Cherokee Purple Tomato (pictured above)

A medium large dark purple, flattened globe tomato from Tennessee that is rumored to have come from the Cherokee gardeners. Its flavor is rich and full, and is often compared to Brandywine. The flesh is multi-colored, ranging from dusky pink to brick red and is very attractive sliced on a plate. Interior is multilocular; ranging from purple to brown, to green. Plants make large, but relatively short vines that yield tomatoes approximately 5" across and 3 1/2" deep. This variety is more draught resistant than some others.

Note: If you have any more information about this tomato, please contact me via email.

Basic Tips For Growing Tomatoes

Follow these easy seven steps for a bountiful healthy crop of tomatoes that taste almost too good to be true

1. Begin early by sowing your seeds indoors in February or March to get a jump on the season. Use buckets or products available at your local nursery to protect young plants from late-spring frost. Your tomatoes will be  bigger and better tasting the more time they have spent on the vine.

2. Tomatoes require at least eight hours of direct sun light a day so be sure to plant where they will receive adequate sunshine.

3. Use good soil. Dark color and well aerated dirt usually indicates  a pH of 6 to 6.5. If you need to improve your soil, just add your own homemade compost or store-bought peat moss.

4.Don't crowd your plants. Seedlings should be planted at least three feet apart, so that your tomatoes don't have to compete for light and food.

5. Regular weekly watering is needed. Depending on nature isn't a good idea though. To see if your plants need water, feel the soil an inch or two below the surface. If it's dry, water your plants a moderately (too much water can cause fruit to crack). Mulching around your plants will help retain moisture.

6. Give your tomato plant plenty of food to grow on often throughout the entire growing season with fertilizer. Just follow the manufacturer's directions printed on the box.

7. Get rid of those suckers if you want bigger tomatoes. Choose the stem with two or three of the largest fruits and pinch off the rest. By allowing only one stem to develop this will let the plant's energy concentrate on the remaining tomatoes.