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Jun 22, 2024 12:01 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
I expected even the new tiny green tomatoes and possibly the leaves would show some purple, like Indigo tomatoes. It would be really funny if they don't ripen to purple, just stay green forever. The headlines will say "The Purple Tomato: The World's Biggest Scam!" And we all fell for it... Rolling on the floor laughing
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Jun 22, 2024 12:07 PM CST
Name: Thea
Illinois (IL) (Zone 5b)
Back to Eden ~ Paul Gautschi
Plant and/or Seed Trader Organic Gardener Herbs Cat Lover Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Thank You! for sharing your photos Smiling

Strange that they don't have any blue in either the plants or the fruits yet Thinking

Most anthos I've grown show blue in both the plant & the fruits right away. One called 'Blueberries' was the most beautiful tomato plant I've ever grown.
Kiss the Ground ~ Woody Harrelson
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Jun 22, 2024 12:23 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
'Blueberries' is part of the Indigo series. Everything about them is blue. Sometimes, at certain times of the day, the entire plant turns black but an hour later its green again. I would grow them just for the entertainment value.
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Jun 22, 2024 12:59 PM CST
Name: Thea
Illinois (IL) (Zone 5b)
Back to Eden ~ Paul Gautschi
Plant and/or Seed Trader Organic Gardener Herbs Cat Lover Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
I grow them for their beauty Lovey dubby
Kiss the Ground ~ Woody Harrelson
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Jun 22, 2024 3:11 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Lucy68 said: I expected even the new tiny green tomatoes and possibly the leaves would show some purple, like Indigo tomatoes. It would be really funny if they don't ripen to purple, just stay green forever. The headlines will say "The Purple Tomato: The World's Biggest Scam!" And we all fell for it... Rolling on the floor laughing


That WOULD be funny! I haven't seen any little tomatoes on my plant yet, it's just beginning to blossom. The micro dwarf "Zimmertomate Blau" that I'm growing, which has blue tomatoes, definitely has the dark color on the tomatoes right from the beginning.
“The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light –
if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
~Amanda Gorman~

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Jul 3, 2024 10:44 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Isaac
Bountiful, Utah, USA (Zone 7a)
#bountifulexoticsnursery
How will I know when it's ripe?
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Jul 4, 2024 1:08 AM CST
Sacramento, Ca
When they walk off the vine and into your basket? Rolling on the floor laughing

Seriously, I'd guess determine by feel at this point.
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Jul 4, 2024 8:56 AM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I agree, go by how they feel. (I'm having the same situation right now with tomatoes on my "Zimmertomate Blau" micro dwarf plants, they are a very dark purple/black - but still hard as little rocks.)

Ken, did your tomatoes on the "Purple Tomato" start out green and then turn purple as they developed? Mine are still very small but not showing a trace of purple color yet.
“The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light –
if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
~Amanda Gorman~

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Jul 4, 2024 1:14 PM CST
Name: Rick R.
Minneapolis,MN, USA z4b,Dfb/a
Garden Photography The WITWIT Badge Seed Starter Wild Plant Hunter Region: Minnesota Hybridizer
Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
I suspect it will include a learning process, too. Does it have genes that make it ripe and tasty when it is soft, turning soft or barely turning soft? I remember that 20 years ago, I had to learn the hard way when to pick Black Prince tomatoes... or maybe they just didn't like my garden in Minnesota. Blinking
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
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Jul 4, 2024 1:53 PM CST
Name: Critter (Jill)
Frederick, MD (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Critters Allowed Butterflies Hummingbirder Cat Lover
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Guess I'd try one when it seems to soften just a bit, and if that's not too great, let another one soften further etc. I just tried the first tomatoes from 'Orange Hat', a micro-dwarf, and I'm thinking "slightly soft" may not mean "ripe enough" for that variety.
We're all learners, doers, teachers.
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Jul 4, 2024 3:15 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
kenisaac said: How will I know when it's ripe?


I think you will have to do it by feel. I remember the first time I grew Granny Smith tomatoes - it took me the entire season to get it right. At least with the purple tomato I will have several thousand chances. Rolling on the floor laughing

Weedwhacker said: Ken, did your tomatoes on the "Purple Tomato" start out green and then turn purple as they developed? Mine are still very small but not showing a trace of purple color yet.


Mine are still small and very green. I thought the plant and even small tomatoes would show some color, like all the Indigos do. Having them turn purple is a move in the right direction. I see a green one about the same size as the 2 purple ones in Ken's photo
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Jul 4, 2024 8:50 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I suppose that since "regular" tomatoes turn from green to red, it's not too much to think these would turn from green to purple?
“The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light –
if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
~Amanda Gorman~

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Jul 5, 2024 10:46 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Isaac
Bountiful, Utah, USA (Zone 7a)
#bountifulexoticsnursery
Weedwhacker said:
Ken, did your tomatoes on the "Purple Tomato" start out green and then turn purple as they developed?

Yes.
June 21 they were totally green- showing no purple- and then the next time I checked (July 2) they were purple. It seemed surprisingly fast to change in that 11 days. These pictures are the same grouping but 11 days apart.

June 21
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July 2
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Owner: Bountiful Exotics Nursery
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Jul 6, 2024 7:45 AM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Thanks, Ken - that's reassuring!
“The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light –
if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
~Amanda Gorman~

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Jul 17, 2024 12:36 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ken Isaac
Bountiful, Utah, USA (Zone 7a)
#bountifulexoticsnursery
First comments from myself and my wife, and the handful of friends I gave them to for a try-

"Impressive vine size and prolific bearing in the heat"

"I am completely in love with the purple grape tomatoes. I will definitely want more next year ❤️❤️❤️"


My taste impressions: Good taste, meaty (fleshy) with noticeably thicker skin (peel) than a sunsugar, but not objectionable. Not acidic, (no 'tomato bite') but not overly sweet, either. I actually do adore Sunsugars, and so Sunsugars probably will remain my favorite for snacking by the handful. The purple is very dramatic when cut, though, and would really compliment a salad along with orange Sunsugars and red tomatoes. The purple is consistent throughout, and is a crowd pleaser, as the pictures show. The juice is also somewhat purple, reminding me of a concord grapes' juice, but not as purple.

Another family member, though, isn't impressed as it's hard to tell when they are ripe, and she thinks she tried them when unripe- but reports no tomatoes in her garden are doing well in the heat wave. She'll let them ripen more and give me more feedback as the season progresses.

Pictures!

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Owner: Bountiful Exotics Nursery
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Jul 17, 2024 2:02 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Still waiting to see some color on mine... but the plant is at least 7 feet tall right now. Not like I've had any other ripe tomatoes yet, either - other than one "Maglia Rosa" (a small-fruited variety) and some from my micro dwarf plants. Yours look beautiful, Ken!
“The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light –
if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
~Amanda Gorman~

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Jul 17, 2024 3:18 PM CST
Name: Zoë
Albuquerque NM, Elev 5310 ft (Zone 7b)
Bee Lover Salvias Region: New Mexico Herbs Container Gardener Composter
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Wow Ken, thank for the photos. Seriously purple!
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Jul 17, 2024 3:22 PM CST
Name: Johannian
The Black Hills, SD (Zone 4b)
If the dough is holy, bread is too!
Cactus and Succulents Orchids Garden Research Contributor Sempervivums Vermiculture Garden Ideas: Level 1
Now we can say that tomatoes actually look like fruit! Rolling on the floor laughing I immediately thought "berry" when I saw those pictures, Ken. They look really tasty.
“Honorable is the one who prudently avoids danger (provided he does not compromise himself).” -Sir Thomas More
Profile picture is a picture of our rescue cat, Honey (currently 4 years of age).
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Jul 17, 2024 3:37 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
Encouraging words Ken! YAY!

My Purple Tomato set fruit all the way through our mighty heat wave (110+ for 2 weeks plus). I had to give mine a trim - it was eating every other tomato in my patch. Then the end of the heat brought a mighty wind storm! All the tomatoes were lying down in their cages (I hadn't gotten around to staking the cages yet) and the Purple Tomato was on the top of the heap. Nothing ripe in my garden either but I got a slow start this spring.
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Jul 17, 2024 3:45 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Ouch, Lucy - were you able to get your tomato plants straightened back up? Crossing Fingers!
“The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light –
if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
~Amanda Gorman~

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