Cherokee Purple Tomato

80 days, indeterminate — 'Cherokee Purple' was one of the earliest heirloom varieties to find its way out of seed saving circles and into the awareness of mainstream gardeners. The vines have relatively dense, regular leaf foliage that have a tendency to curl upwards. Although now relatively commonplace, 'Cherokee Purple' was one of the first varieties publicly available with dark, dusky, purplish hues.

Its fruit are large (twelve to sixteen ounces), dark pink with darker purple shoulders and have an excellent, full, complex flavor, with a slightly sweet aftertaste. It is a perfect slicer for tomato sandwiches or chunked in salads.

Originally given to author and tomato authority Craig LeHoullier in 1990 by John "J. D." Green of Sevierville, Tennessee. Mr. Green reported that he had been given the seeds by a neighbor named Jean Greenlee of Rutledge, Tennessee in 1986-1987. Her grandfather had received them from Cherokee Indians some hundred years prior. Craig named the variety, introduced it to the gardening community, and the rest is history. Each packet contains approximately 20 seeds, and there are about 85 seeds per gram.