How to Grow Excalibur Purple

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Excalibur Purple

Solanum lycopersicum 'Excalibur Purple'

vegetable

Excalibur Purple is a large, indeterminate heirloom tomato variety producing deep purple-red fruits weighing 8-12 ounces with a rich, complex flavor. Known for its disease resistance and reliable yields, it combines the intense taste of purple tomatoes with the vigor and productivity of modern hybrids. This variety is prized by home gardeners for both fresh eating and slicing applications.

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

Plant Excalibur Purple
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Excalibur Purple
Around Jul 1

≈ 75 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily (ideally 10-12 hours)

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Water: Consistent moisture with 1-2 inches per week; water deeply at soil level to avoid fungal diseases; maintain even moisture to prevent cracking and blossom end rot

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Spacing: 24-36 between plants; 3-4 feet between rows inches

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Days to maturity: 75-85 days from transplant

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Planting depth: Start seeds ¼ inch deep indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant seedlings with buried stem up to first true leaves (roots will form on buried stem)

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 (5-10-10)

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown in zones 3-4 with season extension and in zones 9-10 with afternoon shade

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

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny plants with 2 cotyledons (seed leaves) followed by first true leaves; very delicate and pale green

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; provide bright light 14-16 hours daily under grow lights positioned 2-3 inches above seedlings; maintain 65-75°F; thin seedlings when 2 true leaves appear

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks (indoors) + 2-3 weeks after transplanting

Strong stem development with multiple sets of true leaves; plant is bushy and compact indoors, becoming taller after transplanting

Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before transplanting; bury stem deep when transplanting; pinch off bottom branches after transplanting to encourage strong root development; stake or cage early

Flowering

3-4 weeks

Plant reaches full size; yellow flowers appear in clusters; foliage becomes dense and darker green; first flowers typically appear on main stem below 5th-8th leaf node

Maintain consistent watering and support structures; apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks; prune suckers (growth between main stem and branches) on indeterminate varieties to direct energy toward fruiting; ensure adequate air circulation

Fruiting

4-6 weeks

Tiny green fruits appear behind flowers; fruits gradually enlarge and change color from green to purple-red; mature fruits are deep purple-red with slightly flattened shape

Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to encourage fruiting; shift to higher phosphorus/potassium ratio; maintain very consistent watering to prevent cracking; mulch heavily (3-4 inches) to regulate soil moisture and temperature; prune leaves selectively for air circulation if needed

Harvest & Ripening

6-12 weeks (ongoing until frost)

Fruits reach full size and color; skin becomes smooth and glossy; fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure; flavor peaks at full ripeness

Pick fruits at full color for best flavor; pick before first frost or at 'breaker stage' and ripen indoors; reduce watering slightly as season ends; continue harvesting until frost; use indeterminate pruning to allow continued production

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Marigold Nasturtium Carrot Onion Garlic Borage Bee balm

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Potatoes Walnut trees Other solanums in poorly rotated beds

Common Pests

Handpick large caterpillars; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for smaller infestations; encourage parasitic wasps
Spray with water to dislodge; use insecticidal soap or neem oil every 3 days; maintain humidity and air circulation
Yellow sticky traps; spray underside of leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly; introduce parasitic wasps
Spray with water; use insecticidal soap; release ladybugs; apply neem oil weekly if severe
Remove infected lower leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper fungicide every 7-10 days; practice crop rotation
Remove diseased leaves promptly; apply chlorothalonil or copper fungicide weekly; ensure excellent air circulation; water only at soil level

Uses

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Fresh slicing and sandwiches

Culinary

Excalibur Purple's large 8-12 ounce fruits with meaty flesh and few seeds make them ideal for thick slices in sandwiches, burgers, and salads. The complex, rich flavor with notes of sweetness is superior to most commercial tomatoes. [source]

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Sauces and cooking

Culinary

The deep purple color creates visually stunning sauces, salsas, and pasta dishes. The high soluble solids content means excellent sauce consistency and rich flavor concentration when cooked down. [source]

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Antioxidant-rich nutrition

Medicinal

Purple tomatoes like Excalibur contain elevated levels of anthocyanins and lycopene, powerful antioxidants that may reduce inflammation and support heart health. The deep purple color indicates higher polyphenol content than red varieties. [source]

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Heirloom seed saving

Household

While technically a hybrid, Excalibur Purple's superior disease resistance and stable fruit characteristics make it attractive for experimental seed saving by dedicated gardeners wanting to develop stable purple lines. [source]

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Tomato preservation

Culinary

The firm flesh and excellent sugar content make Excalibur Purple ideal for canning, freezing, drying, and making tomato paste or concentrated products with deep color and rich flavor. [source]

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

Harvest Tips

Pick fruits when fully colored deep purple-red (not orange undertones); gently twist and lift away from vine; harvest before first frost by picking at 'breaker stage' (first blush of color showing) and ripening indoors at 70°F in a paper bag; Excalibur Purple is particularly noted for excellent disease resistance allowing season-long harvesting

Fun Facts

🌱 Excalibur Purple is named after the legendary sword for its 'cutting' ability as a slicer and is known in competitive gardening circles for consistently producing massive, show-quality fruits even in challenging seasons.
🌱 The purple-red color comes from elevated levels of anthocyanins (the same compounds that make blueberries blue and red wine beneficial), making these tomatoes significantly more antioxidant-rich than standard red varieties.
🌱 Despite being a large indeterminate variety, Excalibur Purple shows unusually strong disease resistance to early and late blight, making it one of the most reliable purple tomatoes for organic gardeners in humid climates where fungal diseases are common.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Heirloom Hybrid Mulch pH Sucker Transplant True Leaves

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