Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners is a citizen science program





'Eva Purple Ball' Tomatoes
 
Sub-Category: Standard
Main-Season
 
Sub-Category 2:
Description: Main-season standard variety. Indeterminate plants bear 4- to 6-ounce, round, dark pink, fruit.
Days To Maturity: 74
Seed Sources: Seed Savers Exchange - updated in 2014

 
Rating Summary
 
Overall: (4.4 Stars)Overall
Taste: (4.3 Stars)Taste
Yield: (4.3 Stars)Yield
Ease/Reliability: (4.5 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 09/08/2012 by Ferdzy - An intermediate gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Ontario, Canada
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Sand
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

These did okay for us, in spite of being overcrowded and suffering from septoria spot. They kept producing over a fairly long season, attractive little round tomatoes in an interesting shade of dark pink. Unfortunately, we thought the flavour sourish, thin and uninteresting, and so will not be growing them again.
 

Reviewed on 01/05/2012 by fotophreek - An intermediate gardener

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Oldham, Kentucky, 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

This is a wonderful medium size heirloom, sweet with a good hint of tart and great tomato flavor. One of my favorites. Disease resistant and productive. The fruits may drop off of the vine when ripe so it is a good idea to scout every day for the ones that are ready.
 

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

It steadily produced all 2010 season. The taste was just \"ok\". It is a perfect looking tomato though. It was a very tall plant and ripe tomatoes did not last that long.
 

Reviewed on 03/16/2010 by edweather - An intermediate gardener

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Oswego, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

I grew these a few years ago with excellent results. Lots of tomatoes. Just not very remarkable. I like beefsteaks better.
 

Reviewed on 10/03/2009 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

I would rate this a 5 but the taste didn't jump out at me. But through a very cold summer Eva Purple Balll produced consistent small round pink tomatoes right through the first fall frost. I would plant this tomato again. Purchased from selectedplants.com
 

Reviewed on 09/08/2009 by Linda K. - An experienced gardener

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Orange, North Carolina, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

During a very trying year Eva Purple Ball gave all she had. I grow several varieties of heirloom tomatoes, and after most fell to early blight, Eva just kept on producing. I've grown this tomato for several years, and it has always been one of my favorites, but this year she won the gold. On top of everything else this tomato may be smaller than some, but the flavor is outstanding.
 
1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.  

Reviewed on 03/15/2009 by EFH - An intermediate gardener

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Amherst, Virginia, 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

I've been growing Eva for at least 9 years and am always impressed with the flavor and the reliability of this variety. Saved seed comes true and the fruit are blemish free. What amazes me most is Eva has a very thin skin, no need to peel them when company comes, but they don't crack. Great variety for tomato lovers.
 

Reviewed on 01/16/2009 by A. W. Davidson - An experienced gardener

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Marion, Indiana, 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

I first got Eva Purple Ball in 2007. It is the best heirloom I've ever had in my garden. Normally I'm lucky to get 3 or 4 good tomatoes from an heirloom. This one produces steadily all Summer. My wife compares the flavor to Brandywine, which is normally her favorite. I did not buy any last year since I had several come up volunteer. They were just like the ones from the year before. The plants are not very tall, but I plan on letting them come up each year in the garden.
 

Reviewed on 11/28/2007 by GardenMom - A novice gardener

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Albany, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

What a perfect lady this plant is, I know, I've lost many with that sentence, but it's true. The plants are small and did great in pots and in the ground, it's not a super prolific plant, although she does produce a good amount of tomatoes. What was fantastic was the flavor, which is amazing, and the look of the tomatoes. I really cannot imagine a more perfect looking tomato, it's more pink than purple, but they are so beautiful- well worth a spot in your garden, you won't be dissappointed!
 

Reviewed on 03/19/2007 by TJD57 - An experienced gardener

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Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Eva is one of my stand-bys. Never have problems with disease or blemishes. Yield is good for an heirloom. Nice medium-sized fruits that are always perfectly round (like a tennis ball!) - and deep pink with red flesh. Growing Eva in my soil produces a complex tasting tomato on the acidic side. All-in-all a wonderful heirloom for the family garden.
 

Reviewed on 11/15/2006 by gardengalrn - An intermediate gardener

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Kentucky, 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

I wasn't that impressed by Eva during the first month of summer. Good production and pretty, perfectly round fruit. What sold me was that it really hung in there and the fruits became very tasty as the season wore on. I never saw one with catfacing or blemish, just perfectly round.
 

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

This variety produced well all season. Flavor was excellent. Very attractive tomato. Looking forward to trying it again next season.
 

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

I tried to rate this one once already, but it looks like the computer ate it. so excuse me if I wind up rating it twice. This plant will bear well in hot, humid climates. The flavor is excellent, as good as any tomato I've ever eaten. It isn't as meaty as a beefsteak variety would be though. It's more of a juicy tomato. It has never let me down. Production is good. Flavor is excellent, and it will set fruit in hot weather. What more could you want?
 

Reviewed on 01/20/2006 by Dellareina - An intermediate gardener

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Broome, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

This was a lucious, sweet tomato in 2005, a dry and difficult year. Very pretty shape and color. Definitely will grow again. It was between two out of control varieties and also had a run-in with Early Blight so it didn't have the optimal conditions I would have liked for it. It's popular because it's good.
 




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