Heirloom Marriage Cherokee Carbon Tomato Seeds

Solanum lycopersicum Heirloom Marriage Cherokee Carbon Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum Heirloom Marriage Cherokee Carbon Tomato is a vigorous, indeterminate hybrid variety, valued for its exceptional, award-winning flavor and stunning dusky-purple fruit. Growing to about 5 to 7 feet tall with a spread of 3 to 4 feet, this variety is perfect for home vegetable gardens, market growers, and large container plantings where gourmet quality and reliable production are desired. Unlike the traditional heirlooms it descends from—the legendary 'Cherokee Purple' and 'Carbon'—this hybrid offers earlier maturity and significantly higher yields while retaining the complex, rich, and slightly smoky flavor profile that makes purple tomatoes famous.

Culinary and Practical Uses

• The large, 10-to-12-ounce beefsteak fruits are prized for their dense, juicy flesh and perfect balance of sweet and acid, making them the ultimate choice for slicing fresh.
• Its unique dark purple to reddish-black skin creates a dramatic visual contrast in Caprese salads, fresh salsas, and vegetable platters.
• The rich, savory undertones hold up well in cooking, adding depth to roasted tomato soups and rustic pasta sauces.

Characteristics

• Foliage: Dense, dark green leaves that provide excellent cover to prevent sunscald on the dark-skinned fruit; the vines are robust and healthier than many pure heirloom strains.
• Growth Habit: Indeterminate vining habit that continues to grow and set fruit throughout the season until the first frost; requires sturdy staking or caging.
• Flowers: Produces clusters of small, bright yellow blossoms that self-pollinate and set fruit reliably, even in fluctuating summer temperatures.
• Seeds: F1 Hybrid seeds that ensure vigorous germination and uniform plant structure; seeds saved from these fruits will not produce true-to-type offspring.

Growing Requirements

• Sun: Thrives in full sun; requires at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily to fully develop its signature dark color and complex sugar profile.
• Soil: Adapts to most soil types but prefers fertile, deep, well-draining soil enriched with compost and a pH between 6.0 and 6.8.
• Water: Requires consistent, deep watering; regular moisture is essential to prevent cracking (common in large tomatoes) and blossom end rot.
• Spacing: Plant seeds or transplants 24 to 36 inches apart to allow for vigorous vegetative growth and necessary airflow between vines.
• Maintenance: Prune "suckers" (side shoots) regularly to improve air circulation and direct energy into fruit size; feed regularly with a tomato-specific fertilizer once fruit sets.

Shipping Info

 Heirloom Marriage Cherokee Carbon Tomato seeds ship as fresh, high-quality, viable seeds that are carefully packaged for stability and protection from damage during transit. Prompt shipping supports reliable germination and seasonally appropriate planting.