Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners - Variety Details

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'Cherokee Purple' Tomatoes

Sub-Category:	Standard Main-Season Heirloom
	Greenhouse
Sub-Category 2:
Description:	Open pollinated. Main season, standard type. Indeterminate plants bear 5 inch by 3 1/2 inch pinkish fruit with darker pink/purple shoulders and brick red flesh. For greenhouse or field production. From Tennessee, said to have originated with the Cherokee Indians. About 70 to 85 days to maturity.
Days To Maturity:	70-85
Seed Sources:	Seed Savers Exchange - updated in 2014 Burpee Seeds - updated in 2014 Fedco Seeds - updated in 2014 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds - updated in 2014 High Mowing Seed - updated in 2014

Rating Summary

Overall: (4.2 Stars) Taste: (4.5 Stars) Yield: (3.5 Stars) Ease/Reliability: (3.6 Stars)

Reviews

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Number of Reviews: 58

KEY: O=Overall Rating, T=Taste, Y=Yield, E=Ease

Reviewed on 04/29/2018 by containergardener - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Los Angeles, California, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Here in coastal Southern California, Cherokee Purple is our favorite large tomato. Highly productive, unusually disease-resistant for an heirloom, and the most delicious with complex flavors.

Reviewed on 04/12/2015 by Obie1knobe - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Caldwell, North Carolina, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Very prone to extreme cat-facing even in a raised bed with even watering in very friable soil modified with compost, perlite, and vermiculite. Over 5 years, I've only seen minor cat-facing on a few tomatoes each year--probably due to cold snaps. All Cherokee Purple tomatoes were cat faced over two entire seasons. The flavor is better than Brandywine. I'll probably give them one more chance.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 03/23/2014 by TheGardeningLady - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Butler, Pennsylvania, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Wonderful tasting tomato. Great for slicing for sandwiches or chunking for salads!

Reviewed on 12/20/2013 by Roger1963 - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Schuyler, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
I love this Heirloom and will continue to grow it just for the flavor. Very good size and texture with good firmness inside.

Reviewed on 12/18/2013 by CCE Seneca County - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Seneca, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This tomato performed poorly for us as it cracked on top and then rotted with all the rain we had. They were not edible.

Reviewed on 11/15/2013 by KSgarden - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Stevens, Kansas, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
I have planted this tomato in the past and has done really well. This year it was only an average producer. We love this tomato for sauces.

Reviewed on 11/11/2013 by CCE Oneida County - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Oneida, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Unfortunately tomatoes were hit with a blight this year and we had to destroy the plants.

Reviewed on 04/08/2013 by electra - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Grafton, New Hampshire, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
my family loves this very large tomato. the plants were strong and productive with some tomatoes growing to a pound and more, that needed to be securely staked, or grown in sturdy cages. it is difficult to tell when they were ripe, however, because of the purple/green color...... CP is juicy, meaty, and delicious.

Reviewed on 08/02/2012 by grikdog - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Ramsey, Minnesota, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
I really like the taste of these. I will definitely grow them again. I grew them in a large 5 gallon pot with a tomato cage. I had to stake it though because it grew quite top heavy. I will definitely grow this plant again. It\'s been an exceptional year for tomatoes so the fact that the foliage has looked good all year may just be chance. But the plant still looks great at the end of July and usually I have some sort of spots by now.

Reviewed on 05/20/2012 by sadie - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	All Counties, Ontario, Canada Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
In blindfolded taste tests for a slicing tomato in our house this was the winner. It was up against Brandywine and Marianna\\\'s Peace. It was not as easy to grow as the others but when it did grow well (hotter, drier conditions), the yeild was decent. I\\\'m going to stake it this year. update 2012 season: grew in large homemade cages made of sheep fence. Much better yield. Used in canning too and the taste of those jars of tomatoes that have CP in them is extra, extra tastey.

Reviewed on 12/24/2011 by IraH - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Chenango, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
i grew 24 of the cp started them fro,m seed and i waas impressed how well they adapted to my stony soil some plants were extremely productive [roducing near 20 of these beauties per plant.. i did loose a few to excessive rains i think a water wilt or a bacterial wlt where the stems all went hollow and collapsed.. the flavor was really good exceptinally juicy one problem i had was concentric rings all around the stem end which prevented customers from buying them at my local farmers market they did not affect the taste and i thought they gave them a designer look

Reviewed on 12/24/2011 by IraH - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Chenango, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
i grew 24 of the cp started them fro,m seed and i waas impressed how well they adapted to my stony soil some plants were extremely productive [roducing near 20 of these beauties per plant.. i did loose a few to excessive rains i think a water wilt or a bacterial wlt where the stems all went hollow and collapsed.. the flavor was really good exceptinally juicy one problem i had was concentric rings all around the stem end which prevented customers from buying them at my local farmers market they did not affect the taste and i thought they gave them a designer look

Reviewed on 06/24/2011 by kybrarian - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Elkhart, Indiana, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This tomato did not do well in my garden. It succumbed to blight, so the tomatoes were small and I had very few.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 02/04/2011 by chilloutquilting - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Yavapai, Arizona, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Tall plants (6') had to be caged. Excellent production of huge fruit, the best-tasting I have ever had. Also pretty ugly - but who cares! A little problem w/sunscald on those not shaded by foliage. Wonderful sliced fresh and also held its great taste after canning.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 12/22/2010 by Charlie LI - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Suffolk, New York, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Grew these this year and did very well with them. Nice 10- 12-oz fruits and no problems with bugs or diseases. Good production, a tad late. One of the best tasting tomatos I have grown.

Reviewed on 10/27/2010 by Cabrita - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Los Angeles, California, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I really liked them because they are very juicy and medium in size. perfect for the Catalan invention known as 'pa amb tomaquet'. They have a wonderful chocolate/maroon color, a little different from the other blacks. Productivity lasted a few weeks, even months. Will definitely grow again.

Reviewed on 08/17/2010 by GaetanoL - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Westchester, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I haven't grown other "purple" tomatoes, but I love the tangy flavor of CP. Yield is not great, and I lost a few fruits to sun scald (the only ones on ANY of my 20 tomato plants). I wouldn't want this to be my main tomato, but I will continue to allocate some space for them.

Reviewed on 03/16/2010 by edweather - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Oswego, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
LOVE THESE TOMATOES!! My favorite. They look and taste great. Highly recommended. Yields could be a little bigger, but it just makes me want to grow them again to get more. Treat plants gently when tomatoes are big, so they don't break off.

Reviewed on 03/06/2010 by hortstu - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Middlesex, New Jersey, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This is my favorite slicing tomato. I grew it for the first time in 2008 and had fantastic luck with it. 2009 was a horrible year for all my tomatoes but this one especially. If you tried this one for the first time last year I suggest you try it again. I got mine from seed savers exchange.

Reviewed on 01/07/2010 by pks - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
I love the flavor and, although the yields aren't high, it seems to cope pretty well with the hot dry Southwest summers.

Reviewed on 01/05/2010 by DrFood - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Dane, Wisconsin, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This is my favorite tomato for taste. It's not my first tomato to give me ripe fruits, but the flavor is amazing. You need to eat them when the shoulders are still green, so don't let them sit on your counter "until it's ripe." If you have to sit it on your counter, put it upside down! The bottom will go soft before the top loses the green color up by the stem. I feel like I get a good yield, because the fruits are so very big, but it's not like Juliet (a hybrid) who goes crazy with hundreds of fruits.

3 of 3 gardeners found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 11/01/2009 by TheFluffyOne - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Kane, Illinois, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Wow what a great tasting tomato. This was horrible year for tomatoes in my area (wet and cold) but the tomatoes we got were excellent. They were absolutely huge, dwarfing even BrandyWine and SuperBeefSteak and the taste was superb. I dry tomatoes for preservation and this was a great drying tomato, meaty and with light seeding. The only knock I give this tomato is the overall yield is light relative to even other Heirlooms. But that taste is superb and for me that is what it is about. My seed source was Livingston Seed Co. ++++++++++++++++2010 update - this tomato continues to impress us. Marvelous flavor and produced in another challenging year, so I upped its ease and reliability rating and overall rating. At this point it is a permanent addition to my garden.+++++++++++++++++++\\\\r\\\\n2019 update - I am still growing Cherokee Purple for its flavor. Yield always disappoints but it is one of the great herilooms. I have to say in all the years I have grown it (trained to a single stem) I don;t think it has ever exceeded 5ft in height and usually tops out at 4 ft. Given all the interest in dwarfs, maybe if people considered it a dwarf there would be fewer complaints.\r\n++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2020 update, I grew a mutation of Cherokee Purple called Cherokee Chocolate and found it superior in flavor. On caveat with that, seed sources vary and genetic drift often sets in. Hence I do not know if I have the real Cherokee Purple, which I always placed a solid notch below Sudduth\'s Brandywine, but I find Cherokee Chocolate, though widely different, equal to Sudduth;s Brandywine. I\'ll continue to grow Cherokee Purple our of nostalgia, and color but I think its mutation eclipsed it by good measure. in terms of taste.

3 of 3 gardeners found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 08/31/2009 by backyd_grdnr - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Boulder, Colorado, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This has to be the best slicing tomato I've ever grown. The flavor is out of this world if picked at the right time. They're tangy and sweet at the same time, the way a good tomato should be! I let a few go too long and they turned mushy, so I recommend picking them early. The largest tomatoes were in the 16-20oz range. My plant grew 5 feet tall with maybe 3 dozen tomatoes, and no disease issues whatsoever.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 08/23/2009 by uncledan - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Multnomah, Oregon, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
It didn't work for me. It was slow to mature and very low yield. Plenty of green tomatoes at season end. Black Prince has been an excellent performer by comparison.

Reviewed on 08/22/2009 by Collards - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Planted only one May 30th and have already picked seven large ripe tomatoes by Aug. 22 with more ripening on the plant. Fabulous taste, none better for sandwiches. While most of my tomatoes are suffering from severe early blight, this one has barely shown signs. Will be planting many more next year.

4 of 4 gardeners found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 04/28/2009 by SPANKY - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
LETS FACE IT, THESE MATERS BLOW. LOW YIELD, SOUR TASTE, NO DISEASE RESISTANCE, WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR?

Reviewed on 03/17/2009 by Sillius - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Lorain, Ohio, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I got 4 to 6 tomatoes per plant. They tasted good but not as good as the hype suggested. I don't plan to grow them again. If I need a black I'll grow Black Krim.

Reviewed on 02/05/2009 by mjjanavel - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Richmond, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Excellent flavor but would be nice to get more tomatoes per plant. Too susceptible to disease to be the main tomato in a garden, but a plant or two is a must.

Reviewed on 01/16/2009 by jozoo - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Washington, Rhode Island, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
More watery than sweet, very seedy.

Reviewed on 08/15/2008 by DrFood - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Dane, Wisconsin, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
The best tasting tomato for fresh eating! I also like to cut into chunks and roast in the oven, then make into sauce. It is important to harvest these when the shoulders are still green, or as soon as the bottom end is a little soft. These can be under-ripe by the stem and over-ripe at the bottom. We put up with the inconsistencies because the flavor is so good. This probably isn't the variety to grow if you are only going to grow one tomato plant, but the flavor is so outstanding I will always include a Cherokee Purple in my garden, which has 6 "slots" for tomatoes. (Striped German is another one that I grow for fantastic flavor, despite some issues with harvesting and production.)

2 of 2 gardeners found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 08/02/2008 by Gardenerd - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Los Angeles, California, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I've had fairly regular success with Cherokee Purple in So. Cal. One year, it didn't do well, but most of the time I enjoy a decent harvest. Wonderful color and flavor, a great addition to any Caprese salad.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 05/18/2008 by bub - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Sacramento, California, United States Frost Free Season: Fewer than 103 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Simply one of the all time best! Leans more towards sweet than tart (not much tartness anyway), but not overdone like sungold can seem, after eating quite a few at a sitting.

Reviewed on 04/14/2008 by Jmstierly - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Steuben, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Wonderful producer in the garden. Very enjoyable in a tomato sandwich.

Reviewed on 03/10/2008 by gardener2 - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Putnam, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
During my master gardener training, the instructor stated Purple Cherokee was by far the best tasting tomato. I purchased seeds and grew two plants. Although the yield was very good, the flavor was medium and did not compare to other varieties I had tried that year (2006). Supersonic and Brandywine outperformed Purple Cherokee.

Reviewed on 02/05/2008 by lakeeriegarden - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Lorain, Ohio, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This is a can't miss tomato. To say the flavor is "good" is a hideous understatement. This may be the best tasting tomato out there. Period. Pretty good productivity for an heirloom too.

Reviewed on 01/08/2008 by Myrto - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Boulder, Colorado, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
The best yielding tomato in my garden - relatively resistant to cold nights and drought. Tastes fine and produces until frost.

Reviewed on 12/28/2007 by rwkrieger - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Prince William, Virginia, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This is probably my favorite tomato period. I like the complex taste better than Brandywine or other poster child tomatoes. In my Northern VA garden they do have a tendancy to crack and have thin skin which is the only negative I would have to say about this great tomato!

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 12/16/2007 by Oregon - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Lane, Oregon, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
A very productive tomato!

Reviewed on 10/05/2007 by stoutl - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Wayne, Michigan, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
If I could only grow one tomato, this would be it. Medium to large fruit, good yield, and fairly vigorous growth. Dark red to purplish color with green shoulders. Some may say this is not the prettiest tomato because of its color, green shoulders, and it's tendency to crack. To me the absolutely marvelous taste more than makes up for it's shortcomings. A sweet, complex flavor that is a treat to the tongue. Everyone in my family loves them and they are my "no doubt about it" favorite variety! Wouldn't be tomato season without them.

2 of 2 gardeners found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 09/26/2007 by MargoRed - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Onondaga, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Healthy, easy to grow heirloom with decent (but not prolific) production. Good taste and meaty consistency.

0 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 09/04/2007 by jbb2388 - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Hartford, Connecticut, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
My favorite open-pollinated variety. Taste is the best of all varieties I've grown. Beautiful, med -sized purple beefsteak type fruit with some green shoulders. Usually in the 8-12 oz range. Fairly compact indet plant with RL foliage.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 08/06/2007 by MAldrich - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Greenville, South Carolina, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Delicious. I have yet to be disappointed in taste yet. You do indeed have to pick them when their shoulders are green, but they are delicious. The yield for me is a little low, but no lower than other giant heirloom tomatoes. I will grow again definitely.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 03/19/2007 by GardenMom - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Albany, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
This was my favorite tomato from my garden last year. It was effortless to grow, unlike other reports, it was very prolific in my garden. The flavor is out of this world, smokey, earthy- my suggestion is not to let it sit on the vine too long, the flavor looses potency as it ripens. Pick it while its shoulders are green and it's still a bit firm and enjoy! This tomato was amazing even in a cold wet summer, so if you live in the Northeast, this tomato is a great choice to grow. Just a note to add that once again, Cherokee purple ruled the roost in my garden, delicious and super prolific this past summer!

4 of 4 gardeners found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 02/24/2007 by j1s8 - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	San Diego, California, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Superb flavor. Very easy to grow, and more prolific and disease resistant than I would have thought given it's a heirloom variety. It has continued to produce even in colder weather; same great flavor but texture suffers a little.

Reviewed on 12/01/2006 by barkeater - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Vermont, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
grew it for the first time in '06. Like others, I found the production to be low, 14.8# for my one plant. But I looked forward to every one, the flavor is that good!

Reviewed on 11/24/2006 by Jess_L - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Providence, Rhode Island, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
I've only grown this once so far, and I had a pretty bad year, but this had one of the lowest yields of all my tomatos. They tasted very good. I got some more towards the end of the season but most of the fruit was deformed. I will try it again.

Reviewed on 11/15/2006 by gardengalrn - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Kentucky, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
In my garden I have not had much luck growing these successfully. My plants succumb quickly to disease and production has been poor. The kicker is that the flavor of the fruits I did get is absolutely 5 stars. Ranks in my top 3-4 varieties for taste. The key to harvesting these babies is to not let them get overripe on the vine. They are also not ones to let sit on your counter for a few days. They need to be eaten fresh the day you pick them for the best flavor as they go past their prime quickly. My experience with problematic plants is not typical from what I understand.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 10/29/2006 by Erma - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Polk, Tennessee, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This was my second year growing this variety. It produced better but still does not yield the numbers per plant I would like so I planted two plants this year. For me my garden would not be complete without this variety because of the taste. With my two plants I was able to share with friends this year.

Reviewed on 04/24/2006 by danceswithferrets - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Greenville, South Carolina, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
While it is not the most productive variety I've ever grown, it is a nice sturdy plant, and the flavor is very good. It has a very rich, complex flavor, with both sweet and tart undertones. Some say it has a smoky or salty flavor, but to me it just has a very full flavor.

Reviewed on 03/25/2006 by Cowpoke - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Stokes, North Carolina, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Disappointing compared with the hype. Did poorly succumbing to disease in my zone 7 garden. I have grown it and Cherokee Chocolate the past four years. We have had drought years and at least one year of heavy rains and it either died before producing or produced sub-par fruits in size and taste. I am giving it one last trial this year.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 02/04/2006 by plainsman - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Washington, Nebraska, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
My top taste preference. These were quite vigourous, thrived in the climate, with only little drop in fruiting in hottest weather, but not drought tolerant, as fruit would really get problems if vines got dry. I love the flavor in these, not anything else is quite the same.

Reviewed on 12/02/2005 by Joachim - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Unusual color, decorative but the flavor is sort of smokey and not typical compared with the excellent heirloom reds and pinks.

Reviewed on 08/30/2005 by NativeRoots - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Suffolk, New York, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Having grown tomatoes all over this country, both Heirloom and hybrids, Cherokee Purple is by far the best overall producer and overwhelmingly the most delicious. I personally think they are beautiful- a dusky puce is the best color description! I have always bought my seeds from Johnny's Selected Seeds, or have saved my own from a year of quality yields. Plant out young at six weeks when the days are fully warm- and plant deeply! Begin foliar sprays of seaweed and fish emulsion very early on and twice a week thereafter. Production will continue well into fall. Stores best , and longest, in a cool to cold location- a wire market basket allows air to circulate over the entire skin. I rate Cherokee Purple better than that great ol' standard, Brandywine- and that speaks volumes!

3 of 3 gardeners found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 03/03/2005 by GarlicGrower - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Tompkins, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
The description is right now. We had an error early on that scrambled some of our tomato descriptions. (To err is human. To really mess up takes a computer.)\\r\\n\\r\\nI\\\'m still working to straighten out the few tomatoes this affected. But if you spot something that doesn\\\'t look right with any listing, please email me so I can look into it.\\r\\n\\r\\nThanks.\\r\\n\\r\\nCraig cdc25@cornell.edu\r\n\r\ntest edit with line break

Reviewed on 01/21/2005 by tomatopest - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Pennsylvania, United States Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Loves to crack, but a good tasting, good performing heirloom. If you don't mind the waste, around the stem end from the cracking, it's an excellant tomato.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 01/21/2005 by Lee_ - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	North Carolina, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Heirloom open pollianted tomato. Dark purple exterior. Excellent tasting variety with many complex flavors not found in other varieties. Heavy producer with excellent disease tolerance.

3 of 3 gardeners found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 01/21/2005 by vgkg - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Virginia, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
#2 after pink BWs for me

Reviewed on 12/30/2004 by Petunia Louie - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Missouri, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This is one of my favorite varieties. The color bothers some people but the flavor is sweet with a little tang. They are juicy as well. Excellent on a BLT. This is not a good keeping tomato however. The skin is thin and bruises easily.

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