Seeds, Tomato, Cherokee Purple Cherry (Cherry)

Tomato, Cherokee Purple Cherry (Cherry)
(Solanum lycopersicum)

Cherokee Purple Cherry combines the rich, smoky-sweet flavor of the classic Cherokee Purple with the productivity and convenience of a cherry tomato. These dusky rose-to-purple fruits are small, juicy, and deeply flavored—offering heirloom complexity in bite-sized form. Vigorous, indeterminate plants produce generously through summer, making this a standout for fresh eating and market harvests.

Key Characteristics

• Complex Heirloom Flavor in Cherry Size
  Fruits deliver the deep, sweet, slightly smoky flavor profile associated with Cherokee Purple tomatoes. Balanced sweetness and acidity make them excellent for snacking, salads, and fresh salsas.
• Abundant, Continuous Harvest
  Indeterminate vines produce clusters of small, round fruits over a long season. Regular picking encourages continued flowering and fruit set until frost.
• Dusky Rose-Purple Coloration
  Unique muted purple-pink skin sets this variety apart from standard red cherry tomatoes. Adds striking color diversity to mixed cherry harvests and market displays.
• Vigorous Indeterminate Growth
  Plants grow 5–7+ feet and require staking or trellising. Strong growth benefits from good airflow and consistent pruning in humid climates to maintain plant health.

Product Details

• Botanical Name: Solanum lycopersicum
• Native Range: South America (widely cultivated worldwide)
• Plant Life Cycle: Annual
• Sun Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Medium, fertile, well-drained
• Mature Height: 5–7+ feet (indeterminate vine)
• Bloom Time: June–August
• Bloom Color: Yellow
• Days to Maturity: ~70–75 days
• Fruit Size: 1–1.5 inches (cherry type)
• Growth Habit: Indeterminate (requires staking or trellising)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: Grown as an annual in zones 3–10

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost. Transplant after danger of frost when soil temperatures reach at least 60°F. Provide strong vertical support at planting time. Mulch to retain moisture and reduce soil splash. In permaculture systems, grow in nutrient-rich annual beds and rotate with legumes to maintain soil balance.

Cherokee Purple Cherry delivers heirloom depth of flavor with the convenience and productivity of a cherry tomato—ideal for gardeners who grow for taste first.

These seeds come from the Appalachian Seed Growers Collective, a regional network of farmers dedicated to growing and sharing seeds adapted to the Southern Appalachian climate and rooted in seed sovereignty and crop diversity. These varieties have been grown and saved in place by local growers to thrive in your garden while supporting resilient, locally-grown food systems.