Sun Sugar Tomato Vs Sungold

Sun Sugar and Sungold are some of the cherry tomato varieties popularly known for their delicious taste. They have a sweet and tangy flavor, making them win many tomato-tasting festivals. Are you considering trying these varieties in your garden? It’s good to know what you should expect from them. So, Sun Sugar tomato vs Sungold?

The main difference between Sun Sugar and Sungold is the splitting resistance capability. Although both are thin-skinned, the Sungold variety’s skin is more delicate. Hence, the fruit is vulnerable to splitting in its maturity when it ripens completely.

We’re here to provide a detailed comparison of these two tomato varieties so you can have it easy in your garden and kitchen. Let’s get started.  

Sun Sugar Tomato Vs. Sungold: How Do They Compare?

Sun Sugar and Sungold have both similarities and differences. We’ll look into the two sides of both varieties and provide helpful information to boost your tomato farming and consumption.

Sun Sugar vs. Sungold characteristics:

Characteristic	Sun Sugar	Sungold
Plant type	Annual	Annual
Plant height	72 inches	79 inches
Planting depth	Seed: ¼  inch seedling: 6 inches	Seed: ¼ inch seedling: 6 inches
Planting zones	3-9	3-11
Tomato type	Indeterminate	Indeterminate
Tomato size	About 1-inch diameter, 1-2 oz weight	About 1-inch diameter, 1-2 oz weight
Color	Deep intense orange	golden-orange
Qualities	Round shape, thin skin, and soft flesh	Round shape, thin skin, and soft flesh
Flavor	Sweet, fruity flavor	Sweet, fruity flavor
Soil type	Well-drained, fertile soil	Well-drained fertile soil
Soil PH	6.2-6.8	6.0-6.8
Spacing	Plants: 24-36 inches Rows: 36-48 inches	Plants: 24-36 inchesRows: 36-48 inches
Spread	20 inches	20 inches
Watering	1 inch, once or twice a week	1 inch, once or twice week
Fertilizing	Once or twice in the growing season	Once or twice in the growing season
Sunlight	Full sun (6-8 hours)	Full (6-8 hours)
Temperature	65°F and above	50-55°F
Prunning	No	No
Pollination	Self-pollition	Self-pollition
Maturity period	50-75 days	57-80days
Disease resistance	Fusarium Wilt (F) and tobacco Mosaic (T)	Fusarium, Verticilium, and TMV
Nutrition content	Vitamins, minerals, and fiber	Vitamins, minerals, and fiber

We’re going to categorize the above characteristics into differences and similarities for a better understanding of the same. Keep reading.

Sun Sugar Tomato Vs Sungold: Differing Aspects

These cherry tomato varieties look alike in many ways but have some aspects in which they differ. Here is how.

• Planting zone
• Temperature
• Maturity/ripening period

Let’s look into each of these hereunder. Keep reading.

1. Planting Zone

Sun Sugar and Sungold tomatoes have a slight difference in their growing areas. The former grows in zones 3-9, while the latter thrives in zones 3-11. These USDA Plant Hardiness Zones are moderately cold, and it’s rare to find temperatures falling below 0°C. Nonetheless, zones 9, 10, and 11 are a bit warm.

2. Temperature 

Both varieties have varying temperature requirements. So, ensure the Sun Sugar’s soil temperature ranges from 70 to 85°F for proper germination. Also, when moving your seedlings outdoors, ensure the temperature is 65°F or more.

For the Sungold variety, though, you can grow them indoors in early springs when the night temperatures are below 50°F. That should take 6-8 weeks. Once the temperatures rise to 50-55°F, you can transplant them outdoors. However, ensure the soil temperature is about  80°F. 

3. Maturity/Ripening Period

The two tomatoes have different ripening timelines. Sun Sugar takes about 65 days after outdoor planting to have its first ripe fruit. Hence, this tomato’s maturity period ranges between 50 and 75 days.

On the other hand, Sungold takes 57-65 days from outdoors transplanting time to start ripening. The fruits continue ripening up for about 75 to 80 days. So, the maturity period is 57-80 days

Sun Sugar Tomato Vs. Sungold: Common Features

After looking at the differences between Sun Sugar and Sungold tomatoes, it’s crucial to look at the similarities. They include:

• Plant type: Sun Sugar and Sungold tomatoes are annual plants. Typically, tomatoes are perennial plants that grow as annuals in the vegetable garden. That happens because they stop to grow when it gets too cold and resumes once the cold season is over. Consequently, the plants grow throughout the year.
• Planting depth: You should plant your seed ¼ inches deep into the soil for both varieties. Also, ensure that your seeds have sufficient contact with the soil by pressing the soil a little. When transplanting your young plants, dig about 6 inches so that you can cover the rootball and part of the stem.
• Tomato Type: Both varieties are indeterminate. What’s more? These tomatoes grow continuously throughout the growing season. While Sun Sugar grows up to 72 inches tall, Sungold’s height can stretch to 79 inches.
•  Fruit color: Sun Sugar and Sungold tomatoes have an orange color. Sun Sugar has a deep intense orange color, while Sungold, as the name suggests, has a golden-orange one.
• Qualities: These tomatoes have a similar shape, skin thickness, and flesh texture. They are also round-shaped, thin-skinned, and have soft skin. Both have a sweet, fruity flavor.
• Soil type: Like most tomatoes, Sun Sugar and Sungold tomatoes like fertile and well-draining soil. Loam soil is ideal in this case, but sandy roam also will do. Your soil should be moist at all times but not soggy. Also, you should provide enough nutrients for your soil by adding fertilizers, compost paste, and manure.
• Soil PH: These cherry tomatoes thrive in slightly acidic to almost neutral soil. Sun Sugar’s soil should have a PH of 6.2-6.8, while its Sungold counterparts grow well in a 6.0-6.8 soil PH.
• Spacing: Although these tomato varieties grow upwards continuously, they also grow in width. Hence, you need to space your plants with a 24-36 inches gap between them and 36-48 inches between their rows. That provides adequate space to spread and allows free circulation of air. These tomatoes can spread up to 20 inches.
• Watering: Both varieties need appropriate watering to give the best results. Hence, you should provide 1-inch water one or two times every week. That maintains the proper moisture content in the soil and prevents sogginess.
• Fertilizer: You should add vegetable fertilizer to your tomato plants once or twice during the growing season. Nonetheless, seedlings do not need any fertilizing. But you can boost them with a starter solution in the third to the fourth week.
• Pruning: No pruning is needed for either of the varieties if you grow them in a cage. However, pruning may be necessary to prevent bending or toppling over if they grow up a tomato stake. Leave one or two stems and continue pruning any additional stems and suckers.
• Pollination: Like other tomatoes, Sun Sugar and Sungold are self-pollinated. These plants can be pollinated by wind or insects. You can also use an electric toothbrush to shake off the pollen and pollinate your tomatoes. 
• Disease: Disease resistance is one of the significant characteristics of Sun Sugar and Sungold tomatoes. However, the former is resistant to diseases such as Fusarium Wilt (F) and Tobacco Mosaic (T), while the latter resists Fusarium, Verticillium, and TMV.
• Nutrition value: The most important thing is that both tomatoes are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. These include vitamins A and B, sodium, potassium, carbs, calories, protein, fats, and saturated fats. 

FAQ

What Are Sun Sugar Tomatoes? 

Sun Sugar tomatoes are early maturing cherry tomatoes whose sugar content is high. The small-sized orange tomatoes are ready for harvest in early summer, and each fruit’s vitamin A content is three times more than in most red tomatoes. Moreover, these tomatoes are rated as the best tasting in most trials due to their sweetness and rich tomato flavor.

Can I Save Sunsugar Tomato Seeds?

Yes, you can save Sun Sugar tomato seeds. Although this tomato is a hybrid variety, its seeds can produce tasty and excellent fruits. Nonetheless, you won’t obtain a pure variety like the parent plant.

Is Sungold Tomato Heirloom?

No, Sungold tomato isn’t Heirloom. Sungold is a hybrid cherry tomato that ripens early, turning golden orange, and you can also harvest it throughout summer. What’s more? It has some extra sweetness and remains firm for a more extended period than the rest of its cherry counterparts.

Are Sungold Tomatoes Good?

Yes, Sungold tomatoes are good. These tomatoes have a great taste and a high nutritional value and provide a bountiful harvest. Additionally, the plants are easy to grow and maintain and are resistant to common tomato diseases such as Fusarium, Verticillium, and TMV.

Wrap Up

The key difference between Sun Sugar tomato vs Sungold is the resistance to splitting. Both varieties are thin-skinned, but Sun Sugar is resistant to cracking, while its Sungold counterpart is vulnerable. Other minor differences include planting zones, temperatures, and the maturity period that differ by a  small margin.

Since both varieties are hybrid cherry tomatoes, they also have a long list of similarities. They’re annual intermediate plants that thrive in well-drained, moist, and fertile soil. Besides, these tomatoes are resistant to various diseases.

Additionally, the fruits have a rich sweet flavor and are highly nutritious. They contain tons of vitamins, fiber, proteins, carbs, and minerals.