Super sweet 100 and sungold are two tomato plants that have created a massive buzz among gardeners and the horticulture community.
And as a gardener, these fancy labels might be confusing to you because all you want is a tomato plant in your yard that is rich in taste, nutritious, disease-resistant, and not a hassle to maintain.
Don’t worry about it since I am here to help. This super sweet 100 vs. sungold guide will help you decide which one to grow. So, let’s get started.
Super Sweet 100 and Sungold Tomato: at a Glance
The super sweet tomato is a type of hybrid tomato cultivar that can produce over 100 bright red cherry tomatoes (Yes, it is where the ‘100’ comes from). What’s great is that it can even yield up to 500 tomatoes per plant if it is well-cared for.
Just like the name suggests, these tomatoes have a delicious sweet taste. No wonder they are referred to as “vine candy” or “candy tomato.” They flourish in full sun and can grow 8-10 feet tall with long vines of little tomatoes.
Meanwhile, the sungold tomato is a kind of orange cherry tomato. Because they mature to a lovely golden orange, sungolds get their name.
This breed is generally dependable and consistently yields well, with 100-120 tomatoes per plant. Similar to super sweet 100, it also has a terrific taste.
Sungold is a pretty famous tomato plant in UK gardens. Any temperature is the perfect environment for this tomato plant.
Since both these plants are indeterminate, they continue to grow all summer and even in fall. Lastly, both tomato types are sweet, nutritious, and good for salads, snacking, juicing, and cooking.
Basic Growth Factors
Here are some fundamental growth facts for super sweet 100 and sungold tomatoes. Let’s have a look!
| Super Sweet 100 | Sungold | |
| Germination rate | 5-7 days | 5-7 days |
| Time to maturity | 60–65 days | 55-60 days |
| Maintenance level | Moderate | Moderate |
| Soil type | Fertile, well-drained, medium-rich, and moist | Fertile, well-drained, medium-rich, and moist |
| Soil pH | 6.0-6.8 | 6.0-6.8 |
| Exposure | Full Sun (At least 6 hours of sunlight) | Full Sun (At least 6 hours of sunlight) |
| Growth | Indeterminate | Indeterminate |
| Fruit size | 1-inch | 1-inch |
| Height | 8-10 feet | 4-8 feet |
Height, Weight, and Width
The super sweet 100 and sungold tomato plants aren’t dwarf. In fact, they both develop into sturdy, tall vines.
As I mentioned earlier, the typical height of super sweet 100 tomatoes is 8-10 feet. However, if they are in an area where they get proper sunlight, nutrition, and water, they can grow as high as 12 feet.
On the other hand, the typical height for the sungold is 4-8 feet. However, it does not mean this plant cannot reach higher heights. The formula is simple: Give them the best care, be consistent, and wait patiently.
Because of height, you need to make space for both these plants and avoid growing them in windy areas. The best way is to find the tallest possible cages and stake them, even if they are growing in pots.
In size, weight, and width, the plants differ in no way. Both super sweet 100 and sungold reach approximately one inch in diameter, 18-24 inches wide, and weigh 1-2 oz.
Spacing
Both super sweet 100 and sungold are indeterminate plants that grow the whole summer long until frost. Since both plants produce terrific results (super sweet 100 provides hundreds of tomato fruits), they require a spacious setting to grow.
Therefore, growing these vines on a fence or trellis typically works best because they become pretty heavy with fruits. But you can also grow them in tomato cages or stake them.
Hence, it is better to plant super sweet vines 3-4 feet apart. Sungolds can be planted 2-3 feet apart.
You must give each plant the proper spacing, regardless of whether it is grown on a trellis or cage.
Sunlight
Both these plants can survive in different climates. However, they truly thrive in summer and require proper sunlight for a healthier and faster growth.
For the best results, make sure these plants receive 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day.
Water and Soil
Soil preference and water needs of super sweet 100 and sungold are not that different. These plants are generally easy to maintain and require roughly 1 inch of water a week.
Early in the morning is the best time to water. You can adjust how much water you use based on the weather, such as rain, sweltering heat, or dry spells.
Both these plants need fertile and well-drained soil. Although they should be well-watered, make sure the ground doesn’t get completely soaked. The reason is that these tomato plants can’t bear standing water. So, you have to dedicate time to check the soil drainage.
Moreover, ensure that you water the sand at the plant’s base. New gardeners and hobbyists make this mistake when they keep watering leaves, which end up doing more harm than good.
The likelihood of a fungal infection spreading is increased by wet foliage, which can also harm your plants by causing sunscald or other problems. Drip irrigation is ideal in this scenario as it transfers the water directly to the root zone of the plant without wetting the foliage.
You can also spread a layer of mulch on top of your soil to help it retain water better and minimize weed growth.
Taste and Flavoring
Choosing a winner based on taste is a bit challenging for me, since both are delicious.
Super sweet tomatoes contain a high vitamin C content. They are just as sweet as their name, which makes them perfect for salads and snacking. They have a firm crunch which makes it fun to munch.
Sungold tomatoes, on the other hand, taste juicy and tangy. Because of their pleasant taste, sungolds can be eaten right after getting off the vine.
Like I said, choosing a winner is difficult. But I would say sungold has a richer and more balanced taste, which makes me like it more.
Resistance to Splitting
Splitting and cracking is a common problem of cherry tomatoes. Although super sweet 100 is quite disease resistant, these tomatoes have the tendency sometimes where they start cracking.
It usually happens when there is a water/moisture fluctuation or heavy rain at the time when fruit is nearly maturing. More water is absorbed by the plant than the tomato can handle, which causes the skin to split.
Sungold tomatoes are also notorious for splitting. However, most people tend to ignore this issue because of their delicious taste.
Picking the tomatoes from the vines as soon as they are ripe is the greatest solution to this issue. Pick them as soon as they are ready to avoid getting cracked tomatoes.
Diseases
Tomato plants are prone to catching diseases and pests due to moisture variations and weather conditions. However, sweet 100 tomatoes are more disease resistant than sun gold.
Super sweet 100 tomatoes are resistant to both verticillium wilt and fusarium wilt. Indeed, it is among the characteristics that set it apart as a top pick for gardeners.
However, leaving the tomatoes on vines for a prolonged time and not removing them can be harmful to any type of tomato plant, including super sweet.
Hence, as I mentioned before, take the fruits off when they are ready for harvesting and don’t delay it.
Pests
Pests are some of the primary foes of gardeners. One of the most common types of garden pests is Aphids, which are tiny, sap-sucking insects. Despite being small in size, they can seamlessly harm the leaves of your tomato plants.
Both super sweet and sungold are susceptible to aphids. One tried and trusted method to protect your plants from them is to bring ladybugs.
Ladybugs can significantly help you get rid of these insects by devouring them. You can find plenty of ladybugs on Amazon. If you want to buy some live ladybugs that can help you get rid of the pests and other slow-moving insects buy it here on Amazon.
Fertilization
Super sweet 100 and sungold tomato plants need their face share of nutrition. Calcium is one of the most fundamental nutrients tomato plants need as it helps them form a strong structure.
If you are someone who wants to use 100% organic fertilizer, Dr. Earth Organic 5 Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer (buy it here on Amazon) is a great choice. Natural in composition, this fertilizer helps develop nutritious tomatoes and other vegetables full of taste.
The feeding needs of super sweet 100 and sungold are moderate. Hence, both can be fertilized every one to two weeks in the growing season.
Pruning
If you are growing super sweet 100 in tomato plant cages, pruning is not needed since there is already sufficient support. If you are using stakes, pinch off any new ones that sprout, leaving the two main ones.
The same thing goes for sungold. Pruning is only needed when plants are growing on stakes.
Super Sweet 100 vs. Sungold Tomato: Which Tomato is Better to Grow
So, that brings us to the end of this article. Based on the comparisons, it is safe to say that declaring one tomato plant superior to another is tricky due to the many similarities.
Super sweet 100 tomatoes and sungold tomatoes are indeterminate, similar in size, watering, soil, and sunlight needs. Both require the same protection techniques from pests, splitting, and cracking. However, super sweet 100 is a hybrid that is more disease-resistant. Sungold tomatoes, on the other hand, have a richer taste.
At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. You can grow sungold tomatoes if you have a thing for flavors. You can also grow super sweet 100 because you like it to taste better than sungold.
Consider their nutritional and growth needs regardless of the breed you choose. As long as these plants are getting full sun, adequate water, and fertilizer that helps them flourish, nothing can go wrong.
References:
gardenerspath.com, minnetonkaorchards.com, gardeningknowhow.com, burpeehomegardens.com, johnnyseeds.com