatoes grown, intensely sweet and fruity, almost tropical, measured at roughly 8 on the Brix scale. Flavor is subjective, so treat this as the widely repeated catalog description rather than a measured fact for your garden.

An F1 cherry tomato bred by the Tokita Seed Company of Saitama, Japan, released in Japan in 1989 and reaching international markets around 1992. It became one of the most popular cherry tomatoes among home gardeners in cool climates, prized for intense, fruity sweetness.

• Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.
• Ripens early, under about 70 days, one of the safer picks where the summer is short.
• Generally forgiving and beginner-friendly to grow.
• Reliably sets and ripens in cool, short seasons.
• Prone to cracking and splitting after wet spells.
• One of our picks for the cold, short-season gardens of New England.

Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.

Sweet 100but red instead of orange

• Pinetree Garden Seeds
• Johnny's Selected Seeds

• Sungold vs Sweet 100
• How to Save Tomato Seeds From Your Best Plants
• Buried in Tomatoes? What to Do With a Mid-Summer Glut
• Starting Tomatoes From Seed in a Cold Climate
• Open-Pollinated Alternatives to Your Favorite Hybrids
• When Are Tomatoes Ripe? A Variety-by-Variety Guide
• Heirloom vs Hybrid Tomatoes
• Best Early Tomatoes for Short Seasons

Is Sungold determinate or indeterminate?

Sungold is an indeterminate variety. Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.

How long does Sungold take to ripen?

Sungold ripens in about 60 days from transplant. Ripens early, under about 70 days, one of the safer picks where the summer is short.

Is Sungold an heirloom or a hybrid?

Sungold is a hybrid (F1), so seed saved from it will not come back true to the parent and is best bought fresh each year.

What can I grow instead of Sungold?

A close swap is Sweet 100, but red instead of orange.