With Anneliese and Geoff off to California this week to represent CobraHead at the National Heirloom Exposition in Santa Rosa, it seems a little odd to be posting about a hybrid tomato.  However, I grow hybrids frequently.  Hybridizing has been around a long, long time and is something that can be accomplished by nearly anyone including the home gardener.  Hybrid seeds should not be confused with genetically modified seeds.

There are qualities that can be achieved with hybrids that are unlikely or impossible to be easily replicated with open pollinated plants.  I usually grow about 30 different tomatoes.  Many are started from my own saved seed, and most are open-pollinated (heirloom) varieties, but hybrids can offer the home gardener some unique properties including exceptional production, and that is one of the great things about Sweet Treats.

I’m pretty sure I got these seeds as a handout at a trade show, but the source escapes me.  The package is from the seed producer, Sakata, of Japan.  I’m sure I did not buy anything directly from them.  An online search shows many of the major seed catalogs are now carrying them.

Sweet Treats is a large indeterminate cherry tomato.  The plant puts out voluminous grape clusters of fruit.  Sakata promotes the “pink” color of the fruit, but we find them turning rather red before they are fully ripe.  They are exceptionally productive and they taste good.  Judy has a post about using them as the main tomato in a cherry tomato pasta recipe here.  I’m sure I’ll be harvesting them right into the frosts and for as long as I can keep the plants alive.  The other hybrid I have always liked is the tart orange cherry tomato –  Sungold.