I've grown Cherokee Green since it was first discovered by Craig when Darell Merrell sent back saved seeds of Cherokee Chocolate to Craig, and Cherokee Green was found when those seeds when planted out.

it's no different from any other variety in terms of germination, so if all your other ones came up fine I'd say that the seed was perhaps too old, or something else was wrong with the seeds.

it's even hard to say that the seeds were too old since CG hasn't been around that long.

Were these purchased or traded seeds if you wish to so indicate? Just curious.

I've grown lots of green when ripes and Cherokee Green is still my favorite.

Carolyn, who also notes that having that many seedlings with seed coats hanging on is not that typical either. Especially since apparently your other ones didn't have that. They may still come around since after manually removing seed coats it often does take some time before growth resumes.

Thanks for the comments, Carolyn. I hope you are well. I don't know how old my CG seeds were, but I have had them for a couple years. Someone visited a couple of summers ago to talk tomatoes and brought me a bunch of flower/vegetable seeds, and I think this packet was one of those. No date on it. Many of my other tomatoes planted this time were at least 3 years old and came right up. I will keep my eye on these (as I have seen miraculous recoveries in the past), but I don't have a lot of hope.

Another question would be, if you only had, say, one seedling of a certain variety, and it was a weak-looking one, would you transplant it into your garden at all? My tomato space is limited, and I hate to sacrifice a spot to something that won't perform. But I am getting ahead of myself, as usual.

Another question would be, if you only had, say, one seedling of a certain variety, and it was a weak-looking one, would you transplant it into your garden at all? My tomato space is limited, and I hate to sacrifice a spot to something that won't perform. But I am getting ahead of myself, as usual.

******

That would depend on whether or not it was a very rare variety and seeds were hard to come by, and I have been in that situation before.

But for somethiong like Cherokee Green, where seeds are very available I'd plant out if space was not a consideration, as it never was for me all the years I was growing close to 1000 plants/season, but if space was limited I probably/maybe wouldn't.

I've got plenty of Cherokee Green seeds b'c I still list it in the SSE Yearbook so if you want to e-mail me at cmale@aol.com with your address I'll get some out to you ASAP b'c you still have plenty of time to sow seeds and still get mature fruits in your gardening zone.

Not a general offer of seeds folks. Sorry.

Carolyn

Craig had tough time with CG germination this year.

2 cells =50 seeds -> 4 plants!

I think he planted some more later and most all came up.....

Go figure.. the moon must have been in the wrong phase.....

Lee

T, got your e-mail this AM and your seeds will go out tomorrow AM. Why not double sow to be sure to get a few plants, even though these seeds I think are either 2003 or 2004 ( would need to check) for I sent you plenty of seeds. ( smile)

There should be no problem if seeds are less than 5 yo and older than that up to maybe 10-12 years just double sow, and beyond that one usually has to use some magic to wake them up, but not always.

If you do double sow keep an eye on them b'c more times than not they almost all come up and you have to thin out ASAP.

Carolyn

Thanks so very much - and don't worry I will plant plenty of them just to be sure I get one good plant.

Just an update - after 2 more trials I finally have at least 2 seedlings germinated that I can see. The first try with the new batch of seeds failed because I left them too long on top of the furnace without checking and they, of course, sprouted and got long and white and threadlike, so I decided to try yet again. These ones were removed to set in the light right away, so I think I am off and running and should have something to put in the ground at end of May, even if the Cherokee Green will now be a little smaller than the other transplants by that time.

so I think I am off and running and should have something to put in the ground at end of May, even if the Cherokee Green will now be a little smaller than the other transplants by that time.

*****

They'll catch up, not to worry, and I'm glad to hear that the germination was pretty good both times, with the first batch leggy ones and the seond batch as well. ( smile)

Carolyn

Another update: my plants have been outside in their beds for a week now, and the Cherokee Green is completely gorgeous. It is bright emerald green in color, stocky, and robust, and only slightly shorter than some of the other varieties. I am pretty thrilled to have it out there, and cannot wait to see what it will do.

Cherokee Green came up great for me this year but I have had other years with poor germination. I have noticed when fermenting seeds that CG seems more likely to start to germinate if left any longer than it should, more so than other varieties. I keep it on the short end of fermentation.
Amy

And here we are in August, and these taste great! They are very sweet to me, in comparison to other varieties I have. Definitely a similarity between the Cherokee Green and the Green Grape. The skins are a little tough on this tomato, but that is fine since it tastes like a limeade popsicle. I will grow it again.

And here we are in May 2008 getting ready to plant out this weekend, with Cherokee Green leading the pack in seedling size by a mile. I have 2 whoppers (my "planter" and my "back up just in case") as well as a medium-sized one and two smallish ones to give away. No problem germinating this year. I look forward to Cherokee Green's unique taste in the month's to come. Hope many of you are also growing this outstanding tomato.

I love that you describe their taste to that of a limeade popsicle!! Sounds absoluely de-lish!! Cherokee Green is definitely on my "want" list :)