Cherokee purple tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners and tomato aficionados for their rich flavor and beautiful deep purple-red hue. This heirloom variety, which traces its roots back to the Cherokee people, is cherished for its robust taste and unique appearance. If you want to grow these delicious tomatoes in your garden, follow this comprehensive guide on how to grow Cherokee Purple tomatoes to ensure a bountiful harvest.

Related: Best Companion Plants for Tomatoes

Types of Cherokee Tomatoes

Here are the types of Cherokee tomatoes:

• Cherokee Purple: Known for its dusky rose-to-dark purple color and robust, sweet, smoky flavor.
• Cherokee Chocolate: They are similar to Cherokee Purple, but with a deeper, chocolatey-brown hue and rich, earthy taste.
• Cherokee Green: Ripens to a greenish-yellow color, offering a sweet and tangy flavor.
• Cherokee Carbon: A cross between Cherokee Purple and Carbon tomatoes, featuring a dark purple-black color and rich, sweet flavor.
• Cherokee Lime: Ripens to a lime-green color with a unique, tangy flavor and good sweetness.
• Cherokee Tiger: Known for its striped green and red appearance and balanced sweet-tart flavor.
• Cherokee Yellow: Ripens to a bright yellow color with a sweet, mild flavor.

How to Grow Cherokee Purple Tomatoes from Seeds

Follow these simple steps to grow Cherokee Purple tomatoes:

1. Selecting Seeds and Starting Indoors

Start with high-quality Cherokee Purple tomato seeds from a reputable supplier. Heirloom seeds are often more resilient and produce more flavorful fruits.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Timing: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your area’s last expected frost date.

Containers: Use seed trays or small pots with good drainage.

Soil: Fill containers with a seed-starting mix that is light and well-draining.

Planting: Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep and water gently.

Light: Place the containers in a warm, sunny location or under grow lights. Seeds need at least 14-16 hours of sunlight per day.

Temperature: Maintain a soil temperature of 70-75°F (21-24°C) for optimal germination.

2. Transplanting Seedlings

Harden Off Seedlings

Before transplanting, acclimate your seedlings to the outdoor conditions over a week. Gradually expose them to the elements, starting a few hours a day and increasing daily. The best way to approach this is by choosing the right spot with the following things in mind:

Sunlight: Cherokee Purple tomatoes require full sun, at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Soil: Opt for well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter. The ideal pH range is 6.2-6.8.

Planting

Spacing: Space plants 24-36 inches apart to allow good air circulation.

Depth: Plant seedlings deeper than in the pots, burying two-thirds of the stem. This encourages a strong root system.

Watering: Water thoroughly after transplanting.

3. Care and Maintenance

You need to emphasise this to get the best of Cherokee Purple tomatoes.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water at the base of the plant to prevent fungal diseases. Mulch around the plants to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Feeding

Fertilize with a balanced tomato fertilizer or compost at planting time.

Side-dress with compost or a balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks during the growing season.

Staking and Pruning

Use stakes, cages, or trellises to support the plants as they grow.

Prune suckers (small shoots that develop in the leaf axils) to focus the plant’s energy on fruit production and improve air circulation.

4. Dealing with Pests and Diseases

One of the greatest challenges of growing Cherokee Purple tomatoes is infestation of pests and diseases.

Common Pests

Watch out for aphids, tomato hornworms, and whiteflies. Use organic insecticidal soap or handpick pests off the plants. Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs to control pest populations naturally.

Related: Step-by-Step Guide on Growing Grapes in Pots

Diseases

Prevent fungal diseases by watering at the base of the plants and ensuring good air circulation.

Rotate crops annually to avoid soil-borne diseases.

5. Harvesting

Cherokee Purple tomatoes are ready to harvest when they have a deep purple-red color and feel slightly soft to the touch. Typically, they mature 80-90 days after transplanting.

To harvest Cherokee Purple tomatoes, gently twist or cut the fruit from the vine to avoid damaging the plant.

6. Saving Seeds

After harvesting your Cherokee Purple tomatoes, you may want to save the seeds for future use. To save seeds, choose fully ripe, healthy fruits for seed saving. Scoop out the seeds and place them in a container with water. Let them ferment for a few days to remove the gelatinous coating.

Rinse the seeds, dry them thoroughly, and store them in a cool, dry place for planting next season.

How to Propagate Cherokee Purple Tomatoes

You can propagate Cherokee Purple tomatoes effectively through seed starting and cuttings. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced gardener, following these steps will help you propagate this heirloom variety successfully.

Propagating from Seeds

Start with high-quality Cherokee Purple tomato seeds from a reputable supplier. If you’ve saved seeds from previous harvests, ensure they are from healthy, mature fruits.

Start to Grow the Seeds Indoors

• Start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before your region’s last expected frost date.
• Use seed trays or small pots with drainage holes.
• Fill the containers with a seed-starting mix that is light and well-draining.
• Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep and cover lightly with soil. Water gently to moisten the soil.

Light and Temperature

• Place the containers in a warm, sunny location or under grow lights.
• Maintain a temperature of 70-75°F (21-24°C).
• Provide 14-16 hours of light daily for optimal growth.

Transplanting Seedlings

Once the seedlings have developed two sets of true leaves and the outdoor conditions are favorable, harden them off by gradually exposing them to the outdoor environment over a week.

Then, transplant them into the garden, ensuring you space them 24-36 inches apart in a location with full sun and well-draining soil.

Propagating from Cuttings

Choose healthy, vigorous stems from an established Cherokee Purple tomato plant. Ideal cuttings are 6-8 inches long and free from disease or pest damage.

Prepare Your Cuttings

• Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut just below a leaf node.
• Remove the lower leaves, leaving a few leaves at the top.
• Place the cut end of the stem in water or a rooting medium such as perlite or a seed-starting mix.

How to Root Cherokee Purple Cuttings

There are two methods of rooting Cherokee Purple tomatoes.

Using Water Method

1. Place the cutting in a jar of water, ensuring the node is submerged.
2. Keep the jar in a warm, bright location without direct sunlight.
3. Change the water every few days.

Using Soil Method

1. Insert the cutting into moist perlite or seed-starting mix.
2. Cover with a plastic bag or dome to maintain humidity.
3. Place the container in a warm, bright spot.

After successful rooting, root development should begin to form in 1-2 weeks. Gently tug on the cutting to check for resistance, which indicates root growth.

Transplanting Rooted Cuttings

Once the cuttings have developed a strong root system, transplant them into individual pots or directly into the garden. Ensure they receive adequate water and are acclimated to outdoor conditions before planting them in their permanent location.

General Tips on How to Grow Cherokee Purple Tomatoes

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water at the base of the plants to prevent fungal diseases.

Fertilizing: Use a balanced fertilizer or compost to provide essential nutrients.

Support: Use stakes, cages, or trellises to support the plants as they grow.

Pest and Disease Management: Monitor for pests and diseases and address any issues promptly to ensure healthy plant growth.

How to Grow Cherokee Purple Tomatoes FAQs

Q: What makes Cherokee Purple tomatoes unique?

A: Cherokee Purple tomatoes are prized for their distinctive appearance and rich flavor. They have a deep reddish-purple color, often with green shoulders and a slightly flattened shape. The flavor is often described as sweet, smoky, and complex, making them a favorite among heirloom tomato enthusiasts. Their unique coloration and taste are attributed to their heirloom status, meaning they have been passed down through generations without significant alterations.

Q: What are common issues and solutions when growing Cherokee Purple tomatoes?

A: Some common issues include:

• Blossom End Rot: This condition is caused by calcium deficiency, often due to inconsistent watering. Ensure even moisture levels and add calcium supplements if needed.
• Cracking: This can occur if the tomatoes receive irregular watering. Maintaining consistent soil moisture helps prevent this.
• Pests: Aphids, tomato hornworms, and whiteflies are common pests. Use insecticidal soap, hand-pick pests, or introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs to manage these pests.
• Diseases: Cherokee Purple tomatoes can be susceptible to diseases such as early blight, late blight, and septoria leaf spot. Rotate crops, use disease-resistant varieties if available, and apply fungicides as needed to manage these issues.

Conclusion

Growing Cherokee Purple tomatoes involves several key steps. Start by planting seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date in well-draining soil, and place them in a sunny location.

Once the seedlings have developed a few true leaves and the outdoor temperature is consistently above 50°F (10°C), transplant them into your garden, ensuring they are spaced 18-24 inches apart. Choose a sunny spot with rich, well-drained soil, and mix in compost or well-rotted manure.

Water regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, and mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Support the plants with stakes or cages as they grow, and apply a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.

Watch for pests and diseases, treating them promptly to ensure healthy growth. Harvest the tomatoes when they develop a deep, dusky purple color and are slightly soft to the touch.