Although we can’t be 100 per cent sure, heirloom Cherokee Purple most likely originated in Tennessee and was passed down for generations by the Cherokee people since at least the 1800s and most likely prior. It was reintroduced to the seed market in the mid-1990s with the efforts of tomato expert Craig LeHoullier. Its outstanding flavour quickly propelled Cherokee Purple to become one of the most popular ‘’black’’ tomato.
Cherokee Purple tomatoes are quite large, have a slightly flattened globe shape and the odd-looking skin is red and pink with hints of green and purple towards the shoulders. The dark interior colour ranges from brown to purple to red and green and the flesh is meaty and juicy with an amazing old-time tomato flavour. This prolific indeterminate tomato will produce over a long time during the season and it tolerates humidity and diseases better than most of the other dark tomato varieties. Cherokee Purple taste great straight from the garden in a beautiful salad, in a BLT sandwich and it is also excellent for making pizza and pasta sauces.
- Latin Name: Solanum lycopersicum
- Life Cycle: Annual
- Days to Maturity: 80
- Planting Depth: 5 mm - 1 cm
- Plant Spacing: 45-60 cm
- Row Spacing: 120 cm
- Growth Habit: Indeterminate
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS
For most folks, tomatoes are an indispensable summer fruit. There are scores of heirloom varieties showcasing different shapes, sizes, colors, flavours and textures. Tap into this large selection when starting from seed. You have the ability to grow and eat your perfect tomato!
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date. In flats or individual pots, plant seeds at 1 cm. Make sure soil stays warm and moist. The ideal temperature for germination is 21°C. Keep seedlings under lights, a few centimeters away from the top of the plants and adjust as needed. An oscillating fan will provide the young plants some resistance. This will result in stockier stems and more structurally sound tomato plants. Seedlings should be hardened off a week prior to transplanting.
When the soil is 16°c and all danger of frost has passed it is time to transplant. Pinch off any sets of lower leaves that are yellow or faded so more of the stem can be buried. Place roots deeply into the hole to the point that the bottom leaves are just above the surface of the soil. Roots will sprout from the stalk and provide a stronger base for the plant.
Provide a site with full sun and well-drained soil. Water well, about 5cm/week, mulch and feed every two weeks. Leave fruits on the vine to ripen as long as possible.
There are two main categories of tomato plants: determinate and indeterminate.
A determinate tomato is a bush-type plant, usually reaching about three to four feet tall, making them ideal for the small-space gardener. The fruits of a determinate tomato plant ripen all at once, which is useful for those who want to grow tomatoes for canning.
Indeterminate tomatoes grow continuously until the first frost and can reach six to twenty feet in height. Indeterminate plants produce tomatoes all season long for a continuous harvest.
If indeterminate varieties are being grown, be sure to set up tall trellises or cages to support the wandering vines. One sturdy stake and some twine should suffice for determinate varieties.
Tomatoes can easily be frozen whole, but never refrigerate a tomato. This will deteriorate its fresh garden taste and texture. Enjoy fresh throughout the season and make multiple batches of sauce and salsa to savour through the winter.
QUICK FACTS
- The ancestor of the tomato is native to South America, where the wild versions are the size of peas. The Spanish first introduced tomatoes to Europe during the 1500s. Unique varieties were developed over the next several hundred years to improve production, size, shape, colour, and flavour.
- Tomato seeds will remain viable for 5 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.
