Eva Purple Ball

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Eva Purple Ball to a garden.

Sink your senses into Eva Purple Ball’s velvety, smoky-sweet flavor—an alluring balance of rich, rosy fruit notes with a gentle, earthy depth.

At maturity, its compact, globe-shaped slices reveal a dramatic mahogany-purple interior with a smooth, juicy bite and a tender, seed-studded texture that shines in fresh salads and vibrant sauces. Grow this 75-day slicing standout for a garden-to-table centerpiece that looks as extraordinary as it tastes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Determinate

Botanical illustration of Eva Purple Ball

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Eva Purple Ball Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This is the kind of slicing tomato that earns the knife work—its tender, seed-studded interior turns silky instead of watery, with a smoky-sweet edge that stands up to heat. Slice it thick and treat it gently: a quick reduction or a light dressing lets the purple mahogany flavor come through, not get masked.

Best Uses

thick slices for a heavy sourdough sandwich that holds together without turning watery
fresh salads where the mahogany interior stays glossy and juicy under vinaigrette
quick, vibrant pan sauces (just enough reduction to concentrate without dulling the rosy notes)
chopped salsa-like topping for grilled fish or chicken

Flavor Profile

velvety smoky-sweet tomato flavor rosy fruit notes with gentle earthy depth tender, seed-studded juicy bite

Kitchen Pairings

olive oil garlic black pepper feta balsamic vinegar mozzarella

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Solanum lycopersicum (Eva Purple Ball tomato), and how do I treat it?

Watch for early blight and Septoria leaf spot—both show up as dark spots on older leaves and can spread quickly in humid weather. Remove and discard affected lower leaves, then spray preventatively with a copper-based fungicide according to the label and avoid wetting foliage when you water. If you see wilt progressing from lower leaves, check for soil-borne issues and remove severely affected plants to reduce spread.

How often should I water Eva Purple Ball tomatoes during peak growth, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

During active flowering and fruit set (roughly mid-season), water deeply 2–3 times per week so the root zone gets evenly moist. Aim for soil that stays consistently damp but not soggy—if the top 1 inch of soil dries out, water again. Mulch around the plants to reduce rapid drying, which helps prevent cracking and blossom-end rot.

How can I tell when Eva Purple Ball tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit is fully colored for this variety (deep purplish-red/near-burgundy with a firm, smooth skin) and gives slightly to gentle pressure. Size alone isn’t reliable, so rely on color + a “ready” firmness at about 75 days from transplant. If nights are cool, you may get better flavor by harvesting at full color rather than waiting for maximum softness.