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Indeterminate heirloom large-fruited tomato
Solanaceae
Organic fruiting vegetable seeds
Organic 'Cherokee Purple' tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
Product code : BIOVO-0133
Organic Cherokee Purple is an heirloom slicing tomato known for large, dusky reddish-brown and purple fruit with dense, juicy flesh. Its rich, mildly sweet flavour works well with simple seasoning. Indeterminate vines can reach approximately 1.8–2.1 m and need a sturdy support in a sunny, fertile, well-drained bed. Start plants indoors and transplant after hardening once frost danger has passed. The indicative 75–85-day maturity period begins at transplanting, not sowing. Water consistently at the root zone and leave room to inspect loaded clusters. Harvest sound fruit as it develops its characteristic colour and slight give, then enjoy it fresh in sandwiches or generous salad wedges.
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- Warm-season annual
Discover the plant
Common nameCherokee Purple tomato
FamilySolanaceae
GenusSolanum
Specieslycopersicum
CultivarCherokee Purple
TypeIndeterminate heirloom large-fruited tomato
Botanical nameSolanum lycopersicum
Heirloom varietyYes
Organic 'Cherokee Purple' tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an organic heirloom indeterminate variety celebrated for large, slightly flattened, reddish-brown purple fruit. Dense, juicy, abundant flesh develops a rich, complex, mildly sweet flavour prized for fresh tasting. Plants reach 1.8–2.1 m and require sturdy support. Maturity generally occurs 75–85 days after transplanting. This generous tomato suits salads, sandwiches, fresh slices, and summer plates where its heritage colour creates striking contrast. Choose it when full-bodied fresh flavour and substantial slicing texture are priorities in the vegetable garden. Its colour deepens as fruit ripens.
Sow indoors from February through April, six to eight weeks before the last frost, approximately 0.5 cm deep. Maintain 21–27°C and even moisture; germination generally takes 7–14 days. Provide intense light immediately after emergence, pot seedlings up once true leaves develop, then harden them gradually. After frost, transplant in full sun into deep, fertile, organic-rich, well-drained soil. Leave generous spacing for airflow and immediately install a sturdy cage or stake capable of supporting tall stems and large fruit. Protect newly planted seedlings from sudden cold and strong wind while their roots establish.
Water deeply and consistently at soil level without saturating the ground, then mulch once the soil is warm. Tie stems with soft material and support heavy fruit throughout summer. Monitor cracking, blossom-end rot, insects, and foliar disease. Harvest when fruit develops its reddish-brown purple colour and yields slightly to gentle pressure. Colour varies with maturity and sunlight. Pick progressively, bring developed fruit indoors before frost, and discard tomatoes that are mouldy, slimy, deeply split, or abnormal-smelling. Clean cutting tools between plants whenever disease symptoms appear. Continue checking supported clusters after heavy rain.
Sowing guide
It all startswith a seed.
Sowing depth
0.5 cm (1/4 in)
Spacing / density
Space plants approximately 90 to 120 cm (36 to 48 in) apart to accommodate indeterminate growth and air circulation.
Germination temperature
21 to 27 °C (70 to 81 °F)
Germination time
7 to 14 days
Sowing period
February through April indoors Adjust these dates to your local frost dates and soil conditions; Canadian growing seasons vary by region.
Propagation
Seed
Growing method
When to start tomato seeds indoors: 'Cherokee Purple' tomato. Sow approximately 0.5 cm deep in clean seed-starting mix six to eight weeks before the local average last frost. Use clean, moist seed starting mix that drains freely, and never leave the tray saturated. Keep the cells at 21 to 27 °C and evenly moist without saturation; germination generally takes 7 to 14 days. Provide strong light as soon as seedlings emerge, add gentle airflow, and pot plants up after true leaves form. Handle them by the leaves or root ball and retain the cultivar label. Harden seedlings gradually to direct sun, wind, and cooler air. Transplant only after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed, selecting full sun and deep, fertile, well-drained ground. Cherokee Purple is vigorous and indeterminate, reaching about 1.8 to 2.1 m, so install a heavy cage or stout stake at planting. Give plants generous spacing for airflow and room to support large fruit. Water deeply at soil level and keep moisture even, particularly during fruit enlargement. Feed moderately because excess nitrogen can favour leaves over flowers. Begin checking tomatoes 75 to 85 days after transplanting. Harvest the large, slightly flattened fruit when reddish-brown to purple colour is well developed and the flesh yields slightly while remaining sound. Support heavy clusters, tie stems softly, and bring developed fruit indoors before the first autumn frost.
Soil and care
The right care,at the right time.
Soil pH
Approximately 6.0 to 6.8
Care level
Moderate
Watering
Large fruit on 'Cherokee Purple' tomato benefits from an even water supply while it expands, since abrupt drought-to-soaking cycles can split developing tomatoes. 'Cherokee Purple' tomato's large, slightly flattened, reddish-brown to purple fruit is carried on indeterminate vigorous and climbing growth, so extend watering beyond the stem as the supported canopy enlarges. The harvest guide for 'Cherokee Purple' tomato is 75 to 85 days after transplanting; maintain moisture while younger clusters continue filling. Water 'Cherokee Purple' tomato slowly at the base, soak its root zone, then wait until the upper soil begins to dry before irrigating again.
Soil type
'Cherokee Purple' tomato needs generous, stable soil volume for its large fruit and sustained root activity. Prepare 'Cherokee Purple' tomato's bed for indeterminate vigorous and climbing growth bearing large, slightly flattened, reddish-brown to purple fruit, not only for the small spring transplant. Allow 75 to 85 days after transplanting for 'Cherokee Purple' tomato to develop, providing soil volume that stays aerated after repeated watering. Before setting 'Cherokee Purple' tomato, mix mature compost through the area while preserving a crumbly structure rather than a dense amended pocket. For 'Cherokee Purple' tomato, use the supplied pH range of approximately 6.0 to 6.8 as the soil-testing target.
Fertilization
Once 'Cherokee Purple' flowers, favour steady growth over leafy surges. Base extra feeding on tested need, not a calendar. For 'Cherokee Purple' tomato, fruit development competes with foliage under excessive nitrogen. Never place fertilizer directly against young roots. Cherokee Purple tomato benefits from balanced fertility before its first trusses. Stop when fertilizer begins favouring soft excess growth. For 'Cherokee Purple', its root zone needs consistent moisture while fruit enlarges. Apply every fertilizer at its labelled rate. Fertilizer cannot correct water-related disorders on 'Cherokee Purple' tomato.
Moisture
Consistent soil moisture without saturation; good air circulation around the foliage.
Seasonal care
Seasonal care for 'Cherokee Purple' tomato. Use 'Cherokee Purple' tomato’s stated sowing window as a frost-relative cue, not a universal date: indoor sowing six to eight weeks before last frost; transplant after frost. Sow 0.5 cm deep and allow 7 to 14 days for emergence at 21 to 27 °C (70 to 81 °F), then move seedlings promptly into strong light as soon as they appear. Keep young seedlings close to strong light, rotate trays for balanced growth, and pot them on before roots become crowded. After several days of hardening, set 'Cherokee Purple' plants outdoors only when frost danger has passed and nights have become reliably mild. Install a sturdy support at planting and guide new growth before stems become heavy or tangled. Prepare a sunny, well-drained bed; mix mature compost through the root zone and keep the lower leaves clear of soil splash. Water slowly and deeply, allowing the surface to start drying before the next irrigation so large, slightly flattened, reddish-brown to purple fruit develops under steady conditions. Where space is limited, give 'Cherokee Purple' tomato a container large enough for its mature root system and keep every drainage opening clear. As yellow flowers open, preserve airflow around 'Cherokee Purple', check ties and supports, and watch the undersides of leaves for early pest or disease signs. Use the supplied harvest guidance—75 to 85 days after transplanting—as a starting point; judge each fruit by developed colour, full size, and a slight yield under gentle pressure. Harvest 'Cherokee Purple' regularly without pulling the vine, and bring sound, well-developed fruit indoors before the first hard frost.
Container growing
A garden,within reach.
Growing 'Cherokee Purple' tomato in containers. Choose a large, very stable, deep and wide container with several unobstructed drainage holes. Fill it with fresh, airy vegetable potting mix amended moderately with mature compost rather than dense garden soil. Install a sturdy cage or stake at planting, before roots fill the planter, because the indeterminate plant can reach about 1.8–2.1 m and carry heavy fruit. Set one hardened transplant at the same practical depth used in its nursery pot, water it in slowly, and place the container in full sun with shelter from violent wind where possible. Check moisture below the surface every day during hot weather. Water until surplus drains, empty the saucer, and avoid alternating a very dry root ball with saturated mix. Mulch lightly only after the mix warms, keeping material away from the stem. Feed moderately at the labelled rate after watering; repeated high-nitrogen feeding can favour leaves over flowers and ripening fruit. Guide stems with soft ties, support loaded clusters, and remove only damaged lower leaves that touch wet mix. Rotate the pot only when its weight and support make that safe. Harvest large reddish-brown to purple fruit progressively once colour and gentle firmness indicate maturity. Before frost, collect sound developed tomatoes, discard split or diseased fruit, and clean the container and support after the crop ends.
Bloom and dimensions
Its place,in your garden.
Mature height
1.8 to 2.1 m (6 to 7 ft)
Flower color
Yellow
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Compound, divided foliage with an aroma when bruised; grown as an annual in your region
Growth rate
Fast
Growth habit
Indeterminate vigorous and climbing
Bloom period
'Cherokee Purple' carries small yellow self-fertile flowers in clusters along its flowering stems. Breezes or bumblebee vibration normally release their pollen. In the 'Cherokee Purple' planting, record the first bloom and first set dates for local planning. After successful set, each retained blossom begins developing the large, slightly flattened, reddish-brown to purple fruit. When tending 'Cherokee Purple' tomato, keep moisture even, avoid a nitrogen surge, and support the canopy before fruit adds weight. Heat, cold, or drought may cause temporary blossom drop; correct the environment before pruning or feeding heavily. For Cherokee Purple tomato, let beneficial insects visit without spraying open blooms.
Fruiting
Pollinated flowers develop into large reddish-brown purple large-fruited fruit with dense juicy flesh. Harvest generally begins 75–85 days after transplanting. Support heavy clusters, maintain even moisture, and avoid sudden watering changes. Final colour varies with maturity and sunlight, so judge ripeness by both appearance and a slight yield under gentle pressure. Harvest cues should match large, slightly flattened, reddish-brown to purple fruit, with a slight yield under gentle pressure but no soft or damaged areas.
Days to maturity
75 to 85 days after transplanting
Harvest
Harvest 75–85 days after transplanting once large fruit has developed reddish-brown purple colour and yields slightly to gentle pressure. Colour may vary with maturity and sunlight. Support the fruit with one hand and cut its stem with a clean tool. Pick progressively because the indeterminate plant continues producing. Before frost bring developed fruit indoors. Do not eat leaves or stems and discard deeply split mouldy slimy or abnormal-smelling fruit.
Garden associations
In goodcompany.
Companion plants
Use basil or parsley near 'Cherokee Purple', and reserve the sunnier open side for low lettuce or onions. Rotate 'Cherokee Purple' tomato away from tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes rather than treating companionship as disease control. Leave an open working side around the mature canopy for tying, inspection, and picking. Around 'Cherokee Purple', preserve a clear route to the large, slightly flattened, reddish-brown to purple fruit, and remove neighbours that begin shading fruit or trapping damp air. Use companion planting to organize succession and diversity, not as a substitute for sound crop care. When arranging neighbours for 'Cherokee Purple' tomato, a companion does not guarantee control of insects or disease, so inspect every crop separately. Reassess the arrangement around 'Cherokee Purple' as both crops approach mature size.
Plants to avoid
Avoid waterlogged soil, overhead watering, crowding, and repeated rotations with tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or potatoes.
Recipe idea
From the gardento your plate.
Edible parts
Ripe fruit
'Cherokee Purple' tomato in the kitchen. Cherokee Purple tomato and basil platter — Rinse one large, sound ripe tomato, dry it, and remove the stem. With a sharp knife, cut thick slices and arrange them in a single layer on a wide plate so the dense, juicy interior remains visible. Add torn basil, 15 mL olive oil, 10 mL red-wine vinegar, black pepper, and a small pinch of flaky salt. Scatter thinly sliced shallot and toasted pumpkin seeds over the platter. Let it stand for five minutes, then serve with crusty bread, cooked white beans, or fresh cheese. Keep the seasoning restrained so the tomato's rich flavour remains central. Prepare the platter shortly before eating; salt draws juice from cut fruit and softens its texture over time. Use a clean board and knife, and do not include tomato leaves or stems. Reject fruit that is mouldy, leaking, slimy, deeply split, or abnormal-smelling. Cover and refrigerate leftovers within two hours, then use them in a salad or sandwich rather than holding the platter at room temperature.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions,answered.
When should Cherokee Purple be sown and transplanted in your region?
Start Cherokee Purple indoors approximately six to eight weeks before outdoor planting. Sow 0.5 cm (¼ in) deep and maintain 21 to 27 °C (70 to 81 °F); germination is usually complete within 7 to 14 days. Give emerged seedlings intense light, move them into larger pots as roots grow, and harden them gradually. Transplant only after frost risk has ended and nights remain warm. Cherokee Purple is an indeterminate, vigorous climber, so install a tall cage or stake before the roots spread and leave generous room for airflow. The large, slightly flattened fruit matures reddish-brown to purple in a listed 75 to 85 days after transplanting. Canadian conditions vary, so treat days as a planning range and evaluate the colour and slight yield of each sound fruit.
Is Cherokee Purple tomato determinate or indeterminate?
Cherokee Purple is indeterminate, vigorous, and climbing. It keeps extending and setting fruit through suitable weather instead of completing one compact flush. Expect a vine approximately 1.8 to 2.1 m tall. Install a substantial cage or stake at transplanting and add soft ties as stems lengthen, because its large, slightly flattened fruit can load branches heavily. Space plants roughly 90 to 120 cm apart for access and airflow. The record does not specify a container size, so do not infer that a small patio pot is adequate. Indeterminate growth means harvesting continues progressively after the first reddish-brown to purple tomatoes ripen. Maintain the upper support, remove only damaged tissue, and pick mature fruit regularly rather than topping the plant merely to make it behave like a determinate bush.
When should Cherokee Purple tomatoes be harvested?
Start checking Cherokee Purple about 75 to 85 days after transplanting. Mature fruit should show the cultivar's reddish-brown to purple colour and feel slightly yielding without becoming soft. The shoulders may not resemble a standard bright-red tomato, so compare the whole fruit rather than waiting for an incorrect colour cue. Lift and support each large, slightly flattened tomato while detaching it to avoid tearing the indeterminate vine. Pick cracked fruit promptly and use it first if it remains sound; do not store leaking or mouldy tomatoes. Because growth is indeterminate, later green fruit can continue developing after the first harvest. Record the appearance and feel of one properly ripe specimen as a reference, and judge subsequent fruit individually instead of harvesting the entire plant on a fixed day.
Can Cherokee Purple be grown in a container?
Yes. Cherokee Purple can be grown in a large, deep, highly stable container with several unobstructed drainage holes. Use an airy vegetable mix amended moderately with mature compost, and place the pot in full sun before the plant becomes difficult to move. Install a tall, independently anchored support at transplanting because the indeterminate vine can reach approximately 1.8–2.1 m and carry large fruit. Check moisture below the surface during hot weather, water the entire root zone slowly, and let surplus drain instead of leaving the pot in standing water. Feed only at the labelled rate. Recheck the vessel and support after wind, and preserve enough access to inspect foliage and harvest without bending loaded stems. In-ground culture remains easier for maintaining even moisture around this tall tomato.
How should Cherokee Purple be supported through the season?
Install a tall cage, trellis, or sturdy stake when Cherokee Purple is transplanted, before the expanding root system makes later placement disruptive. Guide the indeterminate stems through the structure while they are flexible, using loose soft ties below strong branch junctions and away from flower clusters. Add support as the approximately 1.8–2.1 m vine grows and as large fruit loads individual branches. Recheck every tie so it does not constrict a thickening stem. After wind, secure the structure first and then reposition branches gradually rather than forcing a loaded shoot. Remove only broken or diseased growth with a clean tool, retain healthy foliage around developing tomatoes, and keep one side open for soil-level watering, inspection, and harvest. Clean the support before it is stored or reused.
Wildlife and pets
Life,around your plants.
Supporting wildlife
Cherokee Purple benefits from the same open, healthy flowering conditions as other tomatoes. It is self-fertile and does not need another named variety nearby. Bumblebee visits may assist pollen release; if blossoms drop, also consider temperature and moisture stress rather than assuming that additional bees alone would solve the problem.
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