Description of the Purple Pumpkin tomato, its yield, and reviews of the variety

Until recently, purple tomatoes were considered an unheard-of miracle, and encountering such a curiosity in garden plots was quite a rarity. However, today, thanks to the efforts of the originators, amethyst and black-purple tomatoes are successfully grown both in plastic shelters and in open ground, and the shade of existing varieties varies from soft lilac to black-purple.

These tomato varieties were bred using a gene from a species of nightshade tomato, which is naturally quite poisonous but has increased resistance to disease and temperature fluctuations. One such fabulously beautiful variety is the Purple Pumpkin tomato.

Description of the Purple Pumpkin tomato variety

This indeterminate variety has an incomplete growth habit, but when grown seasonally, the plant reaches a height of 1.7-2 meters. It is mid-season, producing technically mature fruit 105-115 days after the first shoots emerge, weighing 200-350 grams and featuring a purple-violet color. The fruits are large, flattened, and round, with pronounced ribbing.

The bush is heavily foliated with juicy green leaves. A cross-section reveals numerous seed chambers with juicy flesh, which has an excellent tomato-fruity aftertaste. Purple pumpkin yields are quite good, with yields of around 3.5-5.5 kg per plant.

Features of cultivation of purple pumpkin

Purple Pumpkin tomatoes are successfully cultivated in many regions of the Russian Federation, Moldova, and Ukraine, but they thrive best in temperate climates and areas with relatively warm climates.

They are best grown outdoors, as bright sunlight influences the richness of their color and the content of the plant glycoside anthocyanin, which has a therapeutic effect on the human body. This element strengthens blood vessels and reduces capillary fragility.

Purple pumpkin is a variety that, when harvested, imparts all the characteristics of its parents to its offspring. Therefore, you can harvest the seeds of this tomato yourself, planting this tomato wonder in your garden for several seasons. The seeds are collected from ripe fruits, thoroughly washed under running water, and dried.

Before sowing tomatoes, which occurs in the second or third ten days of March, bring the containers with soil into a warm room. It is advisable to purchase seedling soil mix from specialty stores. Before planting, the seeds must be disinfected and stimulated. To do this, soak the seeds for 30-40 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate at a rate of 0.01 g per 1000 ml. Then rinse the seeds under running water and soak them in any growth stimulant for 10-12 hours. Once dry, the seeds are ready for planting. Moisten the soil in the containers, space the seeds 1.5 cm by 1.5 cm apart, press them in to a similar depth, and cover with soil.

Cover the containers with sown tomato seeds with newspaper or plastic and place them in a dark, warm place. After a few days, the first leaflets will begin to emerge. Once they appear, remove the covering material, lower the room temperature by a few degrees, and place the containers in the sunniest spot. After the tomato seedlings have grown 2-3 true pairs of leaves, transplant the young plants into individual pots, placing each one as deep as possible in the soil, being careful not to bury the root collar.

When nighttime temperatures reach above freezing in the second or third ten days of May, seedlings are planted outdoors after hardening off for 7-10 days. To ensure the Purple Pumpkin fruits develop a rich, vibrant color during the growing season, prepare the soil before planting by adding the following to each hole:

• 25 g superphosphate;
• 30 g potassium;
• 20 g nitroammophoska;
• humus;
• 1 glass of ash.

Throughout the tomato growing season, it's essential to implement all appropriate agricultural practices, including: tying to trellises, training the bush into one or two stems, pinching out side shoots, watering with warm water, fluffing, and fertilizing. Fertilize tomatoes three times per season, using a special complex fertilizer during the following periods:

• full survival of seedlings;
• formation of flower brushes;
• pouring fruits.

Diseases and pests

All purple tomatoes, including Purple Pumpkin, are highly resistant to many pathogens, including late blight, fusarium, and verticillium wilt. However, especially during rainy seasons, plants can be susceptible to certain rots. Therefore, as a preventative measure, tomatoes should be treated with copper-containing products once or twice during the season.

The most dangerous pest for purple pumpkin is the whitefly, whose offspring develop at a frantic rate during dry, hot summers. To control it, use Opperkot and Aktara, diluted according to the instructions.

Purple Pumpkin Tomato Reviews and Uses

After growing this variety in their gardens, many gardeners complain that their tomatoes never turned purple, but instead acquired a pinkish-purple hue. This is explained by the fact that proper cultivation practices were not followed during cultivation, and the soil was not sufficiently fertilized. Aside from this unfortunate fact, many gardeners were very pleased with the Purple Pumpkin due to its resistance to pathogens, taste, and decorative qualities.

Purple pumpkin is not suitable for canning whole for home preparations, but it makes a good juice, paste, and sauce, distinguished by its original color and pleasant fruity-tomato flavor.