Cherokee Purple vs Black Krim
American heirloom against Crimean import in the dark-tomato class.
| Cherokee Purple | Black Krim | |
|---|---|---|
| Breeding | Heirloom | Heirloom |
| Growth habit | Indeterminate | Indeterminate |
| Days to maturity | 80-85 | 75-80 |
| Fruit color | purple-brown | purple-brown |
| Fruit size class | beefsteak | beefsteak |
| Typical weight | 10-16 oz | 8-16 oz |
| Primary uses | slicing | slicing |
| Introduced | 1990 | - |
| Documented resistances | 0 | 0 |
| Saves true from seed | Yes | Yes |
Disease resistance
Cherokee Purple
No documented resistance, typical of older open-pollinated varieties.
Black Krim
No documented resistance, typical of older open-pollinated varieties.
Traits
Both: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, Indeterminate, Purple / Black, Beefsteak, Slicing
Only Cherokee Purple
- Late Season
Only Black Krim
- Mid Season
Origins
Cherokee Purple
A dusky purple-brown beefsteak given to tomato historian Craig LeHoullier in 1990 by J.D. Green of Tennessee, with an account tracing it to Cherokee gardeners a century earlier. LeHoullier named it and released it through Seed Savers Exchange; it became the gateway heirloom of the modern movement.
Black Krim
A Russian heirloom from the Crimean peninsula near the Black Sea, among the first of the 'black' tomatoes to reach American gardens. Deep mahogany shoulders and a bold, salty-rich flavor.
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Sources & References
Evidence: 5 sources, including 1 independent reference.
- Seed Savers Exchange catalog & variety histories · Seed Savers Exchange, Community Collection
- Victory Seeds variety histories · Victory Seed Company, Seed Catalog
- Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners · Cornell University Cooperative Extension, University or Government
- Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog · Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co., Seed Catalog
- Tomato Growers Supply catalog · Tomato Growers Supply Company, Seed Catalog