Tomato 'Cherokee Purple'

On Apr 12, 2020, flotsette from Tacoma, WA wrote:

When I first grew CP tomatoes 5 years ago or so, I was very impressed. The plants are very vigorous and productive for me, they always produced first among the slicers, and I always got the most tomatoes from a plant (same with Black Cherrys). But eventually I realized that -- although they are better tasting than store-bought -- they are always the least exciting flavor of any that I grew. What is the point in having so MANY of them, when they are your least favorite? Additionally, they are hard to give away since people are suspicious of the color. This year I decided to skip any of the "black" tomatoes and plant red and striped instead.

On Jun 20, 2018, Clark15 from Canton, MS wrote:

I am in central Mississippi and typically grow around 50 tomatoes per year. My family eats a lot and we like to give them away. Everyone I have ever given a CP to has told me that it was the best tomato they have ever eaten. The only varieties that I have ever had as many complements on are Black Krim, and Paul Roberson. I can not imagine a year without having at least a dozen CP plants.

On Aug 31, 2015, rodey from Freeport, MI wrote:

This grows well for me, but seemed quite susceptible to blight. Despite heavy blight damage on the plants, it is still producing loads of big fruit. It is growing in pure composted rabbit manure.

The fruit is tasty and interesting to look at. But they have many, MANY seeds that are very small, and this makes the cherokee purple very difficult to preserve. This is best eaten out of hand rather than put up for later.

On Aug 1, 2015, Dragonflys4me from (Chris), IA (Zone 5a) wrote:

I grew Cherokee Purple for the first time this year and it has done very well for me. My problem was trying to figure out when it was ripe! After eating a few, I knew then that it's going to have some green on top unlike our 'normal' tomatoes. Also, as others have mentioned, it's prone to cracking and it is an ugly fruit when that happens. I love the flavor though and plan on trying to save some seeds for next year (this was bought as a plant at our local nursery). I'm going to try to pick it sooner to alleviate the cracking - we'll see how that works!

On Aug 14, 2014, steelheadr from Bountiful, UT wrote:

Brandywines have always been our favorite, but in a side-by-side comparison we found the flavor of Cherokee Purple to be more interesting due to the smoky undertones. Prone to splitting. Decent production - we'll plant more of these next year.

On Nov 30, 2013, Handyman321 from Muscoy, CA wrote:

Grows very well in Zone 18/19. Plant gets to 5-6 feet tall. Lots of medium sized good tasting tomatoes.

On Aug 30, 2013, Lunalight82 from New Carlisle, OH wrote:

I planted 3 of the Cherokee Purple and gave 6 additional away to family members- no one got a single 'mater worth eating off of them. Two of my plants never produced a thing and the one that did made 4 tomatoes. They were huge, granted but every last one rotted on the vine. It was not blossom end rot or cracking due to rain. My other varieties did good- mortgage lifters, Genovese, Amana orange, Black Krim etc. It was nasty- I tried to pick some that were unripe so I could at least get a taste but they were rotting too- split apart when I picked them up. I swear they look like zombie tomatoes. My families all did the same, few produced and what did was rotting on the inside and burst when you touched it. I won't be trying this again

On Jul 26, 2013, sunreigns from Omaha, NE wrote:

I am eating a Cherokee Purple right now and its delicious. My plant is covered with them, many green and some turning. I put the plant in the ground on May 18, and harvested the first ripe fruit on July 25.

The plant seems vigorous and happy in its raised bed. I use fish/seaweed mixed fertilizer with the tomatos, which seems to help with fruit production. I am also growing Mortagage Lifter and Nebraska Wedding this year, and so far they are all doing well.

On Jun 11, 2013, LowbridgeNC from Forest City, NC wrote:

I grew Cherokee Purple tomatoes for the first time last summer. The plant grew well, was fairly productive, and produced several large examples of one of the best tomatoes I've ever eaten. This year I planted them again (seedling from a local nursery), and even though all the plants this year are a couple of weeks behind due to a late, chilly spring, the Cherokee Purple is plugging right along and has six tomatoes in various stages of growth on it. We get the heat and the sticky humidity here, and I highly recommend them. I don't think they're all that ugly, either. :)

On Sep 2, 2012, Genoboy from Grass Valley, CA wrote:

This is my first year with Cherokee Purple and to my mind, it is the best tasting tomato I have ever tried. Here at 2,500 ft. we plant starters around mid May. CP handled the cold spell and made fruit even in mid 90° temps. First ripe fruit by early August. A super tomato for Grass Valley, CA.

On Jul 23, 2012, OMG2012 from Chowchilla, CA wrote:

Great flavor and texture, very sweet and tomato-ey fruit. Not producing heavily but could be our cool to hot to cool weird temperatures this summer. I'll take what I can get...will replant next year!

On Jun 16, 2012, Tangerine56 from Melbourne, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

I put one Cherokee Tomato seed in a 18 gal storage container with a 6" water reservoir on the bottom that I had made. My tomato plant is already about 9 feet tall and loaded with Tomatoes. I just picked my first one yesterday the size of half a grapefruit. I used a potting soil called Miracle Grow Moisture Control. I also added a Cherokee Blue corn seed to each box I made. This was a mistake because these
too are growing around 9 feet tall. Over all, this method is really the only way to grow in hot mostly dry Florida without much stress and not so much watering. They last several years.

For more information on these hand made grow boxes email me at [email protected].

On Mar 7, 2012, tangwystl from Limestone Creek, FL wrote:

I am updating the review I have written farther down. It is March 25,2012. I have just picked and eaten the first tomato off of this plant. It was delicious! This tomato would be concidered an "ugly" tomato.It looked like 2 smaller tomatoes fused together about 4" long,with a more chocolate than purple color. This tomato had a very nice "tomato" flavor. Not too acidic,a fruity, almost wine flavor.This is a heavy feeder, especially when full of fruit. I have quite a few tomatoes now.--- So far, I have had success with this tomato. I have 2 plants. They are growing at an average rate. I have about 3 small/medium tomatoes growing right now. There are several just starting from the flower. I have quite a few blooms on this tomato. So far, so good. I do not have a large area to work with but I ... read morelove to garden. I have found-through trial and error- the best way for me to keep healthy tomatoes is a two pot system. I take my potted plants and stick them in a larger pot-with no holes-and then add water and fertilizer to the larger pot. This seems to be the best way to keep the tomatoes from drying out in the drought. It also allows me to drain the water when we have excessive rain. I had tried to make a raised bed but had alot of issues with keeping the soil moist due to severe drought here. Even with a morning and evening watering, the heat from the day was awful. Also had issues with wash outs when the rains came in torrents. I do use milk to add calcium to keep the blossom end rot at bay. I also plant basil to bring in the bees. And garlic and onion plants to keep other bugs away. So far, no leaf and tomato eaters,no blossom end rot and plenty of pollination going on. My Roma's are a week or so behind these and are doing just as well.

On Aug 22, 2011, paszkry from Livonia, MI wrote:

I have grown this wonderful tomato in SE Michigan for the last several years. I have given some away to widow ladies in the neighborhood and have seen the funny look on their faces, because a fully ripe Purple Cherokee is green on the top and a crimson on the bottom. This is what growing your own is all about. Pick fruits when they are still firm, dont wait for them to turn uniform red or they will get mushy and rot. I plant around 24 plants in a Community garden in Livonia and get a huge yield per plant of around 20-30 fist sized or larger tomatoes. Planting here is late May with fertilizer of 12-12-12 slow release every 10-14 days till mid July, then stop with the fetrilizer. Fruit usually starts Aug 1st but was 2 weeks later this year. Keep plants watered every 2 days if there is... read more not enough rain. Even in August these tomatoes sell for 5.99 per pound when you can find them. They are not pretty, but the are the best you can find. After I gave away these purple wonders the first year, I got calls from all the widows asking where in the hell I got these. Wish I could share some with you today, but grow them next year and you will see what I mean.

On Jul 26, 2011, newbiehavinfun from Vineland, NJ wrote:

This has been my favorite heirloom tomato so far. Or maybe a tie with Kellogg's Breakfast, but they are very different. Cherokee Purple has a richer taste and softer flesh than KB, and a nice round shape you don't often find in heirlooms. I don't find it to be mealy at all, and I would say it is actually less acidic than KB. It has split--only a little--on me after hard rains, and flopped right out of its cage, but it's worth the extra effort to support the rambling branches. I have it planted in (very) full sun in a raised bed with quality topsoil that I ammended with mushroom soil before planting and gave a light dressing of compost in July. I watered when needed during the extreme heat this summer. Pick these when the shoulders are still green or they'll turn to mush on the vine.... read more Other than that it has been carefree and DELICIOUS!

On May 22, 2011, robinclark24 from Murfreesboro, TN wrote:

Loved, loved the color but as with some of the other reviewers...I found them to be quite bland & the texture was weird. Threw away seeds from last year's crop. Not growing this year.

On Apr 4, 2011, Aconfed from North Little Rock, AR wrote:

I grew these last year and had great crop. Had a bushel from 3 plants at first frost mid Nov. However, my seeds I planted this year, germinated and came up great but now a few weeks later, when ready to move outside , have began wilting and dying in the cups. I have not over or under watered, they are in the sun butnot sure why . I transplanted roughly 70 plants for giving away etc but everyone's are dying....any ideas why? They seem to just fall over right where the base and soil meet.

On Feb 5, 2011, Nickolock from Tifton, GA wrote:

This is perhaps the most fun I've had with an heirloom tomato and I tried the mixed seeds last year with a number of varieties and the purple tomato I think bore better and had the most interesting different taste, rich, full flavor. Now your relatives and friends may not like it just because they only like red tomatoes, but anyone that is willing to try it will I think grow to like it because it is different. The plants grew huge and healthy more than 6 feet tall in time and I had them in cages in pots because I live in a duplex and must use pots outside on the patio. It was a brutally hot year and I watered every day, so you have to like to water and garden if you undertake any gardening. Hornworms were the only threat and I picked them off and did use a spray one time and about 6 worms... read more were killed that way that I could not see otherwise. The heat was so bad that the tomatoes stopped bearing in July-August here with 100 degree temperatures. I grew most of my crop in May-June and Sept-Frost. I loved it. But it does take daily observation and water and yes I used miracle grow plant food regularly as prescribed on the box. Of all the heirlooms I grew this year I like these the best. The others were fun too and I hope to try more. Actually the best producers for me were the patio tomato and the little yellow pear tomato. The small ones have several ripe fruits just about every day, but you have to wait for the larger Cherokee purples, but they bore best of the larger tomatoes that I grew. Cherokees do have a cracking around the top, but I cut around that and they are very juicy and full of flavor!!! Yum!!!

On Jan 2, 2011, Laflora from DeLand, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

This tomato grew well and produced many fruits under tough conditions. I give it a neutral rating only because of the taste. It had a flavor that reminded me of wine. Weird, I know. Every tomato from two plants had the same flavor, whether I picked it ripe off the plant or a little early and let it ripen inside the house. It wasn't a bad taste, but one of those things that you either like or don't. I prefer old-timey, rich tomato flavor. Cherokee Purple is a pretty fruit and my plants out-produced many of the other heirloom tomatoes I've tried through the years.

On Oct 17, 2010, WilliamClark from Albany, GA wrote:

Best of the Best. 2nd year with Cher. Purple. 1st year little success. This year, terrific. Not a tomato for those who have limited time to care for plant. The ones I planted in ground were complete failures. The ones in 5 gal. buckets, great. Keys: dark sandy soil, pH below 7, fertilize weekly with Miraclegrow 24-8-16 all purpose, water twice daily when temps reach100. Run rope thru bottom of bucket to a tie off 8ft high and tie plants to rope as they grow. Plants will stop production after a period of 100+ degrees and will not bloom or set fruit until it cools to 90. Each plant has produced close to 70 tomatoes. Watch for and treat for stink bugs and tomato fruit worms. Pick off green horn worms. Best tasting tomato ever and I also grow 3 varities of Brandwines, plus other heirlooms.

On Aug 28, 2010, Tigerlily09 from Atlanta, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:

I tried this variety for the first time this year and it has ripened sooner and been more productive than my Better Boy. The flavor is unbelievable! I had some trouble with catface early in the season and the tomatoes tend to crack around the stem. Very strange looking but very tasty!

On Aug 16, 2010, gretel5555 from Pottstown, PA wrote:

Wonderful! Fairly prolific but prone to rot, splitting and insect problems. However, the taste makes it all worth it. Second only to Brandywine in my opinion. Sweet, salty, rich tomato flavor.

On Aug 2, 2010, clairesml from Moneta, VA wrote:

Smith Mtn Lake, Va.
Lots of sun this year and many mid to high 90s in temps.
Not much rain if any.
The tomatoe plants are huge!
I have four of these and four of brandywine.
Both are doing terrific.
I have only watered them one time since planting late May.
They are all seven feet plus and staked.
Huge plants; lots of blooms.
The Purple cherokee ripened first around July 26.
First one was beautiful when sliced and tasted yummy!
Very meaty and juicy.
I think the high heat and low rain has produced good results.
Interesting that very little water seems to be good!

On Jul 23, 2010, suzandrien from Pacifica, CA wrote:

The jury is still out on these plants. I planted three 12-inch seedlings in mid-May--two in a Topsy Turvy and one in a humungous porous pot. They appear to be thriving and are now thick bushes with at least 100 flowers, but I have only 2 tomatoes (the size of toddler fists) that showed up in mid-June. One is nearly ripe but seems small compared to some described here. I use Miracle-Gro every 10-12 days and keep them watered. The flowers are vibrant when they bloom but they wither without forming fruit. Are they not being pollinated, maybe? Come to think of it, I haven't seen many bees this year. I haven't gardened in years, obviously, but my love of the Purple Cherokee and my hatred of paying $5.99/lb. drove me to try growing them. Btw, Pacifica gets little sun (a few hours a day,... read more usually) and is nicknames 'Fog City.' Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

On Jun 3, 2010, betta5 from Gainesville, FL wrote:

I planted one cherokee purple from seed last year that I planted in the ground, I only had two tomatoes to eat. They were small but the taste was amazing so I decided to try again this year. I have 3 plants this time in containers with drip watering. They are doing well in the pots which are small for tomatoes, maybe 3 gallon size and between the 3 plants there are 25 tomatoes. My main complaint is that they are cracking! I know this variety is prone to it but it didn't happen last year for whatever reason so it was a bit unexpected. The tomatoes do not crack until it rains. The tomatoes are huge this year though and I cannot wait to taste them. I am still giving a postive rating as the plants are prolific this year and they should taste just as wonderful as last year; but the cracking i... read mores a definite bummer...

On Mar 12, 2010, angelam from melbourne,
Australia wrote:

I found this a very disappointing tomato. I got a good yield of large solid looking fruit that had little taste and were incredibly watery when cooked for sauce. No one liked the texture raw -too soggy.

On Sep 30, 2009, jeroc from Catawba, SC wrote:

I was given a couple of Cherokee Purples about 4 years ago by a fellow near Maggie Valley, NC. I was not familiar with the tomato but saved the seeds from these two and planted them the next year. Have been planting saved seed for the past 3 years and had excellent success. Mine are grown in a sandy/loamy soil and have had no insect problems. They do crack around the stem area but this seems to be characteristic of the tomato. If picked just before dead ripe there is no problem with rot. Since I started them from seed they are later in producing so I hope to have some up to frost time (late October). We really enjoy the sweet, mild flavor and sharing them with friends.

On Aug 16, 2009, Breamfishn from Blairsville, GA wrote:

Excellent size, shape and texture. Very prolific and grows very tall. Great taste. One of my favorites and this is my first year for growing them.

On Mar 5, 2009, Alyssum from Cortlandt Manor, NY (Zone 6a) wrote:

Great flavor. Productive. Will grow again.

On May 28, 2008, sgriffith from Beaver, WV (Zone 5b) wrote:

This one of my favorite tomatoes. I have grown it in 5 gallon pots with Promix BX for two years. I have had good success with this tomato and love the flavor. The comments about the tomato rotting on the vine - this does seem to be a trait of this tomato. I pick mine when they are ripe and put in the produce crisper in the fridge. They keep about a week that way. Without refrigeration, they are gone soon after they ripen - on the vine or off.

The flavor makes it worth it - great as the main entree on a sandwich.

On Aug 26, 2007, DonShirer from Westbrook, CT (Zone 6a) wrote:

Good taste and nice round form, unlike the ugly shapes some big heirlooms produce. Production was not great in my shaded vegetable garden, but I'll try it next to some flowers in a sunnier bed next year.

On Mar 30, 2007, stoutl from Trenton, MI wrote:

First gew this tomato last year, Just a couple of plants. While this was not the most prolific producer I have to say it has become my favorite tomato based on the taste. A simply wonderful complex treat for the tounge.

This year I will be growing at least a dozen plants.

On Aug 15, 2006, shawteeroc from Brooklyn, NY (Zone 7a) wrote:

I am having pretty good luck with these guys. Large to extra large in size and a decent number of tomatoes. The taste is delicious. So sweet. No salt needed to bring out the flavor and they are great raw. I brought some to my dad's house. He saw them on the table and saw "Eww" but they were a big hit once they were sliced up and served. My only problem which is adding to their ugliness is the severe cracking they have endured. I water them quite frequently, but its been very hot and there's a lot of cracking around the top.

On Jul 27, 2006, girldog from Detroit, MI (Zone 6a) wrote:

Hi. First time growing veggies, and planted two each of the Cherokee Purple, Rutgers Select, and Yellow Heirloom - all out behind the garage. They look great and healthy so far. Expecting them to turn color between first and second weekend in August. The Cherokee Purple is beautiful, just over five feet tall...can't wait to taste them!

On Jun 27, 2006, pajaritomt from Los Alamos, NM (Zone 5a) wrote:

I have to admit this is not a beautiful tomato, but when I serve it with other more attractive tomatoes, I always tell my friends -- try the ugly one. And they love it. Actually, if one comes to love heirlooms, Cherokee Purple is quite attractive.
Here in New Mexico at 7300 ft. Cherokee Purple is one of the earlier tomatoes. Later than Stupice but well before Prudens Purple and the Brandywines and others.
It won a tomato taste contest conducted here in New Mexico by Tauton's Fine Gardening some years ago.
It has a distinctive sort of double flower and has won it's way into my heart. I understand that it may not do well in all soils and climates.

On May 10, 2006, duraki from Bryan, TX wrote:

Have grown this tomato twice in Bryan Texas, very successfully. It produces well in the heat and humidity. Right now in May, mine has probably 3 dozen green tomatoes on it in various sizes, and not a shred of disease. Interestingly, it is between a "Better Boy" and a "Tomande," both of which are getting whiteflies and stink bugs, but they leave the Cherokee Purple alone.

UPDATE, JUNE 5 2006: What an awesome tomato! It is now outperforming the hybrids in both health and productivity in the now-hot Texas sun...it is still setting fruit with temps in mid-90s.

On Apr 25, 2006, jallaway from Houston, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

Tried this one over two seasons. As with most heirlooms in Houston, the heat and humidity did a number on it. I never got more than a few small maters and those didn't have any flavor or texture to justify growing it. Maybe if I had coated it with fungicide each week - but I tend to the lazy organic side of things.

On Jan 17, 2006, Gabrielle from (Zone 5a) wrote:

In my family’s opinion this was another disappointing tomato. I gave it a fair chance, but ended up pulling it out early because the tomatoes never had much flavor. Also, as someone else had, they kept rotting on the vine. Other tomatoes were planted by them, in the very same compost rich soil, and they were fine.

On Nov 4, 2005, eweed from Everson, WA (Zone 8a) wrote:

Two years growing both times poor results Prudens is far superior in my area. I will not try this one again

On Sep 27, 2005, fwfarm from Lebanon, OR (Zone 7b) wrote:

This is the most delicious tomato ever, but sooo difficult, it always has the most rot and the fewest tomatoes and lumpy, unattractive, cracked, etc. fruit :-( but worth it just for the few sublime moments!

On Aug 18, 2005, Farmer_Ned from Denver, CO (Zone 5b) wrote:

This is the first year that I have seen this variety at my local nursery--Paulino Garden's in Denver, Colorado. My neighbor and I have both planted the Cherokee Purple in NW Denver. So far, our plants have been entirely disease free. I have watered this plant liberally--as Denver is semi-arid. I myself have picked 3 tomatoes to date--August 18th, 2005. The early planting season is generally delayed here by cold weather, so I put this plant in around May 15th. So, I am at around 90 days from planting to first harvest--normal for this item. I picked my first 3 tomatoes a day or two early, so I allowed them to ripen off the vine with some of my other tomatoes. As expected, the Cherokee's deepened in color from green-purple to red-purple. This heirloom is fantastic--very moist and den... read morese inside flesh--not the least bit watery or grainy. I attribute that to regular, liberal watering--with only light to moderate fertilization (early soil-mixed compost and late water-base fertilizer). The stem of the plant did not split from under watering, but the fruit did split slightly near the stem. I have read the term "complex" to describe the flavor, but I disagree somewhat. The flavor is not stark--either acidically sour or surprisingly sweet. In short, it does not have the over-powering "tomato" flavor some might be used too (and therefore, disappointed by). This tomato is subtle and smooth--with many of the flavor emerging near the end of the bite--not at the beginning. I would eat it with sandwiches, but also with feta or blue cheese crumbles, herbed or not. I think this is what we should expect from heirlooms like this--surprisingly tomato flavor, celebrated BECAUSE they do not taste like something from the grocery. I would definitely grow this one again. I am eating mine—this evening—with a nice rib eye or fillet!

On Jul 18, 2005, mommaturkey from San Jose, CA wrote:

I am growing a Cherokee Purple Tomato Plant and not sure when to pick the fruit. The plant is doing very well and the fruit is growing. A couple started to ripen, but only the bottoms are turning pinkish purple. The tops are still green. They have been that way for about a week or more. The tomato is soft to touch and feels like it is ready to pick, but does not look ready. I am used to Early Girls and Better Boys that ripen real fast and red all over. I picked one and it had very good flavor but was kind of mushy. I am going to stick it out and see if the green goes away, but I don't want my tomatos to go bad on the vine!!!!

On Jun 7, 2005, megabrams from Indianapolis, IN wrote:

I live in Indianapolois Indiana where I love to grow unusual and unique EVERYTHING! LOL.
I was really looking forward to a unique and well reviewed tomato last year when I started some Purple Cherokee tomato seeds inside and then transplanted them into my garden in May. What I ended up getting was weird! From the outside the tomatoes all looked like the pictures I had seen of this heirloom tomato, but when you cut one open there was next to nothing in it! Inside they looked like bell peppers when you cut one in half - a small bunch of seeds up at the top where the tomatoes stem was, but nothing else! The adult tomatoes were entirely hollow! They had absolutely no juice or meat to them at all! I got the seeds through a seed exchange early in the spring so maybe I just got a bad gene ... read morepool or something. I was very disappointed though.

On Feb 5, 2005, DeaconPete from Callaway, VA wrote:

I grew the Cherokee Purple for the first time last year, and it is the best tasting tomato I have ever grown. The only drawback is that the plants are stingy producers. I'll compensate this year with more plants. All of my Cherokees were picked with green shoulders, and the tomato turned a lavendar/purple when I scalded the tomatoes to skin them.

On Aug 6, 2004, Lindsey146 from Mira Loma, CA wrote:

Don't get me wrong, I am very impressed by the totally different, smoky flavor, nice texture, not too juicy or dry. But either I am doing something totally wrong, I must say these have to be the most ugly tomato I have ever grown! I have a pic here of the blossom side. They see to crack easily, one had "resealed" or scabbed over, commendable I guess, but am not sure if it would be healthy to eat? The 2 bushes I planted from seed I started, are about 5' tall with good leaf coverage. Have never had any problem with those green hard shell June bugs until they found the first ripe CP! I lost three to them! UGH I whipped out the spray and have not noticed their presence since. Tomatoes are ripening slow here this year. Good News/Bad News not as bloody hot as usual! I am NOT complaining. Am anx... read moreious to see how CP yields over the season and how long they will produce since I normaly have tomatoes into the late fall. At this point I am still happy with them but closely watching....

On Jul 20, 2004, winterfly from East Flat Rock, NC wrote:

The conditions must not have been right in my garden for my Cherokee Purple fruit was meaty but bland and tasteless. Probably not enought sun (Only about 6 hours per day). Wish I could taste what others are tasting.

On Nov 26, 2003, Farmerdill from Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

Cherokee Purple grows and produces well in this area. However it is one that you will either hate or love. My wife threatened to leave if I ever brought another one into the house. It tastes like a tomato, but the color is that of raw pork liver. It is just not eye appealing to a lot of folks. Since it is not outstanding in any way but color, I no longer plant it.

On Sep 20, 2003, pameladallaire from Timmins, ON (Zone 2a) wrote:

The plant grew well here in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. The fruit were big but there were only a few per plant.

On Aug 5, 2003, Charlie94965 wrote:

Actually, I buy them from a farmers' market. I have never had a better tomato! We used to grow quite a few in Southern New Jersey, and this is the first West Coast (Marin) fruit I've seen that could rival that product.

On Jun 2, 2003, eddipi from Corte Madera, CA wrote:

This is a hit of the garden in Marin County, CA. Large, great flavored fruit. Dark color is exotic. Have had a bit of trouble with disease, but that may be my fault. Love this tomato.

On Sep 8, 2002, Pala from Olympia, WA (Zone 8b) wrote:

Cherokee Purple is good, but seems somewhat over rated. I thought they were on the dry side when truly ripe and a bit grainy and bland. I may be doing something wrong, but I much prefer Pruden's to this one in a similar category.