Cherokee Green
Single source · Reviewed Sep 9, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Open-pollinated beefsteak from USA, 1997. Green-when-ripe member of the Cherokee family: full depth with a sharper edge. Ready in about 80 days from transplant.
- Open-pollinated
- 80 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Large fruit
- Moderate (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Beefsteak 10–16 oz (280–450 g) · Flattened globe (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Plant height
- 5–7 ft (150–210 cm) (estimated) Tall
- Spacing
- 24 × 35 in (60 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground
- Container growing
- Not suited to pots
- Skin
-
- Green
- Interior
-
- Green
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
5–7 ft (150–210 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Cherokee Green is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 5–7 ft (150–210 cm).
Flavor
“Green-when-ripe member of the Cherokee family: full depth with a sharper edge.”
Growing calendar
- Sow indoors
- Transplant out
- Harvest
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date.
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Fresh & salads
- Slicing
- High flavor
- Rare collector
- Novelty color
Origin
Cherokee Green appeared in Craig LeHoullier's garden in 1997 among plants grown from Cherokee Chocolate seed, first taken for a stable mutation and later thought more likely a chance cross; either way it was stabilised rather than inherited, so it is open-pollinated but not an heirloom. It ripens to amber-green rather than any red tone, which makes ripeness hard to judge until the shoulders take on a yellow cast. The flavour carries the depth of the Cherokee line with a sharper edge.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
| Shop | Offer | Price | Packet | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Leaf Market | Seeds | $2.99Checked Sep 16, 2026 | 300 Mg Packet | Check availability | Buy |
| Tomato Growers Supply Company | Seeds | $3.65Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Pack (30 seeds) | Check availability | Buy |
| Eden Brothers | Seeds | $5.49Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Packet | Check availability | Buy |
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Sep 16, 2026; not live.
All photos
-
Cherokee Green tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Cherokee Green tomatoes -
Cherokee Green tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Cherokee Green tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Cherokee Green tomatoes -
Cherokee Green tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Cherokee Green take to mature?
Cherokee Green is ready in about 80 days from transplant.
Does Cherokee Green need staking?
Cherokee Green is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 5–7 ft (150–210 cm).
Can Cherokee Green be grown in a container?
Cherokee Green is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Cherokee Green resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Cherokee Green.
See also
Other beefsteak varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, mid-late, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
