Cherokee Purple Beefsteak Tomato brings full, rich flavor and distinctive color to the garden table. This heirloom produces medium to large, flattened globe-shaped tomatoes with dusky pink skin and dark, smoky shoulders. Juicy, meaty slices make memorable sandwiches, while ripe wedges bring depth to fresh salads. Indeterminate vines keep growing and can set fruit through the warm season when conditions permit, so provide sturdy support and room to develop. Each packet contains 50 non-GMO heirloom seeds.

Germination Rate: 85%. Test Date: 11/25. WILL.

Texas Minimum Germination Rate: 75%

Why Choose Cherokee Purple Tomatoes?

• Distinctive Appearance: Dusky pink fruit with smoky shoulders adds contrast to tomato plates and fresh salads. Color varies with growing conditions.
• Rich Flavor: Complex, full-bodied flavor shines in simple dishes with bread, herbs, and olive oil.
• Beefsteak Texture: Meaty flesh provides generous slices for sandwiches and substantial wedges for salads.
• Indeterminate Habit: Supported vines can offer an extended picking season when weather and plant health allow.
• Heirloom and Open-Pollinated: Grow a non-GMO variety and save true-to-type seed with suitable isolation and selection.

Planting Tips for Success

• Start Indoors: Sow approximately 6–8 weeks before your intended outdoor transplant date, about 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix. Maintain even moisture and provide bright light after emergence.
• Transplanting: Harden off seedlings gradually. Plant outdoors after frost danger has passed and soil and nights have warmed.
• Sun and Soil: Choose full sun with 6–8 hours of direct light and fertile, well-drained soil amended with finished compost.
• Spacing: Allow approximately 24–36 inches between supported plants, with enough room between rows for airflow and access.
• Support: Install tall stakes, a sturdy trellis, or heavy-duty cages early. Tie stems loosely as they grow and support fruit-laden branches.
• Watering: Maintain consistent moisture at soil level. Mulch after soil warms to reduce soil splash and moderate moisture swings that can contribute to cracking.
• Fertilizing: Follow soil-test guidance and fertilizer label directions. Avoid excessive nitrogen that favors leaves over fruit.
• Pruning and Care: Train vines to fit your support system and remove damaged foliage as needed. Retain enough leaves to shade developing fruit and inspect regularly for pests and disease.
• Harvesting: The existing estimate is approximately 70 days from transplanting; actual maturity varies. Pick when fruit develops its characteristic dusky color and yields slightly to gentle pressure rather than waiting for uniformly bright red skin.

Why Choose David's Garden Seeds®?

• Veteran-Owned: Supplying premium seeds since 2009.
• GO TEXAN Certified: Supporting local agriculture and communities.
• Integrity Pledge: David's Garden Seeds has taken the Seed Integrity Pledge.
• Vegetable Seed License: David's Garden Seeds has been granted a Vegetable Seed License for the State of Texas.

Cooking Methods

• Fresh Slicing: Serve thick slices with olive oil, salt, and fresh basil to showcase their flavor.
• Sandwiches: Add juicy slices to tomato sandwiches, burgers, or toast.
• Bread Salad: Combine ripe wedges with toasted bread, cucumber, and herbs for panzanella.
• Roasted: Roast wedges with oil and garlic to concentrate flavor for pasta or side dishes.
• Sauces: Simmer ripe fruit into sauce, allowing time to reduce excess juice. Use a tested home-canning recipe for shelf-stable preservation.

Order Cherokee Purple Tomato Seeds Today

Grow richly flavored Cherokee Purple tomatoes for fresh slices, colorful salads, and garden-to-table meals.

Nutritional Information

Existing generic raw tomato reference, not a Cherokee Purple-specific nutrient analysis. Applies to harvested fruit, not planting seeds. Per medium tomato, approximately 123 grams:

• Calories: 22
• Total Fat: 0.2 gram
• Sodium: 6 milligrams
• Total Carbohydrate: 4.8 grams
• Dietary Fiber: 1.5 grams
• Total Sugars: 3.2 grams
• Protein: 1.1 grams
• Vitamin C: 17 milligrams (19% Daily Value)
• Potassium: 292 milligrams (6% Daily Value)

% Daily Value is based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Values are approximate and vary with serving size, growing conditions, and preparation.

Important Disclosures

• Variety Disclaimer: Fruit size, color, shape, flavor, maturity, and yield vary with growing conditions and care. No growing outcome is guaranteed.
• Seed Storage: Keep unused seeds sealed in a cool, dry, dark place away from heat and moisture.
• Planting Zones: Grow tomatoes as warm-season annuals. Use local frost dates and soil temperatures to select planting times.
• Edible Portion: Recipes use harvested tomato fruit, not foliage or the planting seeds in this packet.

Grow something beautiful. Grow something delicious. Grow with David's Garden Seeds®.

Cherokee Purple Tomato Panzanella

This rustic bread salad uses ripe, harvested Cherokee Purple tomatoes, not the planting seeds in the packet. Serves 4. Preparation: 20 minutes. Cooking: 10–15 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ripe Cherokee Purple tomatoes, cored and cut into wedges
• 4 cups rustic bread cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 medium cucumber, cut into half-moons
• 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 375°F. Toss bread cubes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and spread on a baking sheet. Bake for 10–15 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp. Let cool slightly.
2. Wash tomatoes, cucumber, and basil under running water and dry. Core and cut tomatoes; trim and slice cucumber.
3. Whisk the remaining 3 tablespoons oil with vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
4. Add tomatoes, cucumber, and onion and toss gently. Fold in toasted bread and basil.
5. Let stand for 10 minutes so the bread absorbs some tomato juices while retaining texture. Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve.

Serving and Storage

Serve as a light lunch or alongside cooked beans or a main dish. For advance preparation, keep toasted bread separate and combine shortly before serving. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours, or within 1 hour above 90°F. Enjoy within 1–2 days; the bread will soften. Contains wheat when made with standard bread.