When To Harvest Purple Tomatoes

When to harvest purple tomatoes

If you start a Cherokee Purple tomato from seed, it will take about 25 days longer to see mature, ripe fruit on the vine (for a total of 97 to 115 days from seed to ripe fruit). Cherokee Purple tomatoes take 72 to 90 days to produce ripe fruit when transplanted. Add 25 days when starting from seed!

When should you harvest Cherokee Purple tomatoes?

Bulbous fruit with purple-pink flesh and deep red interior present a rich taste and juicy texture. The fruit is ready to harvest starting in 80 to 90 days.

Can you eat purple tomatoes raw?

Purple and Black Tomatoes These tomatoes are best eaten raw, so slice a few up for BLTs or try them in salads.

What does a ripe Cherokee Purple tomato look like?

Pick ripe tomatoes when they are large, and have a strong, deep purple hue amongst their red background. Their shoulders usually remain green, but the green shoulders may get lighter in color when ripe.

How big do purple tomatoes get?

Cherokee Purple Tomato
Botanical Name	Solanum lycopersicum 'Cherokee purple'
Family	Solanaceae
Plant Type	Vine fruit, annual
Mature Size	Vines to 9 ft. long, 2-3 ft. wide

What does a purple tomato taste like?

They're very sweet and have a rich, almost smoky flavor. The fruit is large and refreshingly acidic, thick-skinned with an earthy, lingering flavor.

What to do with Cherokee Purple tomatoes?

cherokee purple tomatoes

Southern Tomato Pie (+Video) Southern Tomato Pie (+Video)
Angel hair pasta with tomatoes, eggplant, and artichoke hearts. ...
Oh, Summer. ...
Granny's Cherokee Casserole. ...
Corn, Tomato, and Basil Salad. ...
A Fresh Chunky Basil Tomato Sauce and Announcing Black and White Wednesday #139.

How can I get my Cherokee Purple tomatoes to ripen?

Cherokee Purple tomatoes can also be left to ripen on the vine, where they will reach their absolute peak of sun-ripened goodness. Watch the color of the peel develop and gently feel the firmness of ripening fruits. Ripe tomatoes should be enjoyed as soon as possible after picking to avoid them becoming over-ripe.

What are Cherokee Purple tomatoes best used for?

The Cherokee Purple tomato is most commonly available in the summer and fall. This tomato is best enjoyed fresh and is often used in BLT sandwiches and salads. It can also be used when making pizza and pasta sauces.

Will my purple tomatoes turn red?

So when to pick it? The secret is that when the shiny blue-purple turns to a dull purple-brown, the inside will be red-orange and will be ripe. Another clue is that the bottom of the fruit, which often remains green, since sunlight doesn't reach it, will turn red. The fruit will also, like other tomatoes, soften a bit.

What is the purpose of purple tomatoes?

The prospect of genetically modified purple tomatoes reaching the shelves has come a step closer. Their dark pigment is intended to give tomatoes the same potential health benefits as fruit such as blueberries.

Are purple tomatoes better than red tomatoes?

In addition to its unique color, the purple tomato also has health benefits and a longer shelf life than garden variety red tomatoes, scientists say.

How many tomatoes will a Cherokee Purple produce?

According to Bonnie Plants, a Cherokee Purple plant yields about twenty tomatoes per season, so it isn't the most prolific tomato plant but that makes sense, since it's an heirloom.

How do you keep Cherokee Purple tomatoes from splitting?

How to Prevent Tomatoes from Splitting

Water Regularly and Deeply. Tomatoes need about an inch of water per week, so water your tomato plants every two to three days during the summer.
Mulch. ...
Look for Resistant Varieties. ...
Pick Tomatoes Early. ...
Provide Good Drainage.

Should I prune Cherokee Purple tomatoes?

Prune tomatoes to one or two vigorous stems by snapping off "suckers" (stems growing from where leaf stems meet the main stem) when they are 2 to 4 inches long.

Are purple tomatoes good to eat?

There are many benefits to eating purple tomatoes. They are a good source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They also have a high lycopene content which can help protect against cancer and heart disease.

How do you eat purple tomatoes?

When you cut into them, their interior flesh is red just like a regular cherry tomato. Although their skin is purple, there's no impact to the taste of the fruit. They taste sweet with a hint of tartness and slightly tangy. They are a great addition to salads, pasta, etc. or to eat just as is.

What are big purple tomatoes called?

A new variety of tomato, called Indigo Rose for its deep purple, nearly black skin, is gaining popularity with gardeners for its unusual color and its potential health benefits.

What is the most flavorful tomato to grow?

A Tomato Expert's 13 Tastiest Toms

Tomato 'Sun Gold'
Tomato 'Anna Russian' ...
Tomato 'Cherokee Green' ...
Tomato 'Cherokee Chocolate' ...
Tomato 'Lillian's Yellow Heirloom' ...
Tomato 'Brandywine' ...
Tomato 'Polish' ...
Tomato 'Cherokee Purple'

Are Cherokee Purple tomatoes good for canning?

Preserving Cherokee Purples requires the same guidelines you would use for canning, freezing, and drying any flavorful tomato varieties. To can tomatoes, use the boiling water bath canning method.