Owen's Purple, and other purple/blacks

[SharonRossy]

So now I am trying desperately to finalize my grow list and debating about how many blacks/purples to grow out. They are my favorite, with the exception of NAR at this point.

So does anyone have experience or an opinion on Owen's Purple? Currently, I have that plus Daniel Burson, ISPL and Spudatula on my grow list. I'm also debating about Carbon, Pruden's Purple and Pale perfect purple. There are others but they are on hold for another year.

I am trying to limit my tomatoes as I just can't handle too many any more, so I really want to be selective this year and I just keep adding tomatoes to my list, LOL!
Thanks, Sharon

[Tormato]

Pruden's Purple is a pink.

[KarenO]

If you haven't tried Carbon, I would recommend it if you like blacks.
KarenO

[Cole_Robbie]

My opinion at this point is that Paul Robeson is the flavor standard for darks. It's a late-season bearer, though, and may not be appropriate for your area. I'm trying a lot of other dark varieties this summer. Maybe I will find one I like better than PR.

Dwarf Tasmanian Chocolate is 1/2 Paul Robeson, and I find the flavor to be similar. It will yield well in a container.

[charley]

margarets curtian was the star of the show for me last year.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by SharonRossy

So now I am trying desperately to finalize my grow list and debating about how many blacks/purples to grow out. They are my favorite, with the exception of NAR at this point.

So does anyone have experience or an opinion on Owen's Purple? Currently, I have that plus Daniel Burson, ISPL and Spudatula on my grow list. I'm also debating about Carbon, Pruden's Purple and Pale perfect purple. There are others but they are on hold for another year.

I am trying to limit my tomatoes as I just can't handle too many any more, so I really want to be selective this year and I just keep adding tomatoes to my list, LOL!
Thanks, Sharon

I'll speak just to the ones you mentioned without making other suggestions since I've learned over the years that it can get confusing when someone asks about varieties they've already considered and others are added that they don't have the seeds for. Just my opinion,take it or leave it.

Owen's Purple,not well know but here's a clue

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Owen%27s_Purple

It was the person in OH who made the cross but it was a man named Owen who made selections and took the selection he liked best out to stability.

Actually he contacted me lately but I can't remember where and can't remember if by em or PM mail.I haven't grown it but the parents look good

Daniel Burson, yes

Indian Stripe PL,yes,or the RL

Spudatula,if you wish, I prefer the original RL Black from Tula,the reason being is that when there' s a mutation from RL to PL there can be other genes affected

Carbon,if youwish

Prudens Purple,yes, and please know that many varieties that have purple as part of the named do so since back then the word purple was used for pink,as in Aunt Ginny's Purple,which is pink

Pale Perfect Purple goes by several names and was bred by a friend of mine and here's what Tania has to say.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/w...Perfect_Purple

And yes it was Tad,who has a degree in plant breeding who bred it and I like it very much' and included it in my heirloom tomato book where I also gave the other names tad gaveit,since he went back and forth on that

This is the same Tad who sent me a 3 way cross and descibed what he wanted,and told me I had maybe a 1/64 chance of getting it,I set out 12 plants and got it.

So what of it? I named it Tad,sent seeds to Craig L in NC and it was tad that crossed with Brandywine that gave Lucky Cross,Little Lucky and all the many other varieties that also came out of that accidental cross,and are still coming.

I also sent seeds to Tad since he wanted to enlarge it,but then he kind of disappeared and turned up in CA breeding tomatoes commercially.

There are some that claim they have seeds forTad, but only Craig and I do.

End of my comments.

Carolyn

[SharonRossy]

Hi Carolyn,
I greatly appreciate your comments. It's like a history lesson.
I have been flipping back and forth about BFT or Spudatula. So that helps. Carbon, I will save for another day. I grew out Margaret Curtain last year and was quite happy with it, but wanted to try other varieties. At this point in growing tomatoes, there are a couple that I will always grow - one being Indian Stripe - and the other is NAR.
Don't worry, you can mention any tomato that you want, but you're right, it can get quite crazy when a variety is mentioned that I don't have, like Paul Robeson which I just ordered, LOL!
Thanks for clearing up Pale Perfect Purple.
What is your opinion on PR?
The other black that I have been debating about is Mikado Black, which I believe Tania lists as Mikado Chernyi (I think I spelled it correctly). Any info on that one?
And not to high jack my own thread, but speaking about NAR, I am anxious to grow out Dixie Wine, thanks Carolyn!

[Al@NC]

Sharon,
I have a similar issue but instead of Owen's purple (which I almost bought) I have brandyfred dwarf which I purchased at Victoryseed.

I really like the write up at secretseedcartel of Owen's purple:

"Carbon used to be my favorite black/purple tomato. For years!! It has been replaced by this one. Probably the best purple tomato I've ever eaten. This is a cross between Paul Robeson and Mortgage Lifter made by Jinnie Farrell. The most perfect, uniform fruit ever. Crack-free. The taste is sooooo sweet. Very solid meat with perfect amount of juiciness. They average anywhere from 10-14 oz with a few larger ones here and there. If you love purple tomatoes this is a must have. You won't be dissappointed"

JandL gardens has a twist on Pruden's Purple, they have Pruden's Black which I have seed of but just do not have the room this year. I was going to try pruden's black and purple together this season but it'll have to wait till next year....

I'm not seeing Pruden's black listed on J and L right now though....


I'm also wanting to try the Elser's Brown Derby at Laurel's Heirlooms:


My advice would be that if you have to cut some then cut them based on DTM...

Al

[travis]

J.D.'s Special C-Tex, Big Cheef, Spudakee, Indian Stripe (RL)

[Cheryl2017]

I am growing 6 spudatula. 3 have rl. 3 have pl.

[travis]

Originally Posted by Cheryl2017

I am growing 6 spudatula. 3 have rl. 3 have pl.

Ain't that a whooping?

[Gardeneer]

.. Other purple blacks ..?
Here are mine:

Cherokee Purple
Black from Tula
Black Sea Man **
Indian Stripe **
Daniel Burson **


--** first time this season

I was very impressed with Black From Tula last year. And Cherokee purple is a classic.
I love the taste and texture of dark tomatoes.

Gardeneer

[SharonRossy]

I'm probably going with BFT instead of Spudatula. IS I might grow one Rl and one PL. I am trying t use DTM but it drives me crazy when one site say 90 days and another one will say 75 days. Our earliest plant out date is late May. And anything can happen in August, so I try to keep varieties that are in the 80 range of earlier if possible, but so many are late.
Who knows? Last year all my early varieties were late...

[SharonRossy]

Gardener, I was the one who recommended BFT to you and possibly IS. You might want to try Margaret Curtain. Also a really great black tomato.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by SharonRossy

Gardener, I was the one who recommended BFT to you and possibly IS. You might want to try Margaret Curtain. Also a really great black tomato.

OH ! Thanks a lot Sharon. Did you also send me the seeds ?
Now I've got lots of seeds. I will grow 2 plants this year. My seedlings are growing now.

Gardeneer