Cherokee Purple Tomato - the slacker's Brandywine

by Andrea
(Denver, CO)

Cherokee Purple is a regular leaf beefsteak tomato plant that produces a bruise-color fruit with green shoulders. I think it's really a black tomato, but not as deep in color as Black Krim.

It's important to know when it's ripe and not leave it on the vine too long because you still see some green on the shoulders.

While I love red or pink Brandywines, the Cherokee Purples I've grown were almost as tasty but easier to produce. Both plants can become monstrous if unpruned, but I found the CP hardier and easier to cultivate.

In summary, the fruit was as big as a baseball and pretty tasty, but somewhat seedy and watery compared to BW. However, it's been so easy to grow even when we had challenges such as weather and gardener inexperience,

I'm giving it a great rating. I think I like it better for tomato soup than for sandwiches just because of the water and seed content. It is a mild, sweet tomato.

Tomato Dirt responds:
We completely agree!

Happy gardening!