Is this a CP?

[barryla61]

I planted these for Cherokee Purple but the shape is not consistent with all the photos I see of CP's.
Whatever it is, it's the best tasting tomato I've tasted this summer!
Should I save seed?

[Redbaron]

Looks like they could be.

[Ed of Somis]

those do not look like my CP's. Unless the photo is a problem...where is the dark undertones of color???

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by Ed of Somis

those do not look like my CP's. Unless the photo is a problem...where is the dark undertones of color???

That "brick red" color varies a lot depending on where you grow them. That's why I said they "could be". Set one beside a Rutgers or Big Boy grown in the same area, and you may be able to tell better. My CP also are even darker, but I am in OK and the op is in VA and we don't know how much sun etc....

[Labradors2]

Here's a picture that may help. The top three large tomatoes are Black Krim and the bottom three are Cherokee Purple. I took them to show a friend what colour they should be when ripe, as she hasn't grown them before.

To fill in the gap in the middle, I put three yellow cherries, a Sweet Million cherry and three Black Cherry tomatoes (on the right).

I think the colour is a bit off in my picture and that the SM doesn't look red enough.

So I concur that Barry's tomatoes could very well be CP.

Linda

[Anthony_Toronto]

Shape and colour don't look right to me, at all.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Anthony_Toronto

Shape and colour don't look right to me, at all.

I agree.

I was one of the first, if not the first person, that Craig sent seeds to and have grown it many times since 1992.

There's no
red to it and no purple either, the epidermis is clear and the fruits beefsteak shaped, so its what I call a pink/black, same coloration forr Indian Stripe, Black from Tula,etc,

Here are some pictures from Google IMAGES>

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...81.i5le2Y1GUiI

Most are correct for color and shape a few are not and photography/color can make a big difference as well,

Carolyn

[Anthony_Toronto]

Linda I like the tape idea, but have you considered just using a permanent marker instead? I only have about 10 varieties this year and the only ones that look similar are Brandy Sudduth/Mortgage Lifter, and Cherokee Purple/Indian Stripe, so when I pick the Brandy and the CP I write a B or C on them so I can distinguish from the ML and IS. Doesn't seep through the skin (and I usually skin all of my tomatoes before eating in any event).

[Labradors2]

Originally Posted by Anthony_Toronto

Linda I like the tape idea, but have you considered just using a permanent marker instead? I only have about 10 varieties this year and the only ones that look similar are Brandy Sudduth/Mortgage Lifter, and Cherokee Purple/Indian Stripe, so when I pick the Brandy and the CP I write a B or C on them so I can distinguish from the ML and IS. Doesn't seep through the skin (and I usually skin all of my tomatoes before eating in any event).

I don't label all my tomatoes either. Most of the Heirlooms that I grow are distinctive and easily ID'd and I won't be saving seeds from the hybrid cherry plants (that I was given). My two similar ones are Cherokee Purple and Black Krim.

I really like using masking tape because it's easy to remove and can be re-used (which saves me time and the trouble of searching for the pen and tape). I stick it on the little glasses in which I ferment my seeds, and then on the plates where the seeds are dried. If I'm in a hurry, I can even stick the label on the seed envelope and write something more descriptive later!

I use it on plastic containers for home made frozen food, to label my kefir grain jars, and to mark the date that I started my Kombucha tea. My labels can even go through the dishwasher and come out intact! I often share things in mason jars with a friend and I put an "L" on my lids. They don't wear off or fall off! Admittedly, I could use a permanent marker for all my lids, but it's so, well, permanent {LOL}.

I stick tape on my tomatoes because I usually eat the skins - unless I cook the tommies. I really don't like eating more chemicals than absolutely necessary.

Aren't you glad you asked?

Linda

[crmauch]

Originally Posted by Labradors2

I really like using masking tape because it's easy to remove and can be re-used (which saves me time and the trouble of searching for the pen and tape). I stick it on the little glasses in which I ferment my seeds, and then on the plates where the seeds are dried. If I'm in a hurry, I can even stick the label on the seed envelope and write something more descriptive later!

I use it on plastic containers for home made frozen food, to label my kefir grain jars, and to mark the date that I started my Kombucha tea. My labels can even go through the dishwasher and come out intact! I often share things in mason jars with a friend and I put an "L" on my lids. They don't wear off or fall off! Admittedly, I could use a permanent marker for all my lids, but it's so, well, permanent {LOL}.

I also use masking tape for labels - particularly on frozen food containers. However on glass or plastic, if the tape is on for a long time, it will often leave a tape residue that is very difficult to get off. So here is two things I do so I don't have the residue problem -- first when you take your piece of masking tape off the roll, fold under a very small corner of the tape. this gives you a 'starting point' for removing the tape. Then take the tape and place it briefly on your shirt or jeans before putting it on the container. It will pick up a small amount of fuzz from your clothes but still stick well. The only problems I've had are if the the tape is very old, or a very cheap brand the 'shirt' method will prevent the tape from sticking well enough, but it's usually instantly obvious as the tape will curl up from the ends.

[ddsack]

Yay for masking tape! Linda, I don't use masking tape on my tomatoes - do use the Sharpie permanent marker, which bit of skin can just be snipped or peeled off since it's usually near the green stem end. But I agree with you about masking tape on almost everything else! I managed to get one of those heavy solid base office type dispensers, and keep it handy in my kitchen. Every leftover put in the fridge gets a day of the week/date label stuck on! No more wondering if that plastic container or saran wrapped item has been in there for three days or three weeks or three months! I too have had items go through the dishwasher with masking tape intact.

[kevn357]

Originally Posted by barryla61

I planted these for Cherokee Purple but the shape is not consistent with all the photos I see of CP's.
Whatever it is, it's the best tasting tomato I've tasted this summer!
Should I save seed?

Not a CP. Save seed and see what happens. Just don't share it as CP!

[travis]

There are many tomato lines shared or sold as Cherokee Purple that are not true to type.

There are even more tomato lines that resulted from off-type or out-crossed Cherokee Purple, and are shared or sold legitimately under their own name.

Many of the off-type, out-crossed Cherokee Purples are doggone good tomatoes.

[Lee]

This is what the real Cherokee Purple should look like, as this came from the original source.

Like Travis, I suspect there's a lot of lines that are not true to type anymore.

I also found this to be the case with Cuostralee a few years ago when I grew 6 different sources and compared it to mine. Even grown in the same soil with the same conditions, all 7 turned out different flavor wise. Only 3 others matched mine for size/shape/color.

Very enlightening experiment.....

Lee