🍅 Quick take: Rosella Purple is one of the crowning achievements of the Dwarf Tomato Project, bred by Patrina Nuske Small to mimic the legendary flavor of Cherokee Purple on a stout, space-saving plant. Topping out at just 2.5 ft (0.8 m) tall, this compact bush produces impressive, full-sized, juicy-meaty dusky purple beefsteaks. Reviewers highlight it as an exceptional candidate for patio containers and unheated low tunnels, delivering rich, sweet, complex heirloom flavor, though persistent cold rains can dilute its sugars if drainage is poor. Full summary ↓
Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 4-5 & European Experience)
A release from the Dwarf Tomato Project. Absolutely loved it. Produced heavily in the hoop house, staying compact at roughly 2.5 ft (0.8 m) tall. The fruits are delicious, juicy, and very meaty. Foliage was regular.Edited February 14, 2017 by Drosera
Planted this one this past season with seeds from Red’ko. Grew them in a small low tunnel under plastic sheeting after seedling stage. Turned out mid-early in my garden.
The fruits were solid, good-sized slicers and yield was very decent. The flavor was a bit of a letdown, though I think that was down to our lousy weather; it rained all summer long and stayed cold.
The fruits were solid, good-sized slicers and yield was very decent. The flavor was a bit of a letdown, though I think that was down to our lousy weather; it rained all summer long and stayed cold.
Hands down the best-tasting tomato in my garden this entire year! Sweet, bold, vibrant flavor! 😘😘😘
Polishing off the very last one today (grew this plant in a patio container out on the terrace). Had another plant out in the open garden, but stuck it in an unfortunate spot: the tomatoes stayed on the small side and the foliage crisped up toward the tail end of the season. But even so, they were still incredibly tasty.
Seeds were generously gifted by Sweta 777 🙏🙏🙏Edited September 23, 2018 by Katya iz Kieva
Polishing off the very last one today (grew this plant in a patio container out on the terrace). Had another plant out in the open garden, but stuck it in an unfortunate spot: the tomatoes stayed on the small side and the foliage crisped up toward the tail end of the season. But even so, they were still incredibly tasty.
Seeds were generously gifted by Sweta 777 🙏🙏🙏Edited September 23, 2018 by Katya iz Kieva
Full Summary: Plant, Yield, Taste and Container Growing
- 🌿 Plant Architecture: True dwarf bush bred by the Dwarf Tomato Project. Stout, thick central stem reaching about 2.5 ft (0.8 m) with dense dark crinkled (rugose) foliage. Ideal for 5 to 7 gallon patio containers and low polyethylene hoop tunnels.
- ⚖️ Fruit Characteristics: Oblate, smooth-shouldered purple-pink beefsteaks with deep crimson-purple interior flesh, behaving visually and texturally like a dwarf replica of Cherokee Purple.
- 👅 Flavor Profile: Complex, sweet, and smoky with balanced acidity when provided sufficient heat and sun. In cold, persistently waterlogged seasons, the flavor can wash out.
- 📈 Productivity: Outstanding for a dwarf, consistently yielding multi-fruit trusses of full-sized slicers on a miniature frame.
- 🌎 Reviewed In: Moscow Region, Western Europe (Paris area), and Central Russia (USDA Zones 4 to 8/9).
