History of Purdens Purple

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by JohnJones

So, to summarize, nobody knows Pruden (or Prudence for that matter) and the tomato ain't purple (pink right?), but it sure is tasty.

Anyway, it did fine from seed for me so I will be growing it for the first time this year. Excited to try it.

Please see post #13 above.



In the 2017 SSE Yearbook

Al Anderson lists it as Prudence Purple saying that Gary Milllwood said that was the original name That is not correct.He also double listed it as Prudens Purple

SSE itself lists it as Pruden's Purple, True variety, seeds from Garrett Pittinger from ONT,Canada

In the 2016 yearbook an SSE member from Ohio first listed it as True Variety and said the source was SSE itself in 2011 (note the date).

Here's my impression which I've posted here before.

When a variety has not been listed for many years, SSE will get it out of storage , from seed we were asked to provide way back,and list it themselves, and I know that since a few times it's been one that I initially listed.

By SSE doing it it ups their total listings in a yearbook which means money back to them, since they still abide by the orignal cost of seeds, which after a palace revolt, they agreed to let individual listed members set their own request prices.

For many years SSE itself has been THE largest lister of everything in the Annual yearbooks, not just tomatoes, although the tomato section is the largest in the Yearbooks..

Carolyn, who hopes the above clarifies the issue for you.

[BigVanVader]

It is a great tomato. I grow it yearly. Not the greatest taste for me but it is very productive and lots of folks love it.

[JohnJones]

I was just being a bit silly Carolyn. Just pointing out that it appears no one knows who the Pruden it was named after is, and that it's not even purple.

Great info though, thanks.

[Gardeneer]

Finally, a year later I am growing it; I call is PRUDEN'S PURPLE.
One plant is next to IS PL. PP is way behind in producing fruits. But maybe it is IS PL that is exceptional. That is right. In the whole row IS PL is the leader. But it is too early in the season to make a conclusion .

getting close to topping the 5 foot CRW cage! Wow! Prudens loves Virginia!

That is big . Mine are not that tall but are very healthy and strong with thick stem.

[jtjmartin]

I'm growing IS PL too- but grafted ones - so they are a couple weeks behind Prudens due to healing time.

I had some Prudens backup plants that I was going to give away but they looked so good I found a spot for them! I'm growing a number of "frilly" varieties that always look half-way sick. Makes me appreciate Prudens more.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by jtjmartin

I'm growing IS PL too- but grafted ones - so they are a couple weeks behind Prudens due to healing time.

I had some Prudens backup plants that I was going to give away but they looked so good I found a spot for them! I'm growing a number of "frilly" varieties that always look half-way sick. Makes me appreciate Prudens more.

I have few sicky ones : One was Ceour De Beuf. ( I pulled it)
Another one is Franchi. I will let it be there for now. The second one of the same is ok
BTW: I have 3 PP.

[garyjr]

Originally Posted by jtjmartin

Prudens Purple is a huge showoff in my garden this year - thick stems, plenty of blooms, and getting close to topping the 5 foot CRW cage! Wow! Prudens loves Virginia!

Thanks to Tormato for the MMMM swap where I got the seeds.

5' already?.. That is impressive. I have 2 in the ground nearing 3 feet that look great and 2 still in pots that I am trying to find a home for.

[wildcat62]

I've got 2 of them growing this year due to the kind people here @Tomatoville

[JosephineRose]

I transplanted one to an earthbox last night. I'm only planting one, and it was hard to choose, because they all looked strong and healthy. I'm looking forward to them!

[jillian]

I am growing this year as well, b54red recommended as a variety that can handle the heat and humidity better than some others. Thanks Bill!

[jtjmartin]

Originally Posted by garyjr

5' already?.. That is impressive. I have 2 in the ground nearing 3 feet that look great and 2 still in pots that I am trying to find a home for.

I started the seeds at the same time as most of the others. The PP seedlings really took off. I planted the first one out early this year in a wall of water. Our last frost must have been a month earlier than normal.

The PP got huge! Most of my plants are string and lower so I'll have plenty of room to move them - not sure where the cage tomatoes will end up by the end of summer!

prudens.JPG
prudens flower.JPG
prudens cage.JPG

[billbird2111]

I am reviving this old message for two reasons:

1. I miss Carolyn Male. She was the voice of reason in the garden. Her tireless research of seeds and seed varieties left all of us with a great library of varietals to trial and taste.

2. I am growing Pruden's Purple this year and the plant has passed five feet in height. I planted in early May. There's more than a dozen tomatoes on it and time enough in our long California season for it to set and grow a great deal more.

3. A tremendous resource that doesn't get enough attention is Livingston and The Tomato. Published in 1893, the Father of the Modern Tomato tells us about the many varieties that he either found, propogated and the process he used in the garden to develop new varieties.

Hope everyone is well.

[Hensaplenty]

Thank you billbird211! Tomatoville is such a treasure trove of great information!

[Tormato]

Originally Posted by billbird2111

I am reviving this old message for two reasons:

1. I miss Carolyn Male. She was the voice of reason in the garden. Her tireless research of seeds and seed varieties left all of us with a great library of varietals to trial and taste.

2. I am growing Pruden's Purple this year and the plant has passed five feet in height. I planted in early May. There's more than a dozen tomatoes on it and time enough in our long California season for it to set and grow a great deal more.

3. A tremendous resource that doesn't get enough attention is Livingston and The Tomato. Published in 1893, the Father of the Modern Tomato tells us about the many varieties that he either found, propogated and the process he used in the garden to develop new varieties.

Hope everyone is well.

Thank you for reviving this thread. I also miss Carolyn. I don't know how anyone could ever have been cruel to her, and there were more than one of them that were.

I will continue to list it as Prudence Purple, mostly because "Seed Savers" lists it as Pruden's Purple.

Over the years, that organization has had a huge amount of "pink" tomatoes, listed as "red" tomatoes, and refused to make any corrections.

Also, someone once asked me if they could list a pole bean that was discovered in my garden, and named by me. I was perfectly fine with it being listed. Until...

This bean is a "wax" or yellow bean. However, it's color is a mix of pink and yellow, getting more pink as the growing season progresses, often turning almost solid vibrant pink. Its color turns to all yellow when cooked. The person who listed it said that "Seed Savers" would in no way list it under pole wax beans. It is, in no way, a green colored bean.

So, Prudence Purple for a tomato it will be with me. and Flamingo as a pole wax (flat podded "Romano"-type) bean, too.