The 'Cherokee Purple' tomato variety is characterized by its dark-colored fruits. We reveal what to consider when planting Cherokee Purple in the garden.
The 'Cherokee Purple' is a real lover's variety with a wonderfully aromatic and spicy taste and an interesting color. In this profile you will learn everything about the Indian Cherokee purple tomato.
Cherokee Purple: Wanted Poster
| Fruit | Beefsteak tomato; violet to reddish brown with olive to dark green shoulders |
| Flavour | fruity, aromatic, sweet, very spicy |
| Maturity | late |
| Growth | Stick tomato, up to 150 cm |
| Location | Greenhouse |
Origin and history of the tomato
The 'Cherokee Purple' is a very old variety that was cultivated by the Cherokee Indians near Tennessee before the 20th century. The variety, which is still popular with tomato lovers and gourmets, came to Europe some time ago and has been preserved and propagated as a cultural asset ever since.
Characteristics and taste of the 'Cherokee Purple' tomato variety
The 'Cherokee Purple' is a slow-growing beefsteak tomato that usually does not reach a height of more than 150 centimetres. The fruits, which weigh up to 400 grams, also take a relatively long time to ripen, and the first tomatoes can be harvested from mid-August. On the other hand, the yield is good despite fewer leaves, and the flowers form in small clusters. The fruits are flat round, mostly ribbed and about the size of the palm of a hand. When ripe, the fruits turn purple to reddish brown, the shoulders usually remain olive to dark green. The taste of 'Cherokee Purple' is fruity, aromatic-sweet and very spicy. The ancient variety proves to be seed-resistant, which means that the same variety can be sown from its seeds again next year.
Planting and caring for Cherokee Purple: You should pay attention to this
The 'Cherokee Purple', like many beefsteak tomatoes, needs a lot of warmth andshould always be dry. If there is too much moisture and rain, the thin-skinned fruits burst open very easily and can rot. Therefore, from the beginning of May, the greenhouse is the ideal location for this tomato variety. When planting, fill the planting hole with a special substrate such as our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil. Here the young plants of the 'Cherokee Purple' already have all the nutrients they need for a good start into the summer. After planting, support the 'Cherokee Purple' with a stake.
The variety is otherwise not particularly sensitive and requires little care. Basically, beefsteak tomatoes are grown with only one, maximum two shoots, since the heavy fruits are often only well supported on the main shoot. Fruit that is too heavy on the often thinner side shoots can tear off at some point and injure the shoot. When pinching tomatoes, all side shoots in the leaf axils are removed. Fruit growth begins in June and the plants require larger amounts of nutrients. Fertilizing with a primarily organic organic fertilizer with a long-term effect is recommended here, for example with our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer. It is incorporated into the surface of the soil and slowly decomposes over two months, making the nutrients available to the plants. Then a second fertilization should be applied. With good fertilization, 'Cherokee Purple' produces good yields of its large, tasty beefsteak tomatoes well into October.
Harvesting and Using Cherokee Purple Tomatoes
The 'Cherokee Purple' is ideal as a slice tomato, because a single slice of the large fruit is usually enough for bread or a burger. This is how the spicy taste comes into its own. Excess fruits add aroma and flavor to soups and sauces or to ketchup.
Dark tomato varieties convince with their sweet and at the same time aromatic and spicy taste. In our variety article you will get to know the small, dark cocktail tomato 'Black Cherry' and learn everything about cultivation and harvesting.