Eva Purple Ball???

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Fert1

Well, I thought I had the real deal this year, but it turns out I do not, and I know this year's seeds came from TGS. I thought last year's was just a fluke where a package somehow got mislabeled, but it seems they have a bigger problem than that where EPB is concerned. Does anyone have an email address for TGS? All I can find on the web site is a phone number. I don't want to make a long distance call just to tell them they have the wrong variety.

Whatever it is though, it's very tasty. The size and shape of the tomatoes seem to vary quite a lot though, with some being around 6 oz and round, and others being around a pound and very oblate - all on the same plant.

It also seems to be holding up to the extreme heat better than anything else is at the moment. It's the only potted plant I have that isn't half dead.

Holly, the TGS phone number is free at;(888)478-7333

All phone numbers with the prefix (888) are free, same as with (800).

[Fert1]

Thanks, Carolyn! I had not found that number. The only number I found was a regular phone number, not a toll-free number.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Fert1

Thanks, Carolyn! I had not found that number. The only number I found was a regular phone number, not a toll-free number.

Holly, they only have two phone numbers, one for orders and general info which I gave to you and one for FAX and both are free (888) numbers so I'm not sure what other number you came up with. I'm looking at the catalog for numbers b'c I'm too lazy to go to the website, but what's in one is at the other when it comes to phone numbers.

[b54red]

Well that faux EPB turned out not to be that good. Fruit were small and it only made 3 before dying so I am definitely not saving the seed. I have had a couple of pleasant surprises this year among my seed. The absolute best was a Indian Stripe with potato leaves which was to me the best tasting tomato out of all that I have had this year and I have had a lot of great tomatoes this year.

[Fert1]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Holly, the TGS phone number is free at;(888)478-7333

All phone numbers with the prefix (888) are free, same as with (800).

Carolyn, I think was remembering wrong, (not unusual for me at my current age). I just remembered I couldn't seem to call them. They do not seem to answer that number evenings or weekends, and I work 8-5 and cannot make personal calls from work. So ... that still makes it tough to get a message to them. Anyone have an email address?

My faux EPB has outlasted everything else (except for cherries). It's not a bad tomato, just isn't EPB.

[Fert1]

Originally Posted by b54red

Well that faux EPB turned out not to be that good. Fruit were small and it only made 3 before dying so I am definitely not saving the seed. I have had a couple of pleasant surprises this year among my seed. The absolute best was a Indian Stripe with potato leaves which was to me the best tasting tomato out of all that I have had this year and I have had a lot of great tomatoes this year.

Sounds like you didn't have a healthy plant. Disease perhaps? My faux EPB has been pretty tasty, and is healthier than my other slicer varieties right now. It's loaded up with fruit.

[b54red]

Fert, it did have fusarium wilt as did most of my plants to one degree or another. I hope to try it again in the fall and see what it does.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Fert1

Carolyn, I think was remembering wrong, (not unusual for me at my current age). I just remembered I couldn't seem to call them. They do not seem to answer that number evenings or weekends, and I work 8-5 and cannot make personal calls from work. So ... that still makes it tough to get a message to them. Anyone have an email address?

My faux EPB has outlasted everything else (except for cherries). It's not a bad tomato, just isn't EPB.

There is another number for customer service, not free, but their hours are indicated as being from 9 Am to 5 PM M thru Fri with extended hours only from Jan thru April.

The customer number you could call, it's on the first page of the website, and leave a message asking them to call you at work since you can't make personal calls from work. If you aren't allowed to receive calls at work then other than that I guess the best solution is to write to them.

I have Linda Sapp's personal e-mail address since we've known each other since about 1990 but that's not an e-mail address that I can share with anyone, as I'm sure you can understand.

[huntoften]

I picked three EPB yesterday...I had one this morning on a lox bagel sandwich...the wife had one just sliced and with some french sea salt on it. We were both impressed!

[b54red]

Those are some nice maters. They look so perfect you would think they were hybrids just looking at the fruit. How do they taste?

[huntoften]

Very juicy, a nice bite with the old fashioned tomato acid taste.. Great texture....slices were thick with mostly meat and not a lot of seeds or seed gel.

[Fert1]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

I have Linda Sapp's personal e-mail address since we've known each other since about 1990 but that's not an e-mail address that I can share with anyone, as I'm sure you can understand.

I definitely do understand. Actually, it worked out. I wound up taking today off as I wasn't feeling well. So while I was not at work, I was able to call. I promised to email Linda some photos, so she can see what I have. She was very nice! I've always had a good experience purchasing from them, and I certainly would not hold this one thing against TGS. I still think they are a great seed source.

[recruiterg]

I started 32 varieties this year and EPB was the only one that didn't make it. Most died when I transplanted and started putting plants outside. Last year I gave my EPB plants away. Next year I will plant this one in my garden...

[Fert1]

The TGS EPB mystery is now solved, at least mostly solved. I sent Linda photos of my faux EPB fruit and a link to this thread. It turns out the EPB seed was actually purchased by TGS and not their own custom grow out. I am glad I let them know, so they now know to follow up with their seed source in this particular instance. Linda thanked me for letting them know about it. As I said before, I have always had a very good experience with TGS, and the EPB is the only time I've gotten an incorrect variety from them. I will continue to purchase their seed. My faux EPB is not a bad tomato. It may even be an EPB cross that somehow occurred.

[Timmah!]

However common or not it may be, that bothers me. If I buy seed from a company, I want to know that they are the ones that grew the seed & not purchased it from a 3rd party. Something to definitely confirm before purchasing from any place in the future. Fortunately the 3 places from which I've purchased all procure seed from plants they raised.