Cherokee Chocolate

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sink your senses into Cherokee Chocolate’s richly complex, smoky-sweet aroma and its velvety, mahogany-red flesh with warm chocolate-brown undertones.

This beefsteak standout forms large, irregularly ribbed fruits that feel substantial in the hand—juicy yet pleasantly dense—ideal for slicing thick and showcasing their deep, savory flavor in bold salads and hearty sandwiches, as well as for robust sauces and slow-simmered salsas. Gardeners love its dramatic color and full-bodied taste that make every harvest feel like a rare treasure.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Cherokee Chocolate

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	Cage
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 Chocolate is the kind of tomato you slice to show off—dense, velvety, and darkly flavored enough to taste like it’s been cooking even when it hasn’t. Use it in applications that let its smoky-sweet undertones and structure stay intact—hot, heavy, and savory is where it performs.

Best Uses

thick slice-and-sear or broiled “tomato steaks” where the fruit stays meaty instead of collapsing
BLTs and heavy sandwiches that can handle a fruit-forward, not-too-watery interior
slow-simmered sauces that benefit from its dark, savory profile
hearty, chunky salsas where you want texture plus a smoky-sweet backbone

Flavor Profile

smoky-sweet aroma with chocolate-brown undertones velvety, mahogany-red flesh that's juicy yet pleasantly dense savory, warm, lightly complex acidity that keeps slices from tasting flat

Kitchen Pairings

smoked salt balsamic vinegar black pepper garlic mozzarella pork

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem is most common on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) and how do I control it?

Late blight and early blight are common on tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), showing up as dark leaf spots that spread quickly in humid weather. Remove and destroy infected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil line (not the foliage) to keep leaves dry. If pressure is high, use a labeled fungicide appropriate for tomatoes and start treatments as soon as spots or weather conditions favor blight.

How often should I water Cherokee Chocolate tomato during the main growing phase?

During the main growth and fruiting period (roughly from flowering through ongoing harvest), keep soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week depending on heat and container size. Water deeply 1–3 times per week rather than frequent light watering, and let the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil dry slightly between waterings to reduce disease risk. Mulch helps maintain steady moisture and reduces cracking and blossom-end rot.

How can I tell when Cherokee Chocolate tomato is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored (deep brown-red with a rich mahogany tone for this cultivar) and the shoulders no longer look green. The fruit should give slightly to gentle pressure and feel fragrant at the stem; fully mature tomatoes will detach easily with a light twist. For best flavor, pick at peak softness—do not wait until they are overly wrinkled or splitting.