Eva Purple Ball or Pruden's Purple in Cooler climates?

JosephineRose · January 12, 2017

I have seeds for both of these varieties and had penciled in Eva Purple Ball for my 2017 grow list due to raves here.

On further research I read some background that suggested Pruden's Purple would be better suited for the cooler Bay Area climate I grow in, and Eva Purple Ball is better suited for hot and humid weather.

Would love to hear your experiences with either or both, especially if you live in a cooler summer climate like the Pacific Northwest.

AlittleSalt · January 13, 2017

The research I've done on Eva Purple Ball is that it does well in humid areas. Some sites say hot humid areas. The same can be said about Pruden's Purple.

If you have the room, I would grow one of each and compare them.

BigVanVader · January 13, 2017

I'd have to give the nod to PP. I grow it most years just because it is awesome. If you prefer smaller tomatoes go with EPB as most PP tomatoes are close to a pound or more.

GrowingCoastal · January 13, 2017

Eva grew well here for two years in a row. One year hot and dry, last year cooler and more humid with lots of mildew. Eva produced well both years and was one of the last to get mildew.

AKmark · January 13, 2017

I have grown both in my GH's in AK.
EPB is a very manageable plant that produces nice looking fruit that tastes good. PP is a huge plant that produces good tasting fruit. PP is much like Brandywine, but maybe a teeny bit earlier. Taste wise EPB and PP are similar in quality, but are a bit different in growth traits.

bower · January 14, 2017

Both of them were a bust in my climate... if you want to talk about cooler! and short season. Unheated greenhouse. EPB produced a few very late, PP was too late, got culled for not setting a thing. I'm sure they'll do better in California... any part of California!

**carolyn137** · January 14, 2017

I like both of them very much and have grown both many times in my upstate NY about zone 5,most years for seed offers, SSE listings, send to those vendors I know well for trial,etc.

Why not grow both in the same season and see how they do for you?

I do admit that I think Eva Purple Ball,which is pink,is darn near foolproof for almost everyone everywhere.

Pruden's Purple is also pink since the word purple was used many years ago to indicate pink. Absolutely nothing purple for either of them.

Carolyn

JosephineRose · January 17, 2017

Hi Carolyn,

I would love to grow both, but space is at a premium. I am trying to look at adjusting some dwarf plants into a grow bags to make room in an earthbox for both, but I don't know if I can make that work. If not, I would have to choose.

AlittleSalt · January 17, 2017

This thread talked me into planting both. If all grows right, I'll share our experience with them.

JosephineRose · January 17, 2017

I'm now trying to figure out how to do the same. There is some serious rationalization going on here. LOL.

Any of you with experience with either variety, can you tell me about the size of the plant itself? Huge? Bushy? Vigorous? Etc.

Would either do well in an Earthbox, and if so, would you recommend doing so as a single plant or could it work with a second plant of another variety?

**carolyn137** · January 17, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

The research I've done on Eva Purple Ball is that it does well in humid areas. Some sites say hot humid areas. The same can be said about Pruden's Purple.

If you have the room, I would grow one of each and compare them.

I just remembered where Eva Purple Ball came from and geographically it is NOT hot nor humid there

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Eva_Purple_Ball

I've been in the Black Forest in Germany,yes I have. And that's where Joe Bratka's relatives came from and more history, but I think that's enough for now.

Carolyn

FarmerShawn · January 18, 2017

I have both on my "always" grow list, and have for a few years now, in northern Vermont, zone 3-4. For me, EPB is a bit smaller plant than PP, but keep in mind that I typically prune to two stems. Both are tasty, reliable producers, and fill slightly different niches, as EPB is round, while PP is more beefsteak-shaped, and bigger fruit. Many of my market customers are locked in to preferring one shape over the other for what they feel is a "real" tomato, and who am I to argue? Mind you, I grow 130 or so varieties, so they certainly have options at my stand, but those round, smooth, perfect-looking EPBs sell quite well. Of course, it helps that they are delicious, too!

JosephineRose · January 18, 2017

OK, I think I have it worked out. Going to do both.

January 12, 2017	#1
JosephineRose Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: California Posts: 383	Eva Purple Ball or Pruden's Purple in Cooler climates? I have seeds for both of these varieties and had penciled in Eva Purple Ball for my 2017 grow list due to raves here. On further research I read some background that suggested Pruden's Purple would be better suited for the cooler Bay Area climate I grow in, and Eva Purple Ball is better suited for hot and humid weather. Would love to hear your experiences with either or both, especially if you live in a cooler summer climate like the Pacific Northwest.

January 14, 2017	#7
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I like both of them very much and have grown both many times in my upstate NY about zone 5,most years for seed offers, SSE listings, send to those vendors I know well for trial,etc. Why not grow both in the same season and see how they do for you? I do admit that I think Eva Purple Ball,which is pink,is darn near foolproof for almost everyone everywhere. Pruden's Purple is also pink since the word purple was used many years ago to indicate pink. Absolutely nothing purple for either of them. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

January 18, 2017	#12
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	I have both on my "always" grow list, and have for a few years now, in northern Vermont, zone 3-4. For me, EPB is a bit smaller plant than PP, but keep in mind that I typically prune to two stems. Both are tasty, reliable producers, and fill slightly different niches, as EPB is round, while PP is more beefsteak-shaped, and bigger fruit. Many of my market customers are locked in to preferring one shape over the other for what they feel is a "real" tomato, and who am I to argue? Mind you, I grow 130 or so varieties, so they certainly have options at my stand, but those round, smooth, perfect-looking EPBs sell quite well. Of course, it helps that they are delicious, too! __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

January 13, 2017	#2
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	The research I've done on Eva Purple Ball is that it does well in humid areas. Some sites say hot humid areas. The same can be said about Pruden's Purple. If you have the room, I would grow one of each and compare them.

January 13, 2017	#3
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	I'd have to give the nod to PP. I grow it most years just because it is awesome. If you prefer smaller tomatoes go with EPB as most PP tomatoes are close to a pound or more.

January 13, 2017	#4
GrowingCoastal Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Vancouver Island Canada BC Posts: 1,253	Eva grew well here for two years in a row. One year hot and dry, last year cooler and more humid with lots of mildew. Eva produced well both years and was one of the last to get mildew.

January 13, 2017	#5
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	I have grown both in my GH's in AK. EPB is a very manageable plant that produces nice looking fruit that tastes good. PP is a huge plant that produces good tasting fruit. PP is much like Brandywine, but maybe a teeny bit earlier. Taste wise EPB and PP are similar in quality, but are a bit different in growth traits.

January 14, 2017	#6
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	Both of them were a bust in my climate... if you want to talk about cooler! and short season. Unheated greenhouse. EPB produced a few very late, PP was too late, got culled for not setting a thing. I'm sure they'll do better in California... any part of California!

January 17, 2017	#8
JosephineRose Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: California Posts: 383	Hi Carolyn, I would love to grow both, but space is at a premium. I am trying to look at adjusting some dwarf plants into a grow bags to make room in an earthbox for both, but I don't know if I can make that work. If not, I would have to choose.