I have grown this one. Production was ok for a beefsteak. Here they ripen to the color of raw liver. My wife forbade me to bring them into the house. Flavor is ok, but there are lots that taste better to me and certainly look more appetizing.

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This was one of the first heirloom tomatoes I tried as I ventured outside the range of the hybrids commonly available in my area. I found this variety especially easy to grow from seed, and I consistently lose less to damping off than some varieties. The plants grow vigorously and are some of the larger tomato plants in my garden. They aren't a terribly prolific producer, but the rich, almost smoky flavor makes them well worth the space in my garden! This one is a constant in my garden. I have about 4 varieties that I always grow, among an average of 15-18 tomato varieties each year, and this is one of my four "keepers."

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My notes from this year, my first year growing tomatoes from seeds: The cherokee tomato plant was one of the hardier sprouts I started. It even survived being outside through a little too much cold too early in the spring. I think it might have been damaged in that, though. The stem of the seedling was scarred after it finally grew bigger and even though I planted it in the ground with that part of the stem well underground, the plant never got very big. Maybe 4 feet total in growth.

It set tomatoes early, which I didn't prune off, so that might've been part of the reason that it was so short too. In all, it only set about seven tomatoes. Four of those tomatoes are inside now because they fell off the plant. I have never picked a cherokee tomato because they all have fallen off the plant. This is my only tomato plant that has been dropping tomatoes.

The tomato that I tasted was delicious! Easily the best tasting tomato of my garden. I plan to grow these again next year and hope to get at least one much healthier plant.

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My second year growing these. I love the flavor, but the two plants really struggled, whereas nearby Early Girl, Celebrity, and several peppers were fantastic this year due to perfect rain. Did not seem diseased; just barely grew and yielded few (note, Mortgage Lifter also struggled). I seem to recall fair enough yield the first go round. Definitely loved the taste then too. I will try again. I like the flavor that much.
Third year growing them (2017) 4 Plants started out gangbusters, growing vigorously, setting fruit, but last few weeks plants have come to a screeching halt while ripening the fruit. And the fruit this year has been mostly quite gnarly and indented. Worse yet, many seem stuck in light pink, tonight I found several rotted out on the bottom, getting so much less useable fruit than Celebrity and Early Girl.
2021- Continuing my search for this flavor in a better producing plant, that is how much I like this flavor. Southern Nights made me pretty happy in 2021, Large Barred Boar had great flavor and some success.

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Cherokee Purple heirloom tomatoes produce well for an heirloom with very decent fruit set. Tomatoes have a complex and unique flavor. Lovely fruit colors of smokey purple.

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Large unattractive brownish fruit, cracked really bad, didn't climb well or produce well. Will not grow again.

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This was my first "black" tomato, and is still my favorite tomato. Very complex, smoky flavor. Wonderful eaten plain, or used in salsa or sauces.

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Flavor was mild, nothing exceptional.

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Beautiful tomato, famous heirloom variety; but a very poor yield. Matures very slowly. For a larger harvest try "Black Prince" or "Carbon", similar tasting heirlooms that produce better, have a greater yield, and are not so prone to cracking.

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I grew Cherokee Purple 2 years ago. Great fruit set, & very tasty, but very difficult to handle. The fruits are thin skinned, as are most heirlooms, & would split when picked. Although the taste & the look are great, I won't grow them again.

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Cherokee Purple is in my top 5 favorite tomatoes (as far as flavor). The downside is that the plants have never been very productive, until this year. I usually get one or two tomatoes, but they're worth the effort. But this year I have two plants producing 9 tomatoes each, which is an interesting development.

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