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Cherokee Tomato is a medium-large slicing tomato with genuine heritage credentials. Developed at North Carolina's Agricultural Experiment Station in 1982 as a cross between Walter and Ace 55 VF varieties, it produces flattened globe-shaped fruits weighing 7 to 8 ounces in just 80 days from transplant. This open-pollinated heirloom thrives in full sun with moderate water and reaches 3 to 8 feet tall depending on your support system, making it adaptable to gardens, raised beds, and greenhouses alike.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
96in H x ?in W
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High
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Cherokee Tomato carries genuine Southern breeding in its DNA, born from a deliberate cross designed to combine the best qualities of two proven varieties. The flattened globe shape and consistent 7 to 8 ounce size make these fruits elegant slicers, and the relatively quick 80-day harvest window means you're picking ripe tomatoes well before season's end. Its open-pollinated nature means you can save seeds year after year, deepening your connection to this variety with every generation you grow.
Cherokee Tomato is grown primarily as a slicing tomato for fresh eating. The medium-large fruits with their flattened globe shape work beautifully on the plate, in salads, and on sandwiches, where their size and form make them easy to slice cleanly. The open-pollinated nature of the variety appeals to gardeners who value seed saving traditions, allowing growers to maintain their own line of plants adapted to their specific climate and conditions.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last expected frost date. Maintain soil temperature between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Keep seedlings under bright light once they emerge and thin or space them to prevent crowding.
Transplant seedlings outdoors once soil has warmed and all frost danger has passed. Cherokee Tomato is half-hardy, so wait until nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows that are 36 inches apart. Bury the stem deeper than it was growing in the pot; tomatoes will root along buried stem portions, creating stronger plants.
Harvest Cherokee Tomato fruits when they reach full mature color, typically 80 to 89 days from transplant. The fruits should feel slightly soft when gently squeezed, indicating peak ripeness. Cut or carefully twist fruits from the vine. For best flavor, allow tomatoes to fully ripen on the plant rather than picking them early and ripening them indoors.
As a determinate tomato, Cherokee Tomato grows to a set height and naturally produces a concentrated crop rather than growing indefinitely. Light pruning of lower leaves (once plants are established) improves air circulation and reduces disease pressure, but heavy pruning is unnecessary. Focus on removing any diseased or damaged foliage rather than aggressive pruning.
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“Cherokee Tomato emerged from deliberate breeding work at North Carolina's Agricultural Experiment Station, where researchers crossed two established varieties, Walter and Ace 55 VF, and introduced the result to gardeners in 1982. This wasn't a random discovery but a thoughtful effort to create a tomato that combined proven performance traits. The variety became known as Cherokee Red, reflecting both its regional roots and the deep color of its mature fruit. As a non-GMO, open-pollinated heirloom, it represents a moment when agricultural institutions were still focused on creating varieties that home gardeners could grow, save seed from, and pass along to neighbors.”