Purple Boy

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SpookyShoe
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Purple Boy

#1

Post: # 63127Unread post SpookyShoe
Sat Feb 12, 2022 2:40 pm

Trying this for the first time this year. Claims to have the flavor of Cherokee Purple mixed with hybrid disease resistance. 6 to 7 oz round fruit. Bought a 4 inch potted plant this morning at a family owned nursery.

Going into the ground on March 1st, weather permitting.
Donna, zone 9, El Lago, Texas

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MissS
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Re: Purple Boy

#2

Post: # 63129Unread post MissS
Sat Feb 12, 2022 2:55 pm

I was looking at that one. Let us know how it does for you and what you think about it's flavor.
~ Patti ~

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karstopography
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Re: Purple Boy

#3

Post: # 63136Unread post karstopography
Sat Feb 12, 2022 3:17 pm

I also picked up one from our local feedstore. Plan to put mine in on Tuesday. I have 16 spots ready to go for tomatoes and 16 tomato sets, 10 heirlooms and 6 hybrids, will go in Tuesday. I like Cherokee Purple very much so if purple boy is half as good, I’ll take it.
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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habitat-gardener
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Re: Purple Boy

#4

Post: # 63145Unread post habitat-gardener
Sat Feb 12, 2022 5:12 pm

I grew Purple Boy F1 last year and really liked it -- especially because most of my other indeterminates produced little or nothing! They were firm enough to keep very well, and produced well (54 tomatoes from my first plant and 20 from a later-planted one). I still have one on the table that I picked in October. The flavor was better than I expected for a hybrid, but unfortunately, I did not have a big luscious OP with which to compare it. Mine were fairly small, maybe 2-2.5 inches across, but that could have been because of the generally poor tomato season (heat waves that were earlier, longer, and hotter than previous years). I didn't weigh them. I'm growing it again this year.

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karstopography
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Re: Purple Boy

#5

Post: # 63190Unread post karstopography
Sun Feb 13, 2022 7:59 am

habitat-gardener wrote: Sat Feb 12, 2022 5:12 pm I grew Purple Boy F1 last year and really liked it -- especially because most of my other indeterminates produced little or nothing! They were firm enough to keep very well, I still have one on the table that I picked in October.
WHAT! Wait a minute, you have a tomato that you picked in October out on the table and it’s still something that you’d want to eat? November, December, January, part of February. Call it at least 100 days. How is this even possible?
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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SpookyShoe
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Re: Purple Boy

#6

Post: # 67840Unread post SpookyShoe
Fri Apr 15, 2022 8:14 am

The Purple Boy was the runt of the litter when I put out the tomato plants in March, but it finally has produced some blossoms. The rest of my tomato plants have already set fruit.
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Donna, zone 9, El Lago, Texas

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karstopography
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Re: Purple Boy

#7

Post: # 67843Unread post karstopography
Fri Apr 15, 2022 8:23 am

My one purple boy is a setting star, meaning I’ve got no less than 15 tomatoes on it and likely over 20 by now. It has done far better so far the the lemon boy next to it.
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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SpookyShoe
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Re: Purple Boy

#8

Post: # 70969Unread post SpookyShoe
Thu Jun 02, 2022 6:32 pm

Some sites say this tomato is a beefsteak
and others say it's 6 to 7 oz. Mine have been the smaller size. The fruit is smooth skinned and uniform in shape. I am happy with the taste.
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Donna, zone 9, El Lago, Texas

Vanman
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Re: Purple Boy

#9

Post: # 70971Unread post Vanman
Thu Jun 02, 2022 7:19 pm

Now that is a great looking tomato.

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pepperhead212
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Re: Purple Boy

#10

Post: # 70973Unread post pepperhead212
Thu Jun 02, 2022 7:33 pm

So @SpookyShoe, how is it as far as disease resistance and production? The one time I grew Cherokee Purple, these were both problems here, and I never grew it again, though I loved the flavor...the few times I tried it!
Woodbury, NJ zone 7a/7b

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karstopography
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Re: Purple Boy

#11

Post: # 70974Unread post karstopography
Thu Jun 02, 2022 7:55 pm

@SpookyShoe looks great! My one purple boy plant has been strong and productive, but most have been the size you have. I love it, though, and plan on growing it again.
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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SpookyShoe
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Re: Purple Boy

#12

Post: # 71014Unread post SpookyShoe
Fri Jun 03, 2022 5:30 pm

pepperhead212 wrote: Thu Jun 02, 2022 7:33 pm So @SpookyShoe, how is it as far as disease resistance and production? The one time I grew Cherokee Purple, these were both problems here, and I never grew it again, though I loved the flavor...the few times I tried it!
I am nearing the end of my tomato season. It should be over in a few weeks. During the growing season the plant looked good and it has not succumbed yet to fungal diseases, which are a big problem for me in my warm and humid area. I haven't pulled the plant up yet so I don't know if nematodes have gotten to the roots, which is another big problem for me. I would grow it again.

I did have a problem with stink bugs, but that's not the fault of the plant.
Donna, zone 9, El Lago, Texas

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Shule
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Re: Purple Boy

#13

Post: # 71017Unread post Shule
Fri Jun 03, 2022 6:43 pm

karstopography wrote: Sun Feb 13, 2022 7:59 am
habitat-gardener wrote: Sat Feb 12, 2022 5:12 pm I grew Purple Boy F1 last year and really liked it -- especially because most of my other indeterminates produced little or nothing! They were firm enough to keep very well, I still have one on the table that I picked in October.
WHAT! Wait a minute, you have a tomato that you picked in October out on the table and it’s still something that you’d want to eat? November, December, January, part of February. Call it at least 100 days. How is this even possible?
It's certainly possible (probably more possible in arid climates than humid ones). However, what would amaze me is if it was ripe when harvested. Either way, though, it's impressive.

One trick I've noticed to get tomatoes to last a super long time is to put them directly in a south windowsill. We had one last until June, that way--but it wrinkled, eventually, and I didn't dare eat it (no rotting until June, though).
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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MissS
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Re: Purple Boy

#14

Post: # 71018Unread post MissS
Fri Jun 03, 2022 6:45 pm

These are nice endorsements for Purple Boy. I just may have to grow it myself. Thank you for sharing your experience!
~ Patti ~

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karstopography
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Re: Purple Boy

#15

Post: # 71019Unread post karstopography
Fri Jun 03, 2022 7:11 pm

Our Lowes here has a Bonnie’s seed rack and here recently the seeds have been discounted 50%. I think the seed pack was $1.64. or there abouts.

There’s a lot of good dark tomatoes, but I like having options. Who knows if it will make the final cut for 2023. Cannot grow everything I might want to. I have Carbon I want to grow and maybe Paul Robeson, JBT or Black Krim again. Maybe even Daniel Burson. Too many choices.
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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Shule
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Re: Purple Boy

#16

Post: # 71022Unread post Shule
Fri Jun 03, 2022 7:32 pm

Because I had heard that Cherokee Purple had some disease resistance (before I heard of Purple Boy F1), I figured I'd investigate it and figure out which things each variety is supposed to resist.

-----

Purple Boy F1 is supposed to be resistant to Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, Tomato Mosaic virus, Tobacco Mosaic virus, nematodes (or root knot nematodes), Fusarium Crown, root rot; it's said to have high resistance to some of them:
- https://parkseed.com/tomato-purple-boy/p/52823-PK-P1/
- https://www.totallytomato.com/product/T00587/87
- https://hosstools.com/product/purple-boy-tomato/

Not every vendor mentions every resistance.

-----

Cherokee Purple is said to be resistant to nematodes, Fusarium wilt, and Septoria.

According to kittyhawkgarden of Dave's Garden, Cherokee Purple resisted early blight much better than other varieties (such as Brandywine); rodney says it's quite susceptible to some kind of blight, but produces well even with heavy blight damage; CaliforniaGuy said it seems to be resistant to what seems to be early blight affecting other tomatoes; a couple users mention how it resists bugs (such as stinkbugs and whiteflies) better than some other tomatoes (such as Better Boy and Tomande); a couple users say it's susceptible to fruit rot on the vine (which I only mention since some diseases can cause fruit rot, like Alternaria and Anthracnose).

Here's a thread on TV about Cherokee Purple and late blight.
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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SpookyShoe
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Re: Purple Boy

#17

Post: # 71058Unread post SpookyShoe
Sat Jun 04, 2022 12:40 pm

I have NEVER found Cherokee Purple to be resistant to nematodes.
Last edited by SpookyShoe on Sat Jun 04, 2022 6:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Donna, zone 9, El Lago, Texas

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Re: Purple Boy

#18

Post: # 71068Unread post habitat-gardener
Sat Jun 04, 2022 4:01 pm

Shule wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 6:43 pm
karstopography wrote: Sun Feb 13, 2022 7:59 am
habitat-gardener wrote: Sat Feb 12, 2022 5:12 pm I grew Purple Boy F1 last year and really liked it -- especially because most of my other indeterminates produced little or nothing! They were firm enough to keep very well, I still have one on the table that I picked in October.
WHAT! Wait a minute, you have a tomato that you picked in October out on the table and it’s still something that you’d want to eat? November, December, January, part of February. Call it at least 100 days. How is this even possible?
It's certainly possible (probably more possible in arid climates than humid ones). However, what would amaze me is if it was ripe when harvested. Either way, though, it's impressive.

One trick I've noticed to get tomatoes to last a super long time is to put them directly in a south windowsill. We had one last until June, that way--but it wrinkled, eventually, and I didn't dare eat it (no rotting until June, though).
haha, yes, it was green when picked and became more of a curiosity than something I'd want to eat as the months progressed. Somehow I've trained my palate to want to eat tomatoes only until about October (when the eating quality plummets), and they don't look palatable again until they're ripe in my garden. So since I planted very late this year, my season will be especially short.

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