How to Grow Australian Purple
Wikimedia Commons
Australian Purple
Solanum lycopersicum 'Australian Purple'
vegetableAustralian Purple is an heirloom tomato variety known for its deep purple-red color and rich, complex flavor with hints of berries and smoke. This indeterminate vine produces medium-sized fruits (3-4 oz) with thin skins and meaty texture, making it excellent for slicing and cooking. The plant is moderately vigorous and well-suited to warm climates, offering consistent yields throughout the season.
When should you plant Australian Purple in your zone?
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Example Australian Purple timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Australian Purple
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Australian Purple
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Australian Purple dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 5-9; thrives in warm, long-season regions
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny plants with 2-4 true leaves emerge; very delicate with thin stems.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light 14-16 hours daily. Maintain temperatures 70-75°F. Avoid damping off by ensuring good air circulation.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlant develops sturdy main stem and lateral branches; foliage becomes lush with 5-7 leaflets per leaf.
Harden off seedlings before transplanting outdoors. Transplant after last frost when soil reaches 60°F. Install support stakes or cages early. Remove lower leaves as plant grows (up to first flower cluster) to improve air flow.
Flowering
3-4 weeksYellow flower clusters (3-7 flowers) appear at leaf axils; plant may reach 4-6 feet tall.
Continue staking or pruning side shoots (suckers) to maintain main stem. Ensure consistent watering to prevent blossom end rot. Do not over-fertilize with nitrogen. Maintain even soil moisture.
Fruiting
4-5 weeksGreen marble-sized fruits develop and gradually enlarge to full 3-4 oz size; color shifts from green to dark purple-red.
Prune upper foliage to allow ripening light to reach fruit. Continue consistent deep watering. Apply mulch to regulate soil temperature and moisture. Monitor for late blight and early blight, removing infected leaves.
Ripeness & Harvest
Ongoing until first frostFruits reach full deep purple-red color with slight give when gently squeezed; flavor peaks at this stage.
Harvest when fully colored and slightly soft. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. If frost threatens, pick mature green fruits and ripen indoors.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick large larvae; encourage parasitic wasps; spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for young larvae; insecticidal soap if severe.
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Increase humidity and spray leaves with strong water stream; insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen.
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly; encourage beneficial insects like parasitic wasps.
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Remove lower infected leaves; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply sulfur or copper fungicide at first sign; mulch to prevent soil splash.
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Remove infected leaves promptly; apply chlorothalonil or copper fungicide; practice crop rotation; water at soil level only.
Uses
Slicing & Fresh Eating
CulinaryAustralian Purple's meaty flesh, thin skin, and complex berry-smoke flavor make it ideal for fresh slicing on sandwiches, in salads, or eaten whole. The low juice content minimizes soggy sandwiches. [source]
Cooking & Sauces
CulinaryThe rich, complex flavor deepens when cooked, making it excellent for pasta sauces, soups, and stews. Its slightly dry texture concentrates flavors beautifully in cooked dishes. [source]
Seed Saving
HouseholdAs an heirloom open-pollinated variety, Australian Purple is ideal for seed saving. Seeds from ripe fruits can be fermented, dried, and stored for next season. [source]
Lycopene Content
MedicinalPurple tomatoes contain lycopene and additional anthocyanins that provide antioxidant benefits. Raw consumption preserves heat-sensitive vitamins; light cooking enhances lycopene availability. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeTomato flowers attract native bees and beneficial insects. Allowing some flowers to fully open (rather than determinant harvesting) supports pollinators throughout the season. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest when fruits are fully dark purple-red and yield slightly to gentle pressure, typically 75-85 days after transplanting. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. Australian Purple benefits from vine-ripening for peak flavor—leave on plant as long as possible before first frost. In cool climates, pick at mature green stage and ripen indoors at 70-75°F in a paper bag with an ethylene-producing apple or banana.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Australian Purple is a relatively modern heirloom (1990s) developed by Australian gardeners, making it younger than many heirloom tomatoes but already a beloved collector variety.
- 🌱 The deep purple color comes from anthocyanin pigments—the same compounds that make blueberries and blackberries purple—giving it higher antioxidant content than red tomatoes.
- 🌱 This variety is indeterminate and can grow 6+ feet tall if left unpruned, requiring sturdy support and patience with pruning to manage productivity and air flow.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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