Eva Purple Ball

Described as smooth and well balanced, a clean sweet-acid flavor on a flawlessly round fruit. This is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.

An 1800s German heirloom said to come from the Black Forest region, brought to the United States by the Joseph J. Bratka family of New Jersey.

• Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.
• Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.
• Generally forgiving and beginner-friendly to grow.
• Will set in cooler conditions, though warmth still helps it along.
• One of our picks for the cold, short-season gardens of New England.

Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.

Brandywinebut a smaller, smoother, more disease-tolerant pinkCherokee Purplebut a clean pink globe rather than a dusky beefsteak

• Tomato Growers Supply Company
• Thresh Seed Co.

• Heirloom vs Hybrid Tomatoes
• Slicer vs Beefsteak Tomatoes
• Best Disease-Resistant Tomatoes

Is Eva Purple Ball determinate or indeterminate?

Eva Purple Ball is an indeterminate variety. Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.

How long does Eva Purple Ball take to ripen?

Eva Purple Ball ripens in about 75 days from transplant. Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.

Is Eva Purple Ball an heirloom or a hybrid?

Eva Purple Ball is an heirloom, an open-pollinated variety with a documented history, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.

What can I grow instead of Eva Purple Ball?

A close swap is Brandywine, but a smaller, smoother, more disease-tolerant pink.