The tomato variety ‘Purple Calabash’ has a special purple-red color. We show what you should consider when planting and caring for the beefsteak tomato.
The dark beefsteak tomato ‘Purple Calabash‘ brings a special look into the garden and a particularly aromatic taste on the plate. In this portrait you will learn everything about the tomato variety ‘Purple Calabash‘.
contents
- Purple Calabash Tomato: Wanted Poster
- Origin and history of the beefsteak tomato
- Properties and taste of the tomato variety ‘Purple Calabash’
- Planting and caring for purple calabash tomatoes
- Harvest and use purple calabash tomatoes
Purple Calabash Tomato: Wanted Poster
| fruit | Beefsteak tomato; dark red to violet-brownish with a dark to olive-green style approach |
| taste | fruity, sweet, aromatic |
| Ripening time | late |
| growth | Stake tomatoes, up to 160 cm |
| Location | Greenhouse, open field, pot |
Origin and history of the beefsteak tomato
The Purple Calabash ‘variety has been known for a long time and is one of the historic tomato varieties. It is said to have been grown in the area around Mexico in pre-colonial times, but this is difficult to prove. In 1963 it came into the hands of the USDA seed bank and has since been offered as a heirloom cultivar to hobby gardeners all over the world.
Properties and taste of the tomato variety ‘Purple Calabash’
As a plant, ‘Purple Calabash‘ reaches a height of around 160 centimeters. It produces large, strongly ribbed and flat-round fruits that can weigh up to 200 grams. When ripe, the tomatoes take on a dark red to purple-brownish color, while the stem base is usually dark green to olive-colored. This variety ripens very late from the end of August to the beginning of September, when most of the other varieties are already losing their yield. The taste of the ‘Purple Calabash‘ is fruity and sweet with a unique aroma that should be tried. This ancient variety is seed safe and can be propagated from its own seeds.
Planting and caring for purple calabash tomatoes
This variety is suitable for cultivation in the greenhouse, outdoors or in large pots. The ‘Purple Calabash‘ has burst-resistant fruits and is not particularly susceptible to disease. It can therefore also be placed outdoors, protected from rain on a warm wall to allow it to ripen earlier.
From mid-May after the ice saints, you can put the young plants of the ‘Purple Calabash‘ outside, in the warmer greenhouse this can be done from the beginning of May. For example, ours is suitable for keeping in pots, but also for heavy and poor garden soils Plantura organic tomato soil. It already contains essential nutrients that enable the young plant to grow quickly after it has set in. The high compost content promotes soil life in the bed and can thus loosen and improve the soil structure over time. After planting, water should be vigorously and the ‘Purple Calabash‘ should be supported and tied with a rod made of metal or wood.
Due to the size of the fruit and the very late ripening of the ‘Purple Calabash, the tomato should only be grown with one shoot. That Skinning the tomato must be done regularly and carefully, because this variety tends to overgrown and overgrown if you are not careful.
It is worth fertilizing from June to prevent symptoms of deficiency and to provide the plants with a good supply of nutrients. A predominantly organic slow release fertilizer like ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer, is worked superficially into the soil as granules and provides the tomatoes with everything they need. After about two months, a lower dose of top dressing should be applied, which is sufficient until the end of the season.
Harvest and use purple calabash tomatoes
This aromatic beefsteak tomato is best eaten pure with just a little olive oil and salt, because this is how its taste comes into its own. Sliced on bread or in salads, the ‘Purple Calabash‘ adds a splash of color. It can of course also be used to cook it, but it is actually much too good for that.
If you want to plant tomatoes unprotected in the bed, you have to pay attention to a few things in order to keep the plants healthy and to achieve a rich harvest. We give tips on how to grow Tomatoes in the open ground and explain what to look out for when choosing a variety.