Cherokee Purple

Widely described as rich, sweet and smoky with a savory depth that makes it a benchmark dark heirloom. As with every flavor note here, this is the recurring description, not a measured claim.

Seeds were sent in 1990 by John Green of Sevierville, Tennessee to heirloom grower Craig LeHoullier, with the claim that the tomato had been grown by the Cherokee people more than a century earlier. LeHoullier named it and shared it with Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, which first offered it commercially in 1993. The pre-1990 history is traditional and not independently documented.

• Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.
• Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.
• A moderate grow, no special tricks but worth steady attention.
• Will set in cooler conditions, though warmth still helps it along.
• Prone to cracking and splitting after wet spells.
• One of our picks for the cold, short-season gardens of New England.

Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.

Brandywinebut pink, and even richer if your season is long enough

• Hudson Valley Seed Company

• Brandywine vs Cherokee Purple
• How to Save Tomato Seeds From Your Best Plants
• When Are Tomatoes Ripe? A Variety-by-Variety Guide
• Heirloom vs Hybrid Tomatoes
• Slicer vs Beefsteak Tomatoes

Is Cherokee Purple determinate or indeterminate?

Cherokee Purple is an indeterminate variety. Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.

How long does Cherokee Purple take to ripen?

Cherokee Purple ripens in about 80 days from transplant. Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.

Is Cherokee Purple an heirloom or a hybrid?

Cherokee Purple is an heirloom, an open-pollinated variety with a documented history, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.

What can I grow instead of Cherokee Purple?

A close swap is Brandywine, but pink, and even richer if your season is long enough.