Pruden's Purple

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Pruden's Purple to a garden.

Sink your senses into Pruden’s Purple’s velvety, smoky-sweet aroma and the dramatic, wine-dark beauty of its fruit.

Beefsteak-sized tomatoes ripen to a dusky purple-brown with subtle green-gold undertones, offering a richly textured bite—juicy, meaty, and deeply flavored for standout heirloom performance. Grow Pruden’s Purple for bold slices and show-stopping sauces, where its complex color and savory depth shine in every pot and platter.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Pruden's Purple

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Pruden's Purple 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 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Oct 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Oct 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 27th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 24th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 18th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 13th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Sep 3rd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 25th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 16th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jul 5th – 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	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Stake
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

Pruden’s Purple leans beefsteak-meaty: when you slice it, you get a juicy, velvety chew that won’t turn to watery mush. It’s made for bold slicing and sauce work—its smoky-sweet aroma and dusky savoriness love fats (olive oil, cheese, cured pork) and sharp edges like garlic and black pepper.

Best Uses

thick slice for sandwiches where the tomato holds structure instead of slumping
high-heat blistering and quick char then finish with olive oil and salt
slow-simmered sauce to lean into its savory, wine-dark complexity
charred tomato salsa where its pulp stays chunky

Flavor Profile

smoky-sweet aroma juicy but dense, meaty flesh complex, savory depth with dusky acidity velvety bite with lots of seeds/gel

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil aged balsamic vinegar fresh mozzarella black pepper bacon or pancetta

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common disease for Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) and what should I do if it shows up?

A frequent problem is early blight, which causes brown, concentric “target” spots on older leaves and can rapidly defoliate plants. Remove and discard affected leaves, avoid splashing soil onto foliage, and water at the base of the plant. If the disease is spreading, apply a labeled fungicide for tomatoes and reapply according to the product directions (especially after wet weather).

How often should I water during the main growing phase for Solanum lycopersicum to keep fruit from splitting?

During fruit set and the peak of ripening (about mid-season through maturity), keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water deeply about 1–2 times per week depending on heat and soil type, aiming for steady moisture at the root zone; sandy soils may need more frequent watering. Mulch around the plants to reduce swings, because irregular watering is a major cause of cracking and blossom-end issues.

How can I tell when Pruden's Purple tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit is fully colored (purple/near-black shoulders with a ripe red/pink gel inside depending on your strain) and gives slightly to gentle pressure. The best indicator is that the fruit comes off the vine easily with a light twist and looks glossy rather than matte. For peak flavor, pick at a consistent ripe stage—once mostly ripe, let it finish on the vine for only a short time and avoid over-drying on hot days.