How to Grow Catalina Purple

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Catalina Purple

Solanum lycopersicum 'Catalina Purple'

vegetable

Catalina Purple is a determinate heirloom tomato variety known for its deep purple-black coloring and rich, complex flavor. This compact bush tomato produces medium-sized fruits with dense flesh and few seeds, making it excellent for fresh eating and sauces. It's a favorite among tomato enthusiasts for its distinctive appearance and excellent taste.

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Example Catalina Purple timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Catalina Purple
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Catalina Purple
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Catalina Purple dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; 8+ hours preferred for best fruiting and color development

💧

Water: Consistent moisture is critical; water deeply 1-2 inches per week. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water at soil level to avoid foliar diseases. Increase frequency during flowering and fruiting.

📏

Spacing: 18-24 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 70-85 days from transplant to first ripe fruit

🌱

Planting depth: Start seeds 0.25 inches deep indoors; transplant seedlings 6-8 weeks before last frost; plant transplants with bottom leaves buried to encourage stronger root development

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

compost aged manure peat moss or coconut coir bone meal balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or similar)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-10; can be grown in zones 3-4 with season extension techniques

3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 5a 5b 5c 6a 6b 6c 7a 7b 7c 8a 8b 8c 9a 9b 9c 10a 10b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Small plants with 2-4 true leaves, pale green coloring, delicate stems

Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily; keep soil moist but not soggy; maintain 70-75°F temperature; thin seedlings or transplant to individual containers at 2-3 true leaves

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks after transplanting

Rapid leaf and stem development; bushy growth habit characteristic of determinate variety; plant reaches 2-4 feet tall

Harden off seedlings before transplanting outdoors; provide sturdy support cage or stake early; fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer; pinch off lower leaves as plant grows to improve air circulation

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters; plant develops flower buds and begins blooming prolifically

Maintain consistent watering; switch to lower nitrogen, higher phosphorus fertilizer (5-10-10) to promote flowering rather than excessive foliage; ensure adequate sunlight; shake flowers gently midday to aid pollination

Fruiting

4-5 weeks

Small green fruits develop from flowers; fruits gradually enlarge; begin to show characteristic dark purple-black coloring as they mature

Continue consistent watering; avoid wetting foliage; remove some leaves to allow sunlight to reach developing fruit and enhance purple coloring; support fruit clusters with twine if needed; continue fertilizing every 3 weeks

Harvest

2-3 weeks of peak production

Fruits reach full size (2-3 inches diameter) with deep purple-black color; flesh fully developed with rich flavor; skin slightly yields to gentle pressure

Harvest when fully colored but still slightly firm; can pick at breaker stage (first blush of color) and ripen indoors if needed; handle gently to avoid bruising dark-colored skin; continue harvesting to encourage more fruit production

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

basil carrot parsley marigold nasturtium borage garlic onion spinach

Avoid planting near:

brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) fennel kohlrabi potato

Common Pests

Hand-pick; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); encourage parasitic wasps; inspect plants regularly for dark droppings and leaf damage
Spray with strong water stream; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; maintain humidity; remove heavily infested leaves
Use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage beneficial insects; reflective mulch can deter them
Spray with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce ladybugs or lacewings; remove infested tips
Remove infected lower leaves; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply fungicide if severe; mulch to prevent soil splash
Remove infected foliage immediately; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply copper or chlorothalonil fungicide; rotate crops

Uses

🍳

Fresh slicing and salads

Culinary

Catalina Purple's dense flesh, few seeds, and rich, complex flavor make it ideal for slicing fresh. The dramatic dark coloring adds visual interest to salads, sandwiches, and platters. [source]

🍳

Sauces and preserves

Culinary

The low seed content and thick flesh make this variety excellent for tomato sauce, paste, and canning. Its complex flavor profile creates richer, more nuanced preserved products. [source]

💊

Antioxidant-rich superfood

Medicinal

Dark purple tomatoes like Catalina Purple contain elevated levels of anthocyanins and lycopene, potent antioxidants associated with cardiovascular and cancer-preventive benefits. [source]

🏠

Seed saving for next season

Household

As an heirloom variety, Catalina Purple can be reliably seed-saved from mature fruits, allowing gardeners to maintain pure genetics and reduce costs for future seasons. [source]

🎨

Ornamental garden specimens

Craft

The stunning purple-black fruits and compact bushy growth habit make Catalina Purple attractive in ornamental edible gardens, container displays, and as dramatic focal points. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Catalina Purple tomatoes are determinate, meaning they produce most fruit over a concentrated 2-3 week period. Harvest when fruits are fully colored (deep purple-black) and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. These tomatoes can be harvested at the breaker stage (when first color appears) and ripened indoors if needed. The dark skin can show blemishes more easily than red varieties, so handle gently. Best flavor develops when fully vine-ripened in warm temperatures.

Fun Facts

🌱 Catalina Purple's deep purple-black color comes from high concentrations of anthocyanins—the same powerful antioxidants found in blueberries and red wine—making it one of the most nutritionally dense tomato varieties available.
🌱 This determinate variety was developed for compact growing, making it perfect for container gardening and small spaces, yet still producing abundant harvests if supported properly.
🌱 The 'Catalina' name references its origin, and it has become increasingly popular among specialty chefs and farmers' market vendors who value its combination of stunning visual appeal, exceptional flavor, and heirloom genetics.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Heirloom pH Pollination Transplant True Leaves

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