What’s better than a fresh tomato from the garden that you’ve grown? Now, there are a lot of varieties in the market. Paul Robeson and Cherokee Purple are two great options.
So, which one should you go for Paul Robeson Tomato Vs Cherokee Purple?
Well, in terms of taste, Paul Robeson got a sweeter taste. And loaded with tangy, sunnier flavors. But Cherokee Purple is definitely smokier. Paul Roberson is usually smaller (7 to 10 oz) than Cherokee Purple (10 to 16 oz). And both can be planted during the Spring or Summer season.
But, that’s not all. We’ve provided you with detailed differences further in this post.
Let’s dive into it.
Cherokee Purple Vs Paul Robeson Tomato: A Quick Comparison
These two popular tomato varieties have a lot of similarities and differences. We’ve carefully handpicked the similarities and differences that matter. We’ll discuss in detail in the later section.
But before that, here’s a quick overview-
| Feature | Paul Robeson Tomato | Cherokee Purple |
| Color | Green shoulder with dark orange | Dusky pink color with a deep red edge |
| Taste | Sweeter, tangy, sunnier, and superior earthy “black” flavor. | Great combination of rich and smoky flavor |
| Size | 7 to 10 Oz | 10 to 16 Oz |
| Mature days | 70 to 80 days | 80 to 90 days |
| Plant Time | Summer or Spring, Annual | Summer or Spring, Annual |
| Ideal temperature | 70°F to 95°F | 50°F to 95°F |
Paul Robeson Tomato Vs Cherokee Purple: Head To Head
You have already seen the quick comparison on Cherokee Purple and Paul Robeson. Now we have here a detailed discussion on all the features you have seen on the table. Let’s go through them.
A Brief History
In 1937, Paul Robeson was named after the legendary black opera singer and star of King Solomon’s Mines.
American Paul Robeson was also a Russian Black Equal Rights Advocate. This Russian cultivar was affectionately named after him.
Cherokee Purple is a more vigorous plant but super productive. It produces larger fruit, making it slightly more productive overall.
On the other hand, Cherokee Purple seeds, originally grown in Tennessee, are believed to be passed down from the Cherokee tribe to Native Americans. Cherokee Purple grows in most parts of the United States.
Cherokee Purple grows large, with gigantic vines and massive fruit.
Color
Paul Robeson got a dark green shoulder with dark orange color instead of red. The edges or outsides are dark red and have a little bit of a core.
Cherokee has a dusky pink color with a deep red edge. But when ready for eating, it has a rich, dusky-rose color. And a little greenish hue near the stem.
Taste
As far as the taste goes, both variants have an almost similar flavor. But Paul Robeson got a sweeter taste than Cherokee Purple. But definitely Cherokee Purple is smokier.
Paul’s brick red skin is a little bit thicker. It is loaded with flavors such as tangy, sunnier, and superior earthy “black” flavor.
On the other hand, Cherokee Purple’s skin is pretty thin. It has a fairly sweet taste but has a great combination of rich and smoky flavor. You won’t feel the standard tomato flavor when you bite into it.
With a little salt and olive oil, you will taste the perfect flavor of Cherokee Purple. Both got a really good one of those flavors that you wanna keep eating.
Size of the Fruit
Paul Robeson and Cherokee Purple are almost similar. But the Paul Roberson is usually smaller than Cherokee Purple.
Usually, Cherokee Purple is about 10 to 16 Ounces. On the other hand, Paul Robeson is about 7 to 10 Ounces.
Paul Roberson got a kind of purplish shoulder. It is great for slicing up a Caprese salad with mozzarella, and a little basil. And don’t forget to add balsamic over the top of that.
Mature Days, Plant Time, and Growing Habit
These tomato varieties come with almost similar types of planting seasons. You can plant both of them during the mid-season of Summer or Spring.
And of course, both can be planted once a year. None of them are perennial.
Naturally, the maturity period of Paul Robeson is 70 to 80 days. Whereas it takes 80 to 90 days to mature a Cherokee Purple.
For both of the varieties, the growth habit is indeterminate. And easy to grow.
If you live in a place where the weather is really wet, you rarely have to water your plants.
Temperature, Plant Height, Diameter, and Suitability
When you’re growing outside, the ideal temperature for Paul Roberson is 50°F to 95°F. On the other side, 75°F to 95°F is for Cherokee Purple. The soil temperature needs to be at around 60°F.
At least 6 hours of sunlight are needed. And both require water at moderate levels.
The usual height of Paul Roberson is 60 to 84 inches. But Cherokee Purple is around 50 inches.
One of the best features they both have is sustainability. They both are drought tolerant and come with high heat sustainable features.
But Cherokee Purple naturally survives to produce well. And it happens more than half of the time. But on this side, Paul Robeson struggles to survive sometimes.
Another thing is that you need to plant them 30 to 40 inches apart.
Cherokee Purple usually doesn’t do well in short summers. In terms of yield, you might get only a few fruits off each plant.
Final Verdict
You have seen the detailed comparison of both types of tomatoes. Both of them have differences in taste, size, and texture. And this is why it is tough to have a final verdict on these two tomatoes.
If you consider the bigger size and can wait a moderately more harvest time, then Cherokee Purple wins the edge. In case of sweet taste, Paul Roberson is your bet.
FAQs
What Type of Tomato is Cherokee Purple?
Cherokee Purple is a beefsteak type of tomato. This 10 to 16 ounces of the weight of tomato comes with a rich, juicy texture. It was one of the earliest of the darker-colored tomato varieties known as “blacks.”
What Does a Paul Robeson Tomato Taste Like?
Paul Robeson is loaded with flavors such as tangy, sunnier, and superior earthy “black” flavor. This variety of tomatoes has a nice mixture of sweetness and acidity.
What are Cherokee Purple Tomatoes Good for?
Cherokee Purple tomatoes are packed with vitamins and minerals. This variety of tomatoes has vitamins A, C, and K, and is an antioxidant. These help keep your bones strong along with aiding a good immune system and eye health.
Conclusion
That’s all. We hope these insights about Paul Robeson tomato vs Cherokee Purple were helpful.
Both of them have great color and taste amazing with lots of flavors.
Temperature and sustainability are some serious issues. But the good thing is, both of them get great sustainability.
Let us know which one is the best according to you.
Till then, Happy Farming!
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