Cherokee Carbon

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sink your senses into Cherokee Carbon’s smoky, sun-warmed aroma and its richly complex flavor—deeply sweet with a gentle, savory tang.

The fruits are classic beefsteak-sized and irregularly hearted, with a satin-smooth, mahogany-red skin that darkens toward the shoulders and a dense, juicy interior that feels substantial and velvety. Grow it for bold slices on the plate and for standout sauces where its color and depth shine from first spoonful to last simmer.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Cherokee Carbon

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Sep 18th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Cherokee Carbon’s beefsteak interior is built like a good steak: dense, juicy, and velvety, with enough savory tang to stand up to smoke and char. Treat it right on the board—thick slices, hot blistering, or a long simmer—so its dark sweetness stays intact instead of turning thin.

Best Uses

thick slices on a flatbread with flaky salt so the juices don’t run off too fast
high-heat char or broil and eat it hot—its mahogany tones intensify as it blisters
slow-simmered, spoon-coating tomato sauce where the flavor stays dark and structured
seed-and-gel thick for chunky salsas that cling instead of weeping

Flavor Profile

deep smoky, sun-warmed aroma deeply sweet with a gentle savory tang velvety, dense juicy flesh with beefsteak heft satin-smooth skin that holds up on hot and cold plates

Kitchen Pairings

smoked salt garlic extra-virgin olive oil aged cheddar black pepper balsamic vinegar

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) ‘Cherokee Carbon’, and how can I control it?

Watch for early blight (brown, target-like spots) and septoria leaf spot, which often show up as lower leaves develop spotting and yellowing. Remove and discard badly infected leaves, then spray with a labeled fungicide for tomatoes and improve airflow by spacing plants and keeping foliage dry. For prevention, mulch around the base and avoid wetting leaves when watering.

How often should I water Cherokee Carbon tomatoes during the main growing phase?

During active fruiting, water deeply enough to moisten the soil 6–8 in (15–20 cm) but only when the top 1–2 in (2–5 cm) of soil feels dry. In hot weather, this is commonly every 2–4 days, while cooler conditions may stretch it to about once a week. Use a consistent schedule to prevent fruit cracking and blossom-end rot (which is linked to irregular moisture and calcium uptake).

How can I tell when Cherokee Carbon tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for this variety and give slightly when gently squeezed—ripe Cherokee Carbon tomatoes should have a soft give but not feel mushy. Most plants are ready around 90 days from transplanting/starting, with fruits typically ripening over a period of weeks. If a tomato has a green shoulder or is still firm, leave it on the vine a bit longer.