Characteristics and description of the tomato "Cherokee Green Gold"

Tomatoes

Most of us are accustomed to the idea that a ripe tomato must be red, pink, or perhaps even yellow. But the Cherokee Green Gold tomato variety completely defies this notion, expanding the color range of these tasty and healthy vegetables by another shade—brown-green-gold.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The Cherokee Green Gold tomato variety isn't easy to find on the market. It's quite rare, but it's not a new variety. It was bred in the United States in 1997.

This tomato variety is primarily owned by collectors. They are attracted not only by its appearance but also by its unusual flavor. Breeders have successfully combined a juicy, slightly sweet flavor with hints of tropical fruit. The tropical flavor comes from its seeds.

The ripe fruit is a brownish-yellow color on the outside. Some collectors call it "old gold," which is actually implied by the variety's name. The skin is thin, but the tomato usually doesn't crack. Inside, the tomato is a vibrant emerald green with a few green seeds. The flesh is juicy and aromatic.

This tomato is a mid-season, tall variety. When ripe, the fruit is moderately soft to the touch and flattened and round. The surface is ribbed and shiny. Green tomatoes, not yet ripe, are light green and firm. The average weight of a ripe fruit is about 300-500 g, with tomatoes from the first bunch being particularly large; the rest are usually smaller.

A mature Cherokee Green Gold tomato plant can reach a height of 1.8 m and has multiple stems. The leaves are rich green, numerous, and evenly spaced along the trunk. If planted outdoors, the height may be reduced.

The plant doesn't branch much in width, but grows taller. Each stem typically bears 4-5 clusters. Each cluster holds 5-6 fairly large fruits.

Productivity

The Cherokee Green Gold tomato variety is quite productive. With proper care, a single plant can yield up to 7 kg of fruit. Everything depends on the climate, growing conditions, and proper care at every stage, from seed selection to fruit ripening.

Ripening speed

Since this tomato is a mid-season variety, its ripening period is somewhat extended. It takes about 110-120 days from seedling emergence to fruiting, and another week or two for the first fruit to fully ripen.

Tomatoes ripen gradually, throughout most of the summer. Therefore, there's no need to plant other tomato varieties; you can make delicious, flavorful tomato salads all season long.

Features of growing and caring for the Cherokee Green Gold variety

Timing of planting seedlings

Seeds for seedlings should be planted in cups or special boxes 60-65 days before the planting date. Use standard vegetable soil. Keep the seedling boxes in a warm, well-ventilated area.

Transplant to a permanent location when the soil has warmed up sufficiently, which is typically around May. Careful monitoring and protection from frost are essential.

Features of cultivation

Before planting, seeds should be soaked in water to swell. This will enhance their germination. Empty seeds, unsuitable for planting, will simply float to the surface and can be discarded.

It's recommended to plant no more than four tomato plants per square meter. Each plant should be trained to have 2-3 stems and side shoots should be removed promptly. Lower leaves should be removed as soon as they begin to dry out or turn yellow. Mature plants should be tied up to prevent branches from breaking under the weight of the fruit.

Important! To increase yield, add a tablespoon of a mixture of superphosphate and potassium sulfate to each hole when planting. Once the fruit begins to form, apply a magnesium sulfate solution to the roots.

During the growing season, water only during severe drought. The water should be room temperature, not cold. Care must be taken to ensure that the roots are not washed away during watering; they must remain underground, as in addition to the main root, additional roots extend from the trunk, providing additional nutrition to the tall bush and, in turn, to the fruit itself.

All bushes require loosening the soil around the stems as needed to ensure additional oxygen reaches the roots. Weeds should also be regularly removed to prevent them from robbing the plant of its nutrients.

Storage

Cherokee Green Gold is not suitable for long-term storage or transportation, as this variety of tomato has thin skin and is quite juicy, so there is a risk that the tomato will simply crack or crush, losing its original appearance.

The short shelf life is compensated by a long and gradual fruiting period, right up until early autumn, so gardeners can enjoy fresh vegetables straight from the bush at any time, without them going stale for too long.

Purpose of the Cherokee Green Gold tomato

This tomato variety is suitable for fresh consumption. Its striking appearance, yellow-purple skin, and emerald-colored center make it a wonderful addition to any salad or simple vegetable platter.

The juice from this tomato variety has a very interesting taste and color. It's quite thick in consistency, practically seedless, so you don't need to discard them. The flavor is very bright, soft, and slightly sweet with a fruity aftertaste. The color is emerald, unusual for a tomato. If you try this juice, not everyone will immediately recognize what it's made of.

Interesting! In addition to tomatoes' high content of vitamins B and E, as well as iron, these seemingly simple and "everyday" vegetables can lift your mood. Tomatoes contain tyramine, which is converted in the body into serotonin, considered the happiness hormone.

Resistance to diseases and adverse conditions

The Cherokee Green Gold tomato variety is quite resistant to all types of pests and specific diseases. As a precaution, you can treat the seeds with any pesticide before planting. This will prevent many problems later, including the Colorado potato beetle.

As a preventative measure against fungal diseases, treatment is carried out with preparations containing sulfur or copper.

Benefits of Cherokee Green Gold Tomato

Like all tomatoes, this variety has its advantages, but it's not without its drawbacks. The advantages are as follows:

Like all tall varieties, it produces more fruit clusters due to its growth, and therefore, it can yield a higher yield compared to low-growing tomato varieties.
The fruit has a wonderful, unusual commercial appearance and excellent taste.
Resistant to pests and specific diseases.
Easy to care for.
It does not branch much, so more bushes can be planted on the site.
Large fruits.
Long fruiting period, throughout the summer.

Disadvantages of the Cherokee Green Gold tomato

This variety has virtually no significant drawbacks. Here are its main weaknesses:

When growing Cherokee Green Gold, the bushes need to be tied up to prevent the trunk from breaking under the weight of the fruit.
It takes a long time from planting to the beginning of fruiting.
Used only fresh and as juice.
Has a short shelf life.
Can only be grown in a greenhouse or in southern regions with a warm climate.
A rare variety, seeds are not available everywhere.

Regions where the Cherokee Green Gold tomato is grown

This tomato variety is quite heat-loving. It won't tolerate harsh climates. It's best planted in a greenhouse or open ground, but only in the southern regions of Russia with their mild, warm climate.

Although this variety is quite rare, its fruits are very healthy, especially for children and people with allergies to red tomatoes, because thanks to its color, the Cherokee Green Gold tomato is free of the allergen found in red.

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Reviews

Tatyana, Altai Krai.

Having learned about this variety, I finally managed to find seeds, albeit with difficulty. I planted and cared for it according to the instructions. I'm very pleased with the harvest. The tomato is identical, with a pleasant, unusual flavor. My little daughter, accustomed to red tomatoes, didn't even believe it was a tomato at first.

Arkady Ivanovich, Moscow region.

I'd never encountered the Cherokee Green Gold variety before, until I tried a tomato of the same variety from a friend, a collector, two years ago. I got the seeds from him. What I loved most was the color of the ripe tomatoes; they practically glistened in the sun. I wasn't able to grow a tomato that large, but one did reach just shy of 350g.

Sylvester Grigorievich, 58 years old, Lgov

Although this tomato variety is said to be rare, I managed to obtain seeds very quickly. I first encountered the Cherokee Green Gold tomato about five years ago when I was visiting someone and was treated to a salad of delicious tomatoes. I'd forgotten the variety's name, of course, but I recently had the chance to try it again, this time at a different place. Its flavor is incomparable to any other tomato variety, and I'll never confuse it. This time, I wrote down the name and planted Cherokee Green Gold last season. It's completely easy to care for and produces a good yield. It's a shame it doesn't store well, although that's not a drawback at all, as you can easily pick fresh fruit straight from the bush any time from the time the first fruits ripen until fall.