A smoky, purple-esque, very ruffled, slightly flattened beefsteak type of tomato. The look of "Purple Calabash" is distinctive and the f...Read Morelavor is more on the acidic side - has some of the flavor depth typical of many of the "dusky" types but when combined with the acidity it just wasn't enough to make this one a "keeper" for me. I didn't find this variety to be overly productive nor are the fruits themselves overly large in size. The oblate shape and large shoulders make it more difficult to get enough usable "slabs" for sandwiches - I prefer that a single slice of tomato covers (or mostly covers) a piece of bread and "Purple Calabash" is better off carved up into wedges.
I was attracted to this tomato because of its smoky color and unusual shape. However the taste was a little too bland for me. I have be...Read Moreen using it mainly to make sauce and it does make a good sauce tomatoe, but as far as fresh eating, I am not too impresed. The size of the tomato was on the smallish size as well. Production is really good, does make a nice toamato for salsa.
I started this tomato from seed purchased at Monticello (Th. Jefferson's home) in VA in 2002. The plant is growing well and is very heal...Read Morethy - no sign of the Early Blight or the wilt with which my other heirlooms are contending. Very unusual foliage - almost feathery in appearance. Lots of unripe fruit, but none have yet ripened. Will report back once we have harvested and sampled.
this is one of my favorite tomatoes. it's adorable and the color is just out of sight. and what a fun one to show to people who have ne...Read Morever seen it! "that's a *tomato*??" i guess some folks have eaten too many supermarket hybrids. this is also a very beautiful plant. the first year i grew them they were maybe 3 1/2 feet tall, but this year i have some about 5 1/2 feet. wish i had known they had this potential. i would have used taller stakes! o, and not to neglect to mention taste: it's rich and strong with a big bite. but what else would you expect from a mexican tomato that has been around over 400 years.
I like this tomato. The ruffled appearance and color make it a conversation piece, and I found the flavor to be comparable to any good bl...Read Moreack tomato. My plant produced a lot of tomatoes, but they were on the small side.
First tasting of this tomato left me unimpressed. I found it to be very bland. I've got a number of others ripening so will change my r...Read Moreating if they prove to be tastier than the first one.
Gorgeous dusty/ dusky purple color. Like a smoked lavender. :) Very nice! tomato. Great flavor. I find the flavor to be moderate, not to...Read Moreo heavy or spicey, not very mild or sweet either, but it IS a bit sweet and not a sour type tomato. JUST! lovely and more pleated than some pleated tomatos. Highly! recommended. ;) :)
One of my more successful tomatoes this year. The tomato is fun to grow because it is HEAVILY fluted - absolutely adorable at every stag...Read Moree of growth. Makes a great presentation on a tomato tray. I had some problems with blossom end rot, but once they got growing, they were very successful. They also tend to have heavy catfacing on the bottom, which cuts into the tomatoe's usability. The flavor is dense and smokey - I 've been told it makes a great wine! The only real drawback to me was the skin, which is a little tough for my taste. i found that if I picked it when it was still a bit pinkish, the skin was more manageable.
A smoky, purple-esque, very ruffled, slightly flattened beefsteak type of tomato. The look of "Purple Calabash" is distinctive and the f...Read More
I was attracted to this tomato because of its smoky color and unusual shape. However the taste was a little too bland for me. I have be...Read More
I started this tomato from seed purchased at Monticello (Th. Jefferson's home) in VA in 2002. The plant is growing well and is very heal...Read More
this is one of my favorite tomatoes. it's adorable and the color is just out of sight. and what a fun one to show to people who have ne...Read More
I like this tomato. The ruffled appearance and color make it a conversation piece, and I found the flavor to be comparable to any good bl...Read More
First tasting of this tomato left me unimpressed. I found it to be very bland. I've got a number of others ripening so will change my r...Read More
Good, rich flavor and interesting appearance. However, not much usable flesh because of the extreme ruffled shoulders.
Gorgeous dusty/ dusky purple color. Like a smoked lavender. :) Very nice! tomato. Great flavor. I find the flavor to be moderate, not to...Read More
One of my more successful tomatoes this year. The tomato is fun to grow because it is HEAVILY fluted - absolutely adorable at every stag...Read More