Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners is a citizen science program





'Pruden's Purple' Tomatoes
 
Sub-Category: Standard
Main-Season
Heirloom
 
Sub-Category 2:
Description: Open pollinated. Main season standard type. Indeterminate, potato-leaved plants bear pink, 1 pound, ridged, resistant to cracking, almost seedless fruit. Disease resistant variety. More evaluation needed to confirm resistance to late blight. About 72 days to maturity. Also know as 'Prudens Purple'.
Days To Maturity: 72
Seed Sources: Totally Tomato - updated in 2015

 
Rating Summary
 
Overall: (3.9 Stars)Overall
Taste: (4.3 Stars)Taste
Yield: (3.4 Stars)Yield
Ease/Reliability: (3.8 Stars)Ease/Reliability
 
Reviews
 
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Number of Reviews: 14

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KEY: O=Overall Rating, T=Taste, Y=Yield, E=Ease

Reviewed on 01/12/2017 by Peggy\'s patch - An intermediate gardener

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Crawford, Pennsylvania, United States
Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Delicious, as an heirloom should be. Odd- shaped, but I\'ll forgive that. Also, large, potato leaves are hardier than some varieties
 

Reviewed on 08/20/2011 by endresult0710 - A novice gardener

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Orange, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

You have to stay on top of this plant because it can get very large rather quickly. It was slow to produce and the yield was average. It\'s a creamy and meaty tomato. I liked the taste. It has soft skin so becareful when pulling from vine. i found that pulling it right at first blush worked out better. It also doesn\'t last a long time; it\'s better to eat it right away or within a day or two when ripe.
 

Reviewed on 12/16/2010 by DennisM - An intermediate gardener

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Iron, Michigan, United States
Frost Free Season: Fewer than 103 days
Soil Texture: Not Sure
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

For two years in a row this tomato disappointed me. The taste was okay for the medium/large tomato. The production was not good at all and also was very late compared to the expected maturity date. This is in zone 3b/4a.
 

Reviewed on 11/14/2010 by TheFluffyOne - An experienced gardener

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Kane, Illinois, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

A very, very good all around Heirloom Tomato. To my taste a definite step or two below Brandywine and a step below Cherokee Purple, but this was a very good tomato. We had some rain and it did not crack like Brandywine, it yields very good for a heirloom and is not nearly as variable in shape and you get more useful tomato per slice than with many beefsteaks. One thing that really stood out, is it is fairly early a real plus. As a result I will be including this in future plantings. If I was a farmer's market type this would rate high as it is earlier and truly a great taste that might set up sales for those spectacular later season tomatoes.
 
1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.  

Reviewed on 08/13/2008 by OrganicDan - An experienced gardener

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Nova Scotia, Canada
Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days
Soil Texture: Sand
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

This is a favorite that has been grown for past six years. Seems to perform best during humid weather with yields of over 100 fruit. Largest fruit have been 1.25-1.5 lbs with majority in 12-14 oz range. Flavour is slightly peppery/spicy with relatively firm flesh and below average seed content. Seeds are started in mid-February and transplanted late May. I used overhead support for these 5-6 foot plants. Plants are amended with cured compost, mulched and drip irrigated. Low incidence of disease, blossom-end-rot or cracking. Most well pollinated fruit offered good shape.
 

Reviewed on 08/11/2008 by NH Seacoast - An intermediate gardener

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New Hampshire, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

This is my husband's favorite tomato. He insisted I grow them again and I found my 2 year old seed grew just fine. The fruits are big and pinkish and meaty, good with a sprinkling of kosher salt on a sandwich or straight up. Not a heavy yielder, and large weird shaped fruit, but as good tasting as BrandyBoy.
 

Reviewed on 10/29/2006 by Erma - An intermediate gardener

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Polk, Tennessee, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

I was very disappointed with this variety. Unlike the other raters who had a good yeild, this was probably my lowest yeilding tomato. The taste was a nice tomato taste. The fruit cracked. The plants were beautiful and did well but production was a big disappointment. I don't think I will grow it next year.
 

Reviewed on 10/03/2006 by Lou - An intermediate gardener

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Ulster, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Like most heirlooms, I find the flavor and texture to be outstanding. Best enjoyed right from the vine. Medium size, medium output. Good for home use.
 

Reviewed on 04/24/2006 by danceswithferrets - A novice gardener

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Greenville, South Carolina, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

It is a very healthy, hardy plant, that produces reasonably well for a large tomato. Tomatoes are very large, and in my garden average from 1-2 pounds. flavor is excellent, and it has that nice, creamy, meaty texture of a Brandywine, with better production. Overall, I would say it's a winner.
 
1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.  

Reviewed on 12/12/2005 by remyo - An experienced gardener

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Erie, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

This is a very meaty tomato. It has a nice sweet/acid flavor balance. I've grown this variety longer than any other because it always produces no matter what bizzare weather that may strike. It does mature quicker than most varieties of its size.
 
1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.  

Reviewed on 12/02/2005 by Joachim - An experienced gardener

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Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Rich heirloom flavor and dependable, touted as an early Brandywine but does not quite match the tomato with the best taste = Brandywine.
 

Reviewed on 01/26/2005 by Lee_ - An intermediate gardener

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North Carolina, United States
Frost Free Season: More than 203 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

Variety produces a decent yield of 12~16oz oblate tomatoes. I have found them to produce very meaty fruit with a nice tart bite to it. Very good disease tolerance in my NC7 garden. So far, my largest fruit grown came from this variety, weighing in at 2.25 lbs!
 

Reviewed on 01/24/2005 by barkeater - An experienced gardener

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Vermont, United States
Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

This tomato did terrible for me. It had a very deep core and had a hard yellow cap that penetrated into the fruit. So they were pretty much inedible although the plant was healthy and it put out plenty of large tomatoes early.
 

Reviewed on 01/21/2005 by tomatokc - An experienced gardener

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Missouri, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

I have grown this in several different areas of the country. Excellent choice for most home gardeners. Extremely tasty. Always sets well in a variety of conditions. Similar to Brandywine but much better yielding. One of my top 5 open pollinated types.
 




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