Midnight Snack is a unique indigo-type cherry tomato that ripens to red with a beautiful glossy black-purple overlay when exposed to sunlight. This coloration comes from the accumulation of anthocyanin pigments, the same reason blueberries are blue and contain healthy antioxidants. The indeterminate growth habit means vines should be staked and, lucky for us gardeners, plentiful fruits will ripen all season long! Midnight Snack is great in salads or eaten straight off the plant…a guilt-free treat any time of the day or night. Judges commented on the improved taste of this indigo tomato and said this is a “Big improvement in purple tomatoes!” This novel AAS Winner matures earlier than the comparisons, is very easy to grow and will be a unique addition to any garden.
Blog: The best cherry and small-fruited tomatoes to grow in garden beds and containers
Sow in flats or plug tray at least 5-6 weeks before target date for transplanting outside, temperatures above 65°F are preferred for germination. Transplant into larger plug tray, cell packs or small pot (3-4 inches) approximately 3-4 weeks after sowing or when at least one true leaf has developed. Maintain medium soil moisture and use a complete fertilizer after transplant. Wait to transplant outdoors until night temperatures are over 45°F and there is no threat of frost, as cold temperatures will cause severe damage. Transplant outdoors in full sun at least 2-3 feet apart, plants require staking. Water and feed with complete fertilizer regularly.
Dave Hames –
Midnight Snack was my favorite cherry tomato in the garden this year. The tomatoes have a lovely, savory flavor my wife and I both enjoyed. The plants kept on producing trusses of fruit right up until the first frost, and were loaded with tomatoes.
AAS Display Garden- River Valley Master Gardeners –
Tasty full flavored cherry tomatoes. The vines do get quite large- make sure you give them plenty of room for easy picking and to allow full sun exposure to produce the unique purple-black overlay.
Zone 6a
Backyard Farmer Display Garden, Lincoln, Nebraska –
Visitors to the Backyard Farmer Garden on the East Campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have been drawn to Midnight Snack since the first plant started producing fruit. It has probably been the subject of more photos than any other plant. It’s a favorite of the Master Gardeners – we’ll snack on this fruit as soon as it ripens. Great color, flavor, and the dark color is so interesting it may attract newcomers to gardening. It withstands our brutal summers and produces reliably even when other tomatoes and peppers are in survival mode.
Jeni Cullen, Eden Park, Cincinnati, OH –
My favorite cherry tomato by far! It has that cherry tomato taste I remember from visiting my grandparents in the summer and raiding their garden. It is also beautiful and prolific. Every year it is one of the most asked about plants by visitors.
Kathy Ward –
Well so far all my tomatoes are all purple with no red at all. It’s a first time buying this variety. Will they gradually get some red on them? They are still in the pot I bought them in which had a stake in it for it to grown on. When will they be ripe to eat?
Pamela Keene –
When I was first sent samples of Midnight Snack, I fell in love with this unusually colored cherry tomato. I started them from seeds this year, with good germination. In fact, we had so many sturdy seedlings that we shared them with friends and fellow gardeners — who had never seen them before — and they really liked them. They were puzzled by the darker tops, but once we explained that if you can see an imprint of the sepals then they’re just right. Our plants, grown in both our raised beds and in growbags on our sunny driveway are still producing as we get into late September. Yum!
Pamela Keene –
I can’t say enough about this prolific back and red cherry. Straight from the plant, we just pop them in our mouths and enjoy. Friends reaped the benefits of this yeawr’s early seed starting and I shared plants all around the neighborhood. We’ve even found a few “true to form” volunteers in our landscape, including a rambling plant that’s threatening to take over my rose garden. It held up in this summer’s heat and although it’s starting to get chilly at night, the plants are still producing, although taking a little longer to ripen. Great for salads, stuffing with cream cheese or sauteeing as a fun side dish.