When to pick my Cherokee Purple tomatoes?

[texanatheart]

I'm a first-time gardener this year, and I'm really enjoying it. I have two tomato plants; one cherry tomato (which is going gang-busters!) and one Cherokee Purple.

My question is this: A couple of the Cherokee Purples are nice and red, and I was about to go out to pick them. But I'm wondering if I need to wait until they have some purple on them before picking. I'm really anxious to try them!! :

Anyone here know the answer or have a recommendation?

TIA!!

[lmonter]

I typically go by feel. If they're totally hard with no give, they're not ripe yet. If they feel like a ripe tomato, you're in business. But, given that the word purple is in the name, I'd hazard a guess you might need to wait a little until they darken. I have some Purple Russian tomatoes that are very interestingly colored... kind of gray/purple/pink/green depending. Not exactly sure what my Cherokee Purples will look like since this is the first time I've grown them.

[~Boudicca~]

Ooh, I'm growing Cherokee Purples to and I cannot wait to try them. Mine are still green though, if it could just stay warm and sunny and stop with the never-ending-rain then I might actually get to eat them.

Good luck!

[texanatheart]

Thanks for your ideas!

Just an update, mamas. I ended up going with feel, and I had 3 that were 'ripe-feeling' but still just red...no purple to be seen. I picked them, and they were definitely at least ripe; probably could have picked them a couple days sooner. I'm curious why the 3 so far have had NO purple?? Still quite a few that are green.

I'll keep y'all posted on the future tomatoes.

Originally Posted by lmonter

I typically go by feel. If they're totally hard with no give, they're not ripe yet. If they feel like a ripe tomato, you're in business. But, given that the word purple is in the name, I'd hazard a guess you might need to wait a little until they darken.

[cristeen]

I've never grown them myself, but most of the purple cherokees I see around here are about half/half red/purple. It may be your soil, the weather, the ripeness, etc., that dictates color.

But purple cherokees will get quite soft when they're fully ripe. Not like a beefsteak when ripe, which still has some firmness to it, PCs are extremely soft and tender.