Cherokee Purple Tomato

 

source: MIgardener

• Indeterminate
• 80 days
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 7-14 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 75-95 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/8 inch
• Plant Spacing: 24"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Solanum lycopersicum

This Tennessee heirloom is believed to have been passed down by the Cherokee tribe. Sizeable in both vine and fruit, this open pollinated, indeterminate heirloom can yield tomatoes weighing up to 12 ounces each! It is meaty tomato with a bold flavor that is a balance of sweet, acid and savory, with even a hint of smoke that won best-tasting tomato in 2012. Let it fully ripen on the vine before harvesting for the best flavor.

The tomatoes are blushed with purple-red skin, tinged with light green shoulders, and typically grows three to five inches in diameter and is ready to harvest starting in 80 to 90 days after transplanting outside. It is an indeterminate and therefore will produces continually until it is killed by frost.

Start seeds indoors at least eight weeks before the last frost date, planting in rich potting soil. Sow seeds a half inch deep, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. Cherokee Purple seeds are relatively slow to germinate and typically grow slowly for the first three or four weeks, even after sprouting. It requires full sun and regular water.

Before transplanting outside, prep the site with compost, worm castings, or manure to ensure a healthy nutrient supply. Space plants 18 to 36 inches apart, and spread fine mulch or straw on top of the soil, leaving some space around the base of each plant. Covering the soil with some form of mulch will help to regulate soil temperature and maintain moisture. Water regularly, or when the top two inches of soil feel dry. Apply compost or a balanced fertilizer monthly as the plant matures. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and will slowly deplete the soil nutrients. They will need heavy staking so that they can continue to climb to their full potential. As the plant grows, suckers, or side shoots, form in the crotches between the leaves and the main stem. If left untamed, these suckers will grow just like the main stem, also producing flowers and fruit. Unfortunately, this growth often stretches the plant’s energy too thin. n order to maximize healthy growth and fruit production, you will need to prune the majority of these suckers. encourage a strong main stem to develop. This stalk will feed the entire plant for the next three to five months, throughout the growing season.

-Phyllis