Description

Pruden’s Purple Tomato is a highly regarded heirloom beefsteak variety known for its large, slightly flattened fruits, deep pink-purple skin, and exceptionally rich, old-fashioned tomato flavor. The flesh is juicy yet meaty, with a balanced sweetness and acidity that makes it excellent for fresh slicing, sandwiches, and salads.

This early-maturing beefsteak is especially valued for producing large fruits sooner than many other heirloom types, making it a reliable choice for gardeners in shorter seasons. Plants are productive and benefit from support, producing a steady supply of flavorful, oversized tomatoes over the growing season.

• Type: Annual tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
• Growth habit: Indeterminate
• Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before last frost
• Transplant: After all danger of frost has passed
• Sun: Full sun
• Spacing: 24–36 inches
• Days to maturity: 60–75 days

Tomatoes grow best in warm, fertile, well-drained soil with consistent moisture and strong sunlight. Indeterminate varieties continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season, so staking or caging is important to support heavy fruit loads and improve airflow. Regular harvesting encourages ongoing production, and mulching helps conserve soil moisture and reduce disease pressure.

Additional information