The Heirloom Marriage Cherokee Carbon Tomato is a testament to the living history of American heirloom gardening. This indeterminate variety produces fruit over a long season, reaching maturity in 75 to 80 days and thriving in zones 3 through 11. Named for its dark, nearly black coloring and the heritage of Cherokee cultivation, this tomato carries both botanical significance and cultural weight, delivering the juicy, flavorful fruit that gardeners anticipate each summer.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
?in H x ?in W
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High
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Dark, richly colored fruit emerges from an indeterminate vine that keeps producing throughout the season. The combination of heirloom genetics and proven performance makes this a reliable choice for gardeners seeking both flavor complexity and the satisfaction of growing a variety with deep historical roots. At 75 to 80 days to harvest, it arrives early enough to catch the peak of summer while maintaining the rich character expected from traditional Cherokee tomato lines.
This heirloom tomato is grown primarily for fresh eating, where its character shines brightest. The juicy nature emphasized by seed catalogs and its indeterminate growth habit make it well suited to slicing for summer meals, where the full flavor profile can be appreciated without competition from cooking processes. Gardeners who value heirloom varieties often preserve these fruits through canning or drying to extend their harvest into winter months.
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Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date, maintaining soil temperature between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Once seedlings develop their first true leaves, provide bright light and maintain warm conditions until transplanting.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors once soil temperature reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit and all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 3 inches apart in a location with full sun exposure.
Harvest tomatoes when they reach full color and yield slightly to gentle pressure. The catalog emphasizes harvesting fully ripe fruit for the best flavor; do not pick green tomatoes unless frost threatens. If frost arrives and green fruit remains, harvest the entire plant and allow the fruit to ripen indoors in a cool, dark location, making sure fruits do not touch one another during ripening to prevent soft spots and rot.
As an indeterminate variety, this tomato will continue growing and producing fruit throughout the season. Prune suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) to direct energy into fruit production and improve air circulation around the plant. Remove lower leaves as the plant matures to reduce disease pressure and focus nutrient delivery to developing fruit.
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