Cherokee Purple
Solanum lycopersicum 'Cherokee Purple'
A beloved heirloom tomato originating from Tennessee Cherokee tribes. Known for its distinctive dusky purple-pink color and complex, rich flavor that many consider the best-tasting tomato available. The large beefsteak fruits are perfect for fresh eating and showcase everything that makes heirloom tomatoes special.
Harvest
80-90d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Cherokee Purple in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Cherokee Purple · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store ripe Cherokee Purple tomatoes at room temperature for best flavor – refrigeration destroys their complex taste profile. Keep them stem-side down on a counter away from direct sunlight, where they'll maintain quality for 3-5 days.
For longer storage, harvest slightly underripe fruits and place them in a single layer in a cool, dark area around 55-65°F. Check daily and remove any that show signs of decay. Green tomatoes can ripen over several weeks using this method.
Due to Cherokee Purple's low acidity, avoid traditional water-bath canning methods. Instead, freeze sliced tomatoes for cooking applications, or dehydrate them into intensely flavored tomato leather. These tomatoes excel when roasted and frozen in portions, preserving much of their complex flavor for winter soups and sauces. Consider fermenting them into hot sauce or chutney to safely preserve their unique taste while adding probiotic benefits.
History & Origin
Cherokee Purple traces its lineage to Native American tribes of Tennessee, specifically the Cherokee Nation. This heirloom variety was passed down through generations of Cherokee gardeners who selected seeds from the best-tasting fruits each season, gradually developing the variety's distinctive purple coloration and complex flavor profile.
The tomato gained wider recognition in the 1990s when Craig LeHoullier, a tomato enthusiast and seed saver, received seeds from John Green of Sevierville, Tennessee. Green had obtained the variety from his Cherokee neighbors, who had been growing it for generations. LeHoullier introduced Cherokee Purple to the broader gardening community through seed exchanges and heirloom tomato networks.
The variety's purple pigmentation comes from anthocyanins, the same compounds that color blueberries and purple cabbage. This natural coloring not only creates the tomato's striking appearance but also contributes antioxidants that may enhance its nutritional value. Today, Cherokee Purple stands as one of the most popular heirloom varieties, representing both exceptional flavor and an important piece of American agricultural heritage that connects modern gardeners to indigenous farming traditions.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and repels hornworms and other tomato pests
Carrots
Help break up soil for tomato roots, don't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel whiteflies
Oregano
Repels many insects and may enhance tomato growth and flavor
Lettuce
Provides living mulch, doesn't compete heavily for nutrients
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to tomatoes and causes wilting
Fennel
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Corn
Both attract corn earworm/tomato fruitworm, increasing pest pressure
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Limited disease resistance typical of heirlooms. Susceptible to late blight and cracking.
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, whiteflies, flea beetles
Diseases
Late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, blossom end rot