If you’re planning your garden, you might be wondering how big do Cherokee Purple tomatoes get. This beloved heirloom is famous for its flavor, but understanding its size and growth helps you plan better. Let’s look at what you can expect from these plants and fruits.
Knowing the potential size of both the plant and the tomatoes themselves is key to a successful harvest. It influences your spacing, staking, and even your patience level. Cherokee Purples are worth the wait, but they do have specific needs.
How Big Do Cherokee Purple Tomatoes Get
The answer has two parts: the size of the plant and the size of the fruit. Both can be quite impressive with proper care.
A healthy Cherokee Purple plant is a vigorous, indeterminate vine. This means it continues growing and producing fruit until frost kills it. Under ideal conditions, you can expect the plant to reach 6 to 9 feet in height by the end of the season. Some gardeners even report them climbing past 10 feet in long, warm climates. The plant also spreads out about 3 to 4 feet wide, so it needs substantial support and space.
The tomatoes themselves are the real stars. A mature Cherokee Purple tomato typically weighs between 10 and 14 ounces. That’s often larger than a baseball, sometimes aproaching the size of a small grapefruit. Their diameter usually ranges from 3 to 5 inches across. You’ll notice they are not perfectly round; they have a slightly flattened, globular shape with distinctive shoulder ribs.
Factors That Influence Final Size
Not every tomato will hit that 14-ounce mark. Several factors in your garden directly affect how big your Cherokee Purples will ultimately get.
* Sunlight: These plants need full, direct sun—at least 8 hours per day. Less sun leads to weaker growth and smaller fruit.
* Soil Nutrition: Rich, well-draining soil amended with plenty of compost is essential. A lack of key nutrients, especially phosphorus and potassium during fruiting, can limit size.
* Watering Consistency: Inconsistent watering is a major cause of problems. Deep, regular watering prevents the plant from becoming stressed, which can stunt fruit development.
* Plant Health: Diseases like blight or pest infestations can sap the plant’s energy, diverting resources away from growing big tomatoes.
* Temperature: Cherokee Purples thrive in warm conditions but may slow growth during extreme heat waves or if nights are too cool.
Growth Expectations and Timeline
Cherokee Purple is not the earliest tomato, but it’s not the latest either. It’s considered a mid-to-late season variety. Here’s a typical timeline from seed to harvest:
1. Starting Seeds: Begin indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date. Seeds germinate in 5-10 days.
2. Transplanting: Move seedlings outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. They are very sensitive to cold.
3. Early Growth: After transplanting, the plant will focus on establishing roots and vegetative growth for the first few weeks.
4. Flowering: First flowers usually appear 4-5 weeks after transplanting. These yellow flowers will become your first tomato clusters.
5. Fruit Set & Development: From pollination to mature green fruit takes about 3-4 weeks. Then, the ripening process begins.
6. Ripening: The long wait! From a mature green state to fully ripe, blushy purple can take another 3-5 weeks. Total days to harvest is typically 80-90 days from transplant.
Essential Care for Maximum Size
To help your plants reach their full potential, follow these practical steps.
Planting and Spacing
Crowding is a common mistake. Give each Cherokee Purple plant plenty of room.
* Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart in rows that are about 4 feet apart.
* Plant them deep! Bury up to two-thirds of the stem. The buried stem will grow additional roots, creating a stronger, more robust plant.
Staking and Support
These large, heavy plants will collapse without serious support. Install it early to avoid damaging roots later.
* Use tall, sturdy cages (at least 5 feet tall), heavy-duty tomato stakes, or a trellis system.
* Tie the main stem loosely to the support every 12-18 inches of growth using soft cloth or twine. Don’t wait untill it’s already falling over.
Watering and Feeding Schedule
Consistency is your best tool here.
* Water deeply 1-2 times per week, aiming for about 1-2 inches of water total. The goal is moist, not soggy, soil.
* Mulch heavily with straw or shredded leaves to retain moisture and keep soil temperature even.
* Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer at planting. Then, switch to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus (the middle number) when flowering begins to promote good fruit set and development.
Pruning and Suckering
As an indeterminate plant, Cherokee Purples produce “suckers”—shoots that grow in the crotch between the main stem and a branch.
* Many gardeners remove some suckers to improve air flow and direct energy to fewer, larger fruits.
* A simple method is to prune to 1-3 main stems. Pinch off other suckers when they are small.
* However, minimal pruning is also fine, especially in hot climates where the extra foliage helps protect fruit from sunscald.
Common Size-Related Questions and Issues
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, things don’t go as planned. Here’s what might happen.
* Why are my tomatoes small? The most likely culprits are inconsistent watering, high temperatures (above 90°F can hinder fruit set), inadequate sunlight, or overcrowding.
* Cracking or Splitting: This often occurs after a heavy rain following a dry period. The fruit expands to fast. Maintaining even soil moisture is the best prevention.
* Uneven Ripening or Hard Shoulders: This can be caused by temperature stress or a lack of potassium. Ensure your fertilizer is balanced and your plants are well-watered during heat waves.
Harvesting Your Cherokee Purples
You’ll know they’re ready when they achieve their full, dusky purple-pink color with green shoulders and feel slightly soft to a gentle squeeze. They should come off the vine with a slight twist. If birds or squirrels are a problem, you can pick them when they first show color and finish ripening them indoors on a counter away from direct sunlight.
FAQ: Cherokee Purple Size and Growth
Q: How tall will my Cherokee Purple tomato plant grow?
A: Expect 6-9 feet tall, sometimes more. Provide a tall, sturdy support system from the start.
Q: What is the typical weight of a Cherokee Purple tomato?
A: Most fruits fall between 10 and 14 ounces, with some giants reaching a pound or more under perfect conditions.
Q: Are Cherokee Purple tomatoes determinate or indeterminate?
A: They are strictly indeterminate, meaning they will grow and produce fruit continuously all season.
Q: How many tomatoes does one Cherokee Purple plant produce?
A: A healthy, well-supported plant can yeild 20-30 fruits or more over the growing season.
Q: Why are my Cherokee Purples not turning purple?
A: The color develops best with warm days and coolish nights. Extreme heat can delay or mute the color. They are ripe when the bottom turns a deep, dusky rose and the top shoulders soften in color.
Q: Can I grow Cherokee Purple in a container?
A: Yes, but choose a very large pot (at least 15-20 gallons) and be vigilant about watering and feeding. The fruit size may be slightly smaller than in-ground plants.
Growing Cherokee Purple tomatoes is a rewarding experience for any gardener. By understanding their growth habits and size expectations, you can provide the right care from the start. With ample space, strong support, and consistent moisture, you’ll be well on your way to harvesting those uniquely flavorful, hefty tomatoes that make summer so special.