Tips for Growing Purple Tomatoes™

  • YAY! We are so happy that you are growing our Purple Tomato™ in your garden.
  • Our Purple Tomato™ is bioengineered to produce purple antioxidants in the skin and flesh, making the entire fruit more purple and nutritious.
  • We have found that our Purple Tomatoes™ have a deliciously earthy, savory flavor. We love them in salads, elegant dishes, and just as a simple snack.
  • In our greenhouse, we have a 98% germination rate; we hope you have the same success!

Variety Information

  • The Purple Tomato™ is an indeterminate large-fruited cherry tomato with highly vigorous vegetative growth and a strong main stem.
  • Fruit forms green and turns purple in the skin and flesh.
  • Ready for harvest when fruit begins to feel soft and readily releases from the stem. Be patient - purple color develops before fruit is fully ripe.

 

Growing instructions

  • Use your favorite indeterminate tomato methods!
  • Sow seeds in starter pots 1/4" deep in loose soil.
  • Transplant 4 to 6 weeks after sowing into rich soil, when soil temperatures are consistently 60F or above.
  • Roots will grow from any part of the main stem that is buried, so plant your seedlings deep.
  • Plants can grow to 12-15 feet, so be prepared to trellis or use cages.
  • Your results will vary due to differences in light, water, temperature and so on.
  • Plants pruned to a single main stalk can grow to 12-15 feet! See the picture above of how we grow them in our greenhouse.
  • Shorter/wider plants can be achieved by pruning to multiple main stems.

Maturity: Approximately 70 days


How do I prune indeterminate tomatoes?

Along with the many tutorials on YouTube, two methods are described below.

Training and pruning indeterminate tomatoes

Pruning tomato plants


Help! I have never started tomatoes from seeds before. How do I do this?

  • Tomato seeds need warmth to germinate.
  • Put the seeds in soil and cover loosely with plastic wrap to conserve moisture, and place your seeds in a dark, warm location, preferably between 70°F to 80°F. Soil should remain evenly moist, but not water-logged.
  • When your seeds start sprouting, usually within 1 to 2 weeks, move them to a sunny spot or under artificial lights. In cooler conditions, germination will take longer.

 

Simple instructions can be found here.

You can also contact your local Agricultural Extension agent -- a state-by-state directory can be found here. You can also search for a Master Gardener near you.

 

Where can I buy Purple Tomato™ seeds?

Ready to grow your own Purple Tomatoes? Click here to grab your seeds and get started.

 

How can I share my growing experience with Norfolk Healthy Produce?

 

We want to hear from you! info@norfolkhealthyproduce.com

 

Happy Gardening!

Your NHP Team