Cherry tomato 'Sungold'

Sun

Full sun, ideally at least 6-8 hours daily. In very hot climates, light afternoon shade can reduce heat stress.

Water

Water deeply when the soil surface begins to dry, keeping the root zone evenly moist rather than saturated. Containers may need daily watering in hot weather.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, ideally pH 6.0-6.8. Use fresh, good-quality vegetable potting mix in containers.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m), sometimes taller under cover

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m) when supported and trained

Flowers

Small yellow flowers from late spring or summer until autumn, followed by orange cherry tomatoes.

Foliage

Green, divided leaves with toothed leaflets and a strong tomato scent when handled.

Growth

Fast

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Low allergen
• Edible

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.9 ft (0.29 m)

2. After 1 year

   8 ft (2.4 m)

   full size

Full size in one season.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant out after frost risk has passed and nights are consistently above 50°F (10°C); harden off indoor-grown plants first.
• Install a tall stake, strong cage or overhead cord at planting, and tie stems loosely as they grow.
• Water at soil level and avoid repeated drying out followed by heavy watering, which encourages fruit splitting.
• Mulch once the soil has warmed, keeping mulch clear of the stem.
• Feed with a tomato fertiliser according to its label once fruit begins to set; avoid excessive nitrogen.
• Pick when fully orange and slightly yielding; harvest promptly before heavy rain to reduce splitting.

Pruning. For cordon training, remove side shoots from leaf joints regularly during the growing season and tie in the main stem; cage-grown plants can retain more stems. Remove lower leaves that touch the soil, and pinch out the growing tip about four weeks before your expected first frost to help existing fruit ripen.

Pick individual tomatoes when they are fully golden-orange, not red, and feel slightly soft under gentle pressure. Harvest usually starts about 55–65 days after transplanting outdoors and continues through the warm season until frost or cold weather stops production. Gently twist ripe fruit off or snip the stalk, and pick frequently because Sungold tomatoes split easily, especially after rain.

Late winter to early spring

Sow indoors about 6-8 weeks before your local planting-out date, using warmth and bright light.

Spring

Pot seedlings on as needed and gradually harden them off for 7-10 days before planting.

Late spring to early summer

Plant after frost danger, install supports and mulch once the soil is warm.

Summer

Tie in growth, remove unwanted side shoots, water consistently and feed as fruit sets.

Summer to autumn

Harvest fully orange fruit frequently and check for splitting, pests and leaf disease.

Autumn

In frost-prone areas, stop new tip growth before the season ends and remove plants after the final harvest; dispose of diseased material.

• Train vertically at the back of a sunny vegetable bed to keep fruit accessible and save ground space.
• Grow in a large patio container with a strong support, placing orange fruit within easy picking reach.
• Use as a productive vertical accent in a potager alongside basil, parsley and leafy crops.
• Train along a sunny greenhouse cord or trellis where summers are too cool for dependable outdoor ripening.

Garden styles it suits: Potager (kitchen garden), Edible landscape, Cottage garden, Homestead, Small-space and Family-friendly.

Plant it with: Basil, Parsley, Lettuce, Chives, Sweet alyssum and French marigold.

Wildlife: Pollen attracts bumblebees and other bees capable of vibrating the flowers; wind movement also assists pollination. Birds and small mammals may eat ripe fruit.

• Fruit splitting: common after uneven watering or rain; maintain steady moisture and pick ripe fruit promptly.
• Late blight: rapidly spreading brown or black patches on leaves and stems, sometimes affecting fruit; improve airflow, avoid wetting foliage and promptly remove infected plants.
• Aphids and whiteflies: inspect shoot tips and leaf undersides; dislodge aphids with water and use an approved insecticidal soap where needed, following the label.
• Blossom-end rot: dark, sunken patches at the fruit base usually reflect disrupted calcium uptake; keep watering consistent and avoid root damage rather than adding calcium without a soil test.

Leaves, stems and unripe green fruit contain glycoalkaloids and can poison cats, dogs, horses and people if eaten in sufficient quantity. Effects include vomiting, diarrhoea and weakness; large ingestions can be serious. Fully ripe fruit is not known to be toxic, although it may cause digestive upset in some pets. Keep plant trimmings away from animals.

• Yellow pear tomato (Solanum lycopersicum 'Yellow Pear')

  Its ripe fruit is yellow and distinctly pear-shaped, rather than the round, golden-orange fruit of 'Sungold'.

• Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana)

  Its orange berries develop singly inside papery husks; 'Sungold' bears exposed fruit in clusters without husks.

The cultivar name 'Sungold' refers to the sun-like golden-orange colour of its ripe fruit.

Propagation. Buy fresh F1 hybrid seed and sow indoors with gentle warmth, ideally 70-80°F (21-27°C). Saved seed will not reliably produce plants or fruit identical to 'Sungold'; healthy side shoots can also be rooted as cuttings during the growing season.

Accepted botanical name

Solanum lycopersicum

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Alaska, Hawaii, the lower 48 states, Pacific Basin, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

Native range

Peru.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 7.5. Average height 19 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.