- 2005 "Heirloom Garden Show" best-tasting tomato award winner
- Cross between Cherokee Purple and Carbon
- 10-12 oz. purple beefsteak with rich flavor
- Early producer with high yields
- Indeterminate plants
Cherokee Carbon Tomato is a cross between Cherokee Purple and Carbon Tomatoes. This cross between two beloved heirlooms produces gorgeous purple beefsteak tomatoes with a wonderfully complex flavor. A variety of Heirloom Marriage Tomatoes, our award-winning Cherokee Purple Tomato Hybrid offers an outstanding heirloom flavor. Along with higher yields and early maturity, these Cherokee Carbon Tomato seeds produce fruits with less cracking and blemishing. These 10 - 12 oz. beefsteak fruits mature between 75 and 80 days and once harvested, they're an excellent addition to tomato sandwiches. This tomato was the 2005 "Heirloom Garden Show" best-tasting tomato award winner and is one of our favorites, too. Expect these indeterminate plants to grow between 5-7 ft. tall and an average of 18 inches in width. For best results, be sure to provide full sun exposure and a sturdy support for your Cherokee Tomatoes, using stakes and caging.
- When Should You Plant Cherokee Carbon Tomato Seeds?
Like other tomato varieties, Cherokee Carbon Tomato seeds can either be started indoors or directly sown into the garden. If starting Cherokee Purple Tomato seeds indoors, start them 5-6 weeks before the last spring frost date for your region. If sowing carbon tomatoes seed directly into the garden, wait until after the last spring frost date. For more planting tips, visit
All about planting tomatoes - and keeping insects away!.
- How Do You Grow a Cherokee Purple Tomato?
The key to growing tomatoes, like Cherokee Tomato, is to plant them in an area that receives full sun (six or more hours of direct sunlight daily) and where they will receive plenty of air circulation. For more information on growing tomatoes, visit
Tomatoes - A Garden Favorite.
- How Do You Care for a Cherokee Carbon Tomato Hybrid Plant?
Cherokee Carbon Tomato plants can grow 5-7 ft. tall and require staking or caging. Place the cages or stakes at the time of transplanting. Mulching your Heirloom Marriage Tomatoes will suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Cherokee Purple tomatoes require about 1 inch of water weekly. When watering, water at the ground level, as this helps with disease control.
- When Is a Cherokee Purple Tomato Ripe?
When Cherokee Carbon tomatoes ripen, their appearance and firmness changes. The fruits turn from a shiny purplish-red color to a slightly darker, duller hue. The bottoms of the tomato will turn from green to more of a reddish color. Instead of feeling very firm, the tomatoes should have a bit of softness to them.
- How Do You Store Cherokee Carbon Tomatoes?
After harvest, fully ripe CarbonTomatoes can be stored at room temperature for 5-7 days. If not fully ripen, store your Cherokee Tomatoes at room temperature to allow them to ripen. Do not store them in the refrigerator.
- What Does a Cherokee Purple Tomato Taste Like?
Cherokee Carbon tomatoes have a wonderfully complex flavor with a bit of sweetness, a bit of tangy flavor and a lot of old-fashioned tomato taste. The firm texture makes them great for sandwiches and fresh eating.