Cherokee Purple Tomato Seeds – Heirloom, NON-GMO, Indeterminate, 90 Days

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with Cherokee Purple tomato seeds, a highly sought-after heirloom variety celebrated for its exceptional flavor and striking appearance. These NON-GMO tomato seeds promise to bring a taste of history and superior quality to your home garden. The Cherokee Purple tomato is an indeterminate variety, meaning its vines will continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season until the first frost. Renowned for its rich, complex flavor profile that balances sweetness with a smoky undertone, this tomato is a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike. Its unique dusky pink and purple hues make it a visually stunning addition to any dish, particularly caprese salads and fresh platters. Originating from the Cherokee Nation, this variety has been cherished for generations, ensuring a truly authentic and rewarding growing experience.

The Cherokee Purple tomato seeds produce large, beefsteak-style fruits that are perfect for slicing, sandwiches, and culinary creations. With regular leaf foliage and an average maturity time of 90 days, these seeds offer a reliable path to bountiful harvests of delicious tomatoes. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, cultivating this heirloom tomato seeds type will enrich your vegetable patch with both beauty and taste.

Key Benefits

Growing Cherokee Purple tomato seeds offers numerous advantages for the enthusiastic gardener and culinary explorer:

• Exceptional Flavor Profile: Enjoy tomatoes with a rich, complex taste that perfectly balances sweetness and acidity, often described as smoky and fruity. This makes the Cherokee Purple tomato seeds a top choice for gourmet dishes.
• Heirloom Quality: Cultivate a historic variety known for its consistent quality and unique characteristics, passed down through generations. These heirloom tomato seeds ensure a genuine gardening experience.
• Versatile Culinary Use: Ideal for fresh eating, slicing, and preparing various dishes like salads, sandwiches, sauces, and stews due to its meaty flesh and dense texture.
• Visually Striking: The beautiful dusky pink and purple coloration with green shoulders makes these tomatoes a stunning addition to any garden or plate.
• Indeterminate Growth: These indeterminate tomato plants provide a continuous harvest throughout the growing season, offering a steady supply of fresh tomatoes.
• NON-GMO Assurance: Be confident in growing natural, unaltered seeds free from genetic modification, promoting healthy and sustainable gardening practices.
• High Yield Potential: With proper care and support like staking or caging, these robust plants can produce a generous quantity of large, heavy fruits.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To successfully grow Cherokee Purple tomato seeds, start indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Plant seeds about 1/4 inch deep in individual cells or pots filled with a fertile, humusy, and well-drained soil mix, ideally with a pH of 6.0-6.8. Maintain consistent moisture and warmth (around 75-85°F) for optimal germination, which typically occurs within 5-14 days. Once seedlings have developed a few true leaves, transplant the strongest ones to larger pots, ensuring they have enough space to grow. As an indeterminate tomato variety, these plants will require substantial support like staking or caging to manage their vigorous growth and heavy fruit load, ensuring better air circulation and preventing fruit from touching the ground.

Once hardened off, plant seedlings outdoors in a location that receives full sun – at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The soil should be rich, well-draining, and slightly acidic to neutral. Space plants 18-36 inches apart to allow for mature growth and good airflow. Water deeply and consistently, especially during flowering and fruiting, to prevent blossom end rot and ensure juicy tomatoes. Fertilize regularly with a balanced organic fertilizer designed for tomatoes. Monitor for common pests and diseases, addressing issues promptly. These heirloom tomato seeds are sensitive to frost, so ensure they are protected from cold temperatures. Harvesting typically begins around 90 days from sowing, with fruits ripening to their characteristic rich pink and purple hues.

Size & Details

The Cherokee Purple tomato seeds are derived from an indeterminate tomato plant, meaning the vines will grow continuously and produce fruit throughout the season until frost. Plants typically reach a height of 4-6 feet or more, especially when adequately supported by stakes or cages. The fruits themselves are large beefsteak-style tomatoes, often weighing 10-12 ounces each, though some can grow even larger. They feature regular leaf foliage, a common characteristic for many heirloom varieties. The expected time to maturity for these tomatoes is approximately 90 days from the date of sowing. Each packet contains high-quality NON-GMO tomato seeds, ready for planting to yield delicious, purple-hued tomatoes. These seeds are suitable for planting in USDA zones 3-9, provided they are started indoors in colder climates and protected from late frosts.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do Cherokee Purple tomato seeds grow? A: The plants from these indeterminate tomato seeds can grow quite tall, typically reaching 4-6 feet or more, especially with proper support like staking or caging. The fruits themselves are large beefsteak-style, often weighing 10-12 ounces each.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While Cherokee Purple tomato seeds are started indoors, the plants are primarily grown outdoors in a sunny garden or large container once the danger of frost has passed. They require full sun exposure for optimal growth and fruit production.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Cherokee Purple tomato plants thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce a bountiful harvest. Adequate sunlight is crucial for fruit development and flavor.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Cherokee Purple tomato plants are considered moderately easy to care for. They require consistent watering, fertile soil, and strong support for their indeterminate vines. Beginners can succeed with these heirloom tomato seeds with diligent attention to care.
• Q: What condition will the seeds arrive in? A: The seeds will arrive in a protective packet, ensuring they are dry and viable for planting. You will receive premium quality NON-GMO tomato seeds ready for immediate sowing.
• Q: When is the best time to plant Cherokee Purple tomato seeds? A: For most regions, the best time to plant these heirloom tomato seeds is indoors 6-8 weeks before your last anticipated spring frost. Transplant outdoors when soil temperatures are consistently warm and all danger of frost has passed.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Tomato plants are sensitive to frost and will not survive winter outdoors in most climates. They are typically grown as annuals. For year-round growth, they would need to be moved indoors to a controlled environment.
• Q: How long until Cherokee Purple tomato fruits are ready for harvest? A: From sowing, you can expect to start harvesting ripe Cherokee Purple tomatoes in approximately 90 days. The fruits will develop their characteristic dusky pink and purple hues when ready.
• Q: Can I grow this in a container? A: Yes, Cherokee Purple tomato plants can be grown in large containers, at least 15-20 gallons in size, to accommodate their extensive root system and indeterminate growth habit. Ensure adequate drainage and strong staking.
• Q: What makes Cherokee Purple tomato unique? A: Its unique complex, smoky-sweet flavor, beautiful deep purple-pink color, and rich history as an heirloom variety make the Cherokee Purple tomato stand out. It’s a favorite for its meaty texture and exceptional taste.