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You should pick purple Cherokee tomatoes when they’ve reached full color and give slightly to gentle pressure.
That’s the sweet spot for flavor, texture, and that rich, smoky-sweet taste these heirloom beauties are known for.
If you’ve been growing purple Cherokee tomatoes this season, you’re probably eyeing them daily, wondering when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes so they’re perfect.
Harvesting them too early means you’ll miss out on their complex sweetness, while waiting too long can lead to mushy, overripe fruit.
In this post, we’ll dig into exactly when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes, how to tell they’re ready, and tips for ripening them indoors if you’re unsure.
Let’s get your harvest timing down so every bite is pure garden gold.
When to Pick Purple Cherokee Tomatoes
The best time to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes is when they show that deep, dusky purple-pink blush across most of the fruit.
Unlike red tomatoes that give you a clear signal, purple Cherokees shift from green to a muted, earthy purple with reddish shoulders.
You should pick purple Cherokee tomatoes when the bottom of the fruit (the blossom end) changes from pale green to a warm, yellowish or pinkish tone.
That color change is your queue that sugars are developing, and the tomato is almost at peak ripeness.
Also, check the firmness, as a ripe purple Cherokee will yield slightly when you squeeze it gently, much like a ripe peach.
If it’s rock hard, it’s not ready yet, but if it feels overly soft, you’ve waited a little too long.
1. Look for the Full Purple-Pink Color
The most reliable sign for when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes is their signature color transformation.
These tomatoes don’t turn a uniform red like hybrid varieties, instead, they develop a rich, brownish-purple hue with pink or red streaks near the stem.
You’ll want to wait until at least 70% of the fruit shows that dusky purple tone, rather than green patches.
The green shoulders will eventually fade, but if you pick purple Cherokee tomatoes while large green areas remain, they won’t fully develop their sweetness.
So keep an eye on that color shift from the bottom up, it’s the clearest visual clue.
2. Test the “Give” with Gentle Pressure
Another practical method to know when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes is by feel.
Cradle the tomato gently in your palm and apply light pressure with your thumb, similar to how you’d test an avocado.
If the skin feels slightly springy and gives just a bit, that’s a perfect sign it’s ready to harvest.
If it feels hard like a baseball, give it another few days on the vine.
On the flip side, if your finger leaves a dent, the tomato is overripe and might split or spoil quickly after picking.
That tactile check is part of learning when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes, and it gets easier with practice each season.
3. Watch the Calendar After Pollination
Timing your harvest can also be guided by days from flowering, since these tomatoes typically ripen about 75 to 85 days after transplanting.
Once you see small green fruits forming, start counting, as most purple Cherokees need roughly 45 to 55 days from fruit set to full ripeness.
However, weather plays a huge role, so if you’ve had a cool, cloudy stretch, ripening slows down, and you’ll need to wait longer.
In hot summers, the process speeds up, but heat can also cause uneven ripening or sunscald if temperatures spike above 95°F.
Using calendar days as a rough guide helps you anticipate when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes, while still relying on color and feel for the final call.
4. Pick Before Heavy Rain or Pest Pressure
Sometimes you should pick purple Cherokee tomatoes a little early, even if they’re not perfectly ripe, to save them from damage.
Heavy rain can cause cracking, especially after a dry spell, as the fruit absorbs water too quickly and the skin splits.
Also, if you notice birds pecking or caterpillars munching on your tomatoes, harvest them at the first sign of full color rather than waiting for peak softness.
Those slightly underripe purple Cherokees will still finish ripening indoors, so you don’t lose out on flavor.
That’s a smart strategy for when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes in less-than-ideal conditions.
Can You Ripen Purple Cherokee Tomatoes Indoors?
Yes, you can absolutely ripen purple Cherokee tomatoes indoors if you pick them just slightly early.
If you’ve been wondering when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes and you harvest them with some green still showing, no worries.
Place them stem-side up on a counter at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, and they’ll continue to ripen over the next few days.
The key is that purple Cherokees are climacteric, meaning they produce ethylene gas that drives ripening even off the vine.
For faster ripening, put your tomatoes in a paper bag with a banana or apple, since those fruits release extra ethylene.
Just avoid the fridge, as cold temperatures halt ripening and can make the texture mealy.
1. Keep Them Out of Direct Sunlight
When ripening indoors, place your purple Cherokees on a counter or windowsill but not in harsh sun.
Direct sunlight heats them unevenly, which can cause the flesh to soften too fast while the inside stays underripe.
Room temperature in the 65–75°F range is ideal for continuing the ripening process smoothly.
If you’ve picked purple Cherokee tomatoes with just a bit of green, they’ll turn that dusky purple within a few days indoors.
Check them daily so they don’t overripen and turn mushy.
2. Turn Them Stem-Side Up
Store your tomatoes stem-side up to reduce moisture loss and prevent bruising where they touch the surface.
That stem scar is the most fragile part, and keeping it elevated helps the fruit ripen evenly.
Also, don’t stack purple Cherokees on top of each other, as the weight can cause soft spots and rot.
A single layer on a plate or shallow bowl works perfectly for ripening.
This simple practice makes a huge difference in the final quality of your tomatoes.
3. Watch for the Perfect Window
Once you’ve brought them inside, you’ll notice they continue changing color and softening for up to a week.
Eat them when they reach that full dusky purple shade with a slight give, because that’s peak flavor.
Don’t let them sit too long, as purple Cherokees become overly juicy and lose their structure if overripe.
So even indoors, you’re still practicing when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes, just with a few extra days of flexibility.
So, When Should You Pick Purple Cherokee Tomatoes?
You should pick purple Cherokee tomatoes when they’re fully colored, slightly soft, and at their peak of ripeness.
Knowing when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes boils down to watching for that dusky purple-pink blush, testing gentle give, and considering the weather.
If you’re still unsure, it’s better to harvest a day early than a day late, since they’ll ripen beautifully on your counter.
I hope this guide has helped you master when to pick purple Cherokee tomatoes so you enjoy the best harvest of the season.
Happy growing, and enjoy every rich, smoky bite of those gorgeous purple beauties.