Haley's Purple Comet?

kerns125 · September 2, 2015

Can anyone describe in detail the flavor of Haley's Purple Comet?

I've grown Purple Bumble Bee, Dancing w/ Smurfs, Sun Gold, Isis Candy, Coyote, Sweet Linda, Napa Grape, Supersweet 100, so could mentally compare to any of those if necessary.

Jen

Hunt-Grow-Cook · September 2, 2015

I grew it two years in a row, but did not grow it this year.

If I had to compare it to the ones you listed, purple bumble bee would be the only one comparable as far as color or taste. It is a "purple/black" and did have the typical purple/black complexity. The end of the season the flavor improved dramatically. A fruity, sweet, wine like taste, but balanced. Not the most prolific plant for me, but the taste did make up for that. I have grown Black Cherry also, which is probably a fair comparsion as well, but much preferred Haley's to it. Not a fan of Black Cherry in general so take that for what its worth.

Lindalana · September 2, 2015

I grew it last year and loved it. Fantastic producer and very very tasty. One con it was prone to cracking.
I got my seeds from Doublehelix farms which I believe is not operational now. In the explanation it is mentioned that there is more than one Haley Purple comet around as in probably some original instability. Mine looked purple darker than picture shows, your typical purple tomato color
http://www.doublehelixfarms.com/haleys-purple-comet

kerns125 · September 4, 2015

Thanks // I actually just bought the seeds from double helix farms last week ( still fully operational!), Which is why I was asking specifics about taste. I love black cherry, but didn't particularly love purple bumblebee… So if it's more akin to the latter, I might save the space for other varieties this year! Thanks again for your input!

Lindalana · September 5, 2015

Great to know site is working! They had some really good tomato varieties.

SharonRossy · September 7, 2015

anyone try kiss the sky? I bought Haley's Purple Comet but didn't grow it out this year. It's on my list for next year. This year I grew out Kiss the Sky which I think I like better than Black Cherry.

Lindalana · September 8, 2015

Grew Kiss the Sky this year, lovely tomato, productive and tasty. Sure advantage over Haley- it does not split as badly. I might try Haley again though, have adjusted boron levels in the soil so hopefully less cracking. I thought Kiss the Sky is very similar to Kazachka. Haley in my memory is most flavourful though...

habitat_gardener · September 10, 2015

Another vote for Kiss the Sky! It has a lovely intense flavor. It was my favorite cherry this summer, although my one plant was not very productive.

I also grew Black Hole Sun and Carbon Copy. CC was a close second -- I really like the extra-large cherry size as well as the flavor.

Black Hole Sun was pretty good by itself, but I liked the other two more.

Last year I grew Wine Jug, another one of Brad's. Larger than a cherry, and a different shape, but it also had that great black-tomato flavor.

kerns125 · September 11, 2015

Thanks, all- sounds like I have to try Kiss the Sky....
Jen

September 2, 2015	#1
kerns125 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: 22301 Posts: 92	Haley's Purple Comet? Can anyone describe in detail the flavor of Haley's Purple Comet? I've grown Purple Bumble Bee, Dancing w/ Smurfs, Sun Gold, Isis Candy, Coyote, Sweet Linda, Napa Grape, Supersweet 100, so could mentally compare to any of those if necessary. Jen

September 2, 2015	#2
Hunt-Grow-Cook Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 360	I grew it two years in a row, but did not grow it this year. If I had to compare it to the ones you listed, purple bumble bee would be the only one comparable as far as color or taste. It is a "purple/black" and did have the typical purple/black complexity. The end of the season the flavor improved dramatically. A fruity, sweet, wine like taste, but balanced. Not the most prolific plant for me, but the taste did make up for that. I have grown Black Cherry also, which is probably a fair comparsion as well, but much preferred Haley's to it. Not a fan of Black Cherry in general so take that for what its worth.

September 2, 2015	#3
Lindalana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 857	I grew it last year and loved it. Fantastic producer and very very tasty. One con it was prone to cracking. I got my seeds from Doublehelix farms which I believe is not operational now. In the explanation it is mentioned that there is more than one Haley Purple comet around as in probably some original instability. Mine looked purple darker than picture shows, your typical purple tomato color http://www.doublehelixfarms.com/haleys-purple-comet

September 4, 2015	#4
kerns125 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: 22301 Posts: 92	Thanks // I actually just bought the seeds from double helix farms last week ( still fully operational!), Which is why I was asking specifics about taste. I love black cherry, but didn't particularly love purple bumblebee… So if it's more akin to the latter, I might save the space for other varieties this year! Thanks again for your input!

September 5, 2015	#5
Lindalana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 857	Great to know site is working! They had some really good tomato varieties.

September 7, 2015	#6
SharonRossy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,140	anyone try kiss the sky? I bought Haley's Purple Comet but didn't grow it out this year. It's on my list for next year. This year I grew out Kiss the Sky which I think I like better than Black Cherry.

September 8, 2015	#7
Lindalana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 857	Grew Kiss the Sky this year, lovely tomato, productive and tasty. Sure advantage over Haley- it does not split as badly. I might try Haley again though, have adjusted boron levels in the soil so hopefully less cracking. I thought Kiss the Sky is very similar to Kazachka. Haley in my memory is most flavourful though...

September 10, 2015	#8
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	Another vote for Kiss the Sky! It has a lovely intense flavor. It was my favorite cherry this summer, although my one plant was not very productive. I also grew Black Hole Sun and Carbon Copy. CC was a close second -- I really like the extra-large cherry size as well as the flavor. Black Hole Sun was pretty good by itself, but I liked the other two more. Last year I grew Wine Jug, another one of Brad's. Larger than a cherry, and a different shape, but it also had that great black-tomato flavor.

September 11, 2015	#9
kerns125 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: 22301 Posts: 92	Thanks, all- sounds like I have to try Kiss the Sky.... Jen