Homegrown heirloom tomatoes are a supreme summertime pleasure. And the possibly one of the most famous heirloom tomatoes of all? Cherokee Purple. So, what exactly is the Cherokee Purple tomato, and why is it so popular?
Reason #1: The Legend
Author Mitch Joel says, “The brands that win are the brands that tell a great story.”
Reknowned tomato expert and author of “Epic Tomatoes”, Craig LeHoullier named the Cherokee Purple tomato in 1990 after receiving a surprise gift of seeds from a man named John D. Green in Tennessee.
Green said that the seeds came from his neighbor whose family had been growing the distinctive tomatoes for over 100 years after receiving seeds as a gift from Cherokee Indians.
Is this true? It doesn’t even matter. But it’s a great story that is hard to forget.
Reason #2: The Flavor
Serious tomato growers are in it for one thing: the distinct flavor that only a homegrown tomato can deliver. No matter how early, no matter how productive, no matter how large, a tomato without a killer flavor profile won’t make it past the compost bin.
Tomato varieties get passed down from generation to generation and from neighbor to neighbor for only one reason: it’s as good on the plate as it is on the vine.
The flavor of Cherokee Purple is described as rich, complex, sweet, and in the words of LeHullier himself, “a symphony”.
Reason #3: The Remarkable Color
Growers initially dismissed the Cherokee Purple tomato, fearing that buyers would be turned off by its purplish, “bruise-like” hue. Today we know that these purplish hues are caused by high levels of anthocyanins, the compounds found in blueberries. Some studies show that anthocyanins lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
In 1995, LeHullier discovered a stabilized version of Cherokee Purple in his garden. As a result of genetic mutation, the new version exhibited more yellow tones. This tomato, now known as Cherokee Chocolate, possesses the same flavor and growth habit as Cherokee Purple, but is more chocolately and mahagony color.
Where To Buy Cherokee Purple Seeds
Cherokee Purple tomato seeds are available from Botanical Interests and Cherokee Chocolate seeds are available from Tomatofest.
Top Tips for Growing Cherokee Purple Tomatoes
- Feed plants liberally.
Tomatoes are heavy feeders, and they require consistent fertilization throughout the growing season in order to perform their best. If given the proper nutrition, Cherokee Purple tomatoes can grow quite large.
My favorite tomato fertilizers are Grow Big by FoxFarm (for seedling and early transplant stage), Hasta Gro (for use as a transplant solution and until fruiting begins), and Texas Tomato Food (from fruiting through final harvest). - Provide substantial support.
Cherokee Purple tomatoes are indeterminate and will grow vigorously until first frost. Provide substantial support structures for them. If using stakes, make sure the stakes are at least six feet tall.
Once plants reach the top of the support, “top” them by pruning off growing tips in order to prevent the plant from toppling. This also helps to direct energy into fruit formation and ripening. - prune suckers when I am supporting my tomato plants with single stakes.
The only pruning that I consider mandatory is the removal of all leaves/branches touching the ground. This is because many tomato diseases are soilborne. If leaves are touching the ground, the likelihood of disease transmission is much higher.
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