Prudence Purple

[jackman]

My favorite tomato is Brandywine Sudduth, but I live in the south and they don't produce that much. I want to try Prudence Purple, but only if it taste as good as the Brandywine. Can anyone answer this for me?
jackman

[feldon30]

Not to be confused with Pruden's Purple?

Originally Posted by carolyn137 on GW forum

And I too have looked at the background of Prudence Purple vs Prudence Purple Top vs Prudens Purple vs who knows what, and I find it so confusing as to be non-solvable at this point other than for someone to grow out all acquisitions at the same time in the same season and compare them.

That's what was done with all the Brandywine strains that were once listed and it turned out most weren't distinct strains, just named after someone, but not distinct as to strain differences, and that's also what was done with the various Mortgage Lifter strains as well.

[carolyn137]

I'll enlarge on what Feldon quoted above, and my heavens Feldon, do you keep most of the stuff I write?

There's been a long standing disagreement re one person who used to list in the SSE Yearbooks who insisted that it should be spelled Prudence, and not Prudens. For all intents and purposes almost everyone now considers them to be the same, especially when the dissenter said it was only the spelling that was wrong.

So many folks think that Prudens Purple is akin to Brandywine b'c of the blurb in the Pinetree catalog which says/said it's an "early" Brandywine.

It is in no way related to Brandywine, doesn't taste like it and is yet another large pink beefsteak, one of hundreds, but comes in rather earlier than most of that type.

Both Brandywine and Pruden's Purple are PL, which also causes confusion. I just looked in the TGS catalog and Linda also makes a comparison with Brandywine, akin to what the Pinetree catalog has, but believe me, they taste very differently.

I know of no other variety that has the same taste as BRandywine ( Sudduth strain I prefer) which for me then, is unique. But I also know other varieties that for me, again, have a unique taste. One example is Prue.

So I've never said that I think that Brandywine is THE BEST tomato variety, I won't, and I can't.

[jackman]

OK! forget the prudens. I will take a look at the Pure.

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

I'll enlarge on what Feldon quoted above, and my heavens Feldon, do you keep most of the stuff I write?

Just handy with Google. Sometimes I even quote you correctly.

Originally Posted by jackman

OK! forget the prudens. I will take a look at the Pure.

I've heard Prue is good too.

[creister]

Jackman,

I have never grown Brandywine, but have grown Aunt Ginny's Purple and Prudens Purple. Both are very good tasting. AGP was my top producer last season. Just try them and see if you like them.

[carolyn137]

I have never grown Brandywine, but have grown Aunt Ginny's Purple and Prudens Purple. Both are very good tasting. AGP was my top producer last season. Just try them and see if you like them.

And with this I would agree, as to Aunt Ginny's and Pruden's Purple as well. I like both of them.

You'll never know how they will do for you, and I mean ANY variety now, until you plant them b'c your conditions are not the same as anyone else's with regard to soil, weather, the way you grow them, amendments and so much more.

So experiement and try different varieties each year. But Pruden's Purple does not taste like Brandywine if that was your main question.

[jackman]

Then you are saying that there is no tomato that has the taste of the Brandywine Suddth?

[feldon30]

That's how I read it.

Note she's not saying it is the best tomato. She is saying that she feels it has a unique taste which is not duplicated by other tomatoes. I believe she said something roughly to the effect that, if blindfolded, she would have no trouble identifying Brandywine (Sudduth's).

There are plenty of great tomatoes out there whether they are varieties dating back 5, 50, or 100 years old. Each with a unique flavor. Thankfully someone decided to save seeds for all these varieties, otherwise we'd be stuck with tasteless red bag of water #2493.

[carolyn137]

Then you are saying that there is no tomato that has the taste of the Brandywine Suddth?

When Brandywine seeds are sold the persons selling them don't always know which strain of Brandywine that they have so most seeds for Brandywine are sold as just Brandywine. But there are several good places to buy seeds for the Brandywine (Sudduth) strain these days.

And I've grown several Brandywine strains and do think the Sudduth strain is the best in terms of fruit set, lack of cosmetic blemishes and general growth. I can't say that it's any different, taste-wise, from some of the other strains, most of which are not available to the public except for those who are SSE members and can request them thru the Yearbook/ There used to be quite a few strains of Brandywine but these days, in the Yearbook, there are fewer and fewer.

And yes, I'm saying that for me, and I think for quite a few others, that the taste is unique, and I've grown about 2000 varieties now and still say that.

But I also said that there are other varieties that I also find have a unique taste.

Does that help?

[jackman]

10,000 kinds of tomatoes and there is not one that even close to the taste of Brandywine Sudduth.That seems to be impossible doesn't it?
jackman

[Suze]

Originally Posted by jackman

10,000 kinds of tomatoes and there is not one that even close to the taste of Brandywine Sudduth.That seems to be impossible doesn't it?
jackman

Sure it's possible. Some things are, well, unique. Anyway, Carolyn is just saying that *in her opinion* and in the opinion of some other folks, the taste is unique.

I don't happen to share that opinion. While I do think BW Sud is a very good variety, my tastebuds just do not pick up on that uniqueness that some mention.

Some varieties you might consider if you like Brandywine include--

Marianna's Peace (or so I've heard - I've not had much luck with this variety)
Earl's Faux
Dora
Aunt Ginny's Purple

Can I promise you that you'll like these varieties every bit as much as you like BW Sud? Nope.

[carolyn137]

10,000 kinds of tomatoes and there is not one that even close to the taste of Brandywine Sudduth.That seems to be impossible doesn't it?


I've only grown about 2000 different varieties of themaybe 10-12K that are known, but since there are over 400 known organic compounds that are involved with taste, I don't think it's at all impossible that there should be varieties that have unique tastes based on the spcific constellation of those genes for a certain variety.

Those 400 or so compounds are known only by mass spectrometry and no genes have yet been associated with any of them, as far as I know, but that will be forthcoming, I'm sure.

[barkeater]

jackman, there are also 500,000,000 or more women in the world. But isn't your's still unique??

[Gimme3]

This is a Fine question, Jackman....an i live in the south, jus like you. I've tried PP's for 4 years, it was one of the very first Heirlooms i tried growin.

If it Ever...simply gave me one decent fruit to taste, maybe i could applaud it's virtues. I aint give up on it yet, but until i try seed from another source.....it's growing experience remains sour to my pallette. In my experience...it's a plant that exhibits vertical ambition, and cares not...about it's foilage endeavor. It grows strate up...in early Spring, an has no clue...of whats about to hit it, nor plan to deal with it. When our heat ....rains, followed by...Warm soils...set in upon it...it gags like a carp ...givin up the fight.

I truly believe...a PP might be a Fine Cultivar....so Many lovers of it....testify, that i simply caint believe...it aint. I got to try growin it from a new seed source...before i will truly...Cuss it forever...)))