🌱 Origin & Story
Sunrise Bumble Bee was bred by Dr. Fred Hempel — PhD in Molecular Plant Biology from UC Berkeley — at his Artisan Seeds operation based at Baia Nicchia Farm in Sunol, California. Hempel is one of the most innovative independent tomato breeders in the country, and his Artisan series of tomatoes is built on a simple idea: cherry and grape tomatoes should be as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Sunrise Bumble Bee is part of his Bumble Bee series, which also includes Pink Bumble Bee and Purple Bumble Bee. Each variety features the same basic architecture — small, oval cherry fruits with dramatic streaking — in different color combinations.
Sunrise was first commercially offered in 2014 through Johnny's Selected Seeds. It quickly earned a reputation for exceptional sweetness and eye-catching color.
In 2019, the variety placed in the Diggers Club Tomato Taste Test in Australia — a rigorous competition that pits dozens of varieties against each other in blind tasting. That kind of international recognition says something about what Hempel achieved with this one.
🍴 Flavor & Fruit
Small oval cherry, under 1 oz — orange-yellow base with red and pink streaks that vary from fruit to fruit. Some are boldly striped, some more subtly blushed. The visual effect in a bowl or on a plate is gorgeous — no two look exactly the same.
The flavor is sweet and bright with a fruity quality that's often called one of the sweetest in the Bumble Bee lineup. There's a clean, tropical finish without harsh acidity. The flesh is firm enough to hold up to handling but tender enough to burst when you bite in.
They grow in generous clusters and ripen over a period of days, giving you steady picking rather than a single avalanche.
🌿 From Our Garden
The Bumble Bee series was one of those moments where we realized modern breeding could be just as exciting as heirlooms. Sunrise is the one we keep coming back to — the sweetness is genuine, not just marketing, and the way they look piled up in a harvest basket makes us feel like we're doing something right out here.
📅 Your Oklahoma Season
Plant after mid-April, or May 1 for extra caution (last frost averages early April in Tulsa). Expect first ripe fruit by early-to-mid July. Cherry varieties mature faster than beefsteaks, and Sunrise Bumble Bee is no exception — production starts early and stays consistent.
Strong harvests run from July through October. The season often extends into early November before first frost.
Flower drop begins when daytime temps push above 85-90°F and nights stay above 72°F. It gets severe above 100°F. Cherries recover faster than large-fruited varieties — expect quick rebound once temperatures moderate.
💧 Care for Optimal Health
Water deeply twice a week at the base, never overhead. Small-fruited varieties are more forgiving than beefsteaks on moisture swings, but consistent watering still means sweeter fruit and less cracking. Mulch 2-3 inches to keep soil moisture stable.
Feed balanced through early growth, then shift to phosphorus/potassium-forward once flowering begins.
DIY mix: 2 tbsp fish emulsion + ½ tsp kelp per gallon, every two to three weeks.
These are productive plants — if they start looking pale and tired mid-season, they're hungry. Don't be afraid to feed them.
☀️ Oklahoma Heat
Sunrise Bumble Bee handles Oklahoma summers well. Small fruit size makes sunscald a non-issue, and the plants maintain good vigor through heat. The striping pattern actually tends to intensify with more sun exposure — hotter, brighter conditions can produce more dramatically colored fruit.
Deep morning watering before the heat builds is more effective than evening watering. Shade cloth is rarely needed for cherry varieties, but can help during extended stretches above 100°F.
🛡️ What to Watch For
No formal disease resistance ratings — this is an open-pollinated variety. Good cultural practices are your defense.
Stay ahead of these:
• Early blight — lower leaves in late summer. Remove affected leaves at the stem, don't compost them. Copper fungicide applied preventively after wet stretches (follow your product label for exact rates).
• Cracking — cherry tomatoes with thin skins can split after heavy rain or uneven watering. Pick promptly when ripe and keep moisture consistent.
• Hornworms — check leaf undersides weekly. Hand-pick or apply Bt (1 tsp/gallon, evening spray).
• Aphids — 2 tbsp neem oil + 2 tsp dish soap per gallon.
🍽️ In the Kitchen
Fresh: Pop them whole. The streaking makes every bite a little surprise — some fruits are sweeter, some tangier, depending on their ripeness and color.
Salads: Halved lengthwise to show off the streaked interior. Mix with other cherry varieties for a rainbow effect. Sunrise Bumble Bee is the golden anchor of any cherry tomato medley.
Roasted: Toss whole with olive oil and roast at 400°F until blistered. The sweetness concentrates and the streaks deepen into caramel and rose.
Skewered: Thread onto skewers with basil and mozzarella for a caprese bite. The small oval shape holds perfectly on a pick.
Dehydrated: They dry into chewy, intensely sweet bites — excellent in trail mix or as a snack on their own.
🪴 Why Our Starts?
Six weeks of professional growing before they reach you — proper lighting, careful watering, the right timing, hardening off. Artisan varieties like Sunrise Bumble Bee can be hard to find as transplants — we grow them because they deserve a spot in more Oklahoma gardens.
You plant when the ground is ready and skip straight to the most colorful harvest you've ever had.
