Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Purple Bumble Bee
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70-75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Purple Bumble Bee Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to cracking and disorders. Introduced to the gardening world by Fred Hempel in 2014, Purple Bumble Bee is part of the "Bumble Bee" series. As a cherry tomato, Purple Bumble Bee is great for salads, fresh eating, or adding a pop of color to vegetable trays. Its small, sweet fruits are easy to snack on and are popular in gourmet dishes for their stunning appearance. Weighing just one ounce each, these tiny tomatoes have skin that is purple-red with green-gold stripes and flesh that is sweet and tangy. ~14,800 seeds/oz.
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- Latin Name: Solanum lycopersicum (Previously Lycopersicon esculentum, however this name is no longer accepted as correct)
- Hardiness Zone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Annual: Not intended to overwinter
- Days to Maturity: 70-75 (from transplant)
- Days to Germination: 7-10
- Seeding Depth: 0.25 inch
- Direct Sow: No
- Start Indoors: Yes. Start Indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date.
- Tomato Type: Cherry - Small round tomatoes that are typically the size of marbles but still smaller than a golf ball.
- Plant Spacing: 18-24 inches
- Row Spacing: 24-36 inches
- Plant Height: 48-60 inches
- Plant Width: 24-36 inches
- Plant Spread: 24-36 inches
- Growth Habit: Indeterminate - Indeterminate tomatoes are vine-type plants that sprawl (requiring a cage or trellis to support them) and continue to grow throughout the season. Indeterminate tomato plants will continue to produce tomatoes for the rest of the season, so you can harvest continually.
- Growth Speed: Mid - Ready to harvest 70 to 80 days from transplant. Tricky to get a tomato by the 4th of July with these varieties. They are good mid-summer producers for most USDA Zones.
- Soil Preference: Well-draining, loose (sandy loam), slightly acidic (6.2 to 6.8), and moisture retaining. Too much nitrogen in the soil may lead to more foliage production and less fruiting. Tomatoes like more phosphorus and potassium than other vegetables.
- Temperature Preference: Warmer (70-85 F)
- Germination Temperature: 65-85 F
- Light Preference: Full Sun
- Pests and Diseases: Resistant to cracking and disorders. Common pests known to harm tomato plants, in general, include the tomato hornworm, cutworm, aphids, flea beetles, tomato fruit worms, and whiteflies. Also, watch for common diseases such as blossom end rot, fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, verticillium wilt, late blight, bacterial canker/spot, and tobacco mosaic virus. Most of these can be prevented by maintaining a regular watering schedule and avoiding overwatering. Regularly check your plants for pest damage throughout the season. For treating pest and disease problems, we recommend using an organic neem-based product.
- Purple Bumble Bee Tomato Color: The skin is purple-red with green-gold stripes.
- Purple Bumble Bee Tomato Flavor: Sweet and tangy.
- Garden Size: Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed
- Tomato Use: Salads, fresh eating, pasta sauces, garnishes, charcuterie boards, etc.
- Climate Tolerance:
Growing Purple Bumble Bee Tomatoes in the Vegetable Garden
Sow the seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost. Fill small containers or seed trays with seed-starting soil mix and plant the seeds 0.25 inches deep. Water gently and keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Maintain a temperature of around 70-80 F for optimal germination, which typically takes 7-14 days. Providing a grow light will help the seedlings grow strong and prevent them from getting leggy.
Continue to keep the soil moist, and feed them with a diluted liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks. When they reach 6-8 inches tall, you can begin "hardening off" the seedlings about one week before transplanting them outdoors. This process involves gradually introducing the plants to outdoor conditions.
You can transplant your Purple Bumble Bee tomatoes when the outdoor soil temperature is consistently above 60 F, and all danger of frost has passed. Select a sunny location with well-draining soil. Space the plants about 18-24 inches apart. Bury them deeply, up to their first set of true leaves. Tomatoes can develop roots along the buried stem, which leads to stronger, more resilient plants. Be sure to stake or cage them early to support their growth.
Throughout the growing season, water consistently, keeping the soil evenly moist. Mulch can help retain moisture and reduce weeds. Tomatoes love a good feeding, so apply some fertilizer once the plants start flowering. Avoid Nitrogen heavy mixes as this can lead to excessive foliage growth over fruit production. As an indeterminate variety, Purple Bumble Bee will need regular pruning to remove suckers (small shoots that form between the main stem and branches).
Harvesting Purple Bumble Bee Tomatoes
Purple Bumble Bee tomatoes are ready to harvest when they fully develop their signature purple-red coloration with green-gold stripes. The fruits are cherry-sized, about 1-1.5 inches in diameter, and should feel firm but not hard. Gently twist or snip the fruits from the vine when they reach this stage. As an indeterminate variety, these tomatoes will keep producing new fruits throughout the growing season until frost kills the plant.
About Purple Bumble Bee Tomato Garden Seeds
Purple Bumble Bee was bred by Fred Hempel of Artisan Seeds, and it was introduced to the public around 2014 as part of his "Bumble Bee" series of cherry tomatoes, which are known for their colorful and flavorful fruits.
This variety is good for containers or hanging baskets as long as you provide a sturdy support system since the plants are indeterminate and will continue growing vigorously throughout the season. Maintenance will be needed throughout the season, as the plant will still grow quite large.
Purple Bumble Bee is an indeterminate variety, meaning it will keep growing and producing fruit throughout the season rather than ripening all at once. This makes it perfect for continual harvesting, providing cherry tomatoes over several months.
This variety has gained popularity among home gardeners and small-scale farmers for its vibrant appearance, excellent taste, and prolific production. Its marbled skin and sweet, tangy flavor make it a standout in salads, fresh eating, and market displays.
Tips From Our Gardeners
"Fertilizing once or twice in the early season with a micronutrient blend or calcium powder will reduce the risk of blossom end rot."
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- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer |
Other Resources
Purple Bumble Bee Tomato Seeds Per Package:
- 250 mg - Wholesale - Approximately 130 Seeds
- 0.25 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 3,700 Seeds
- 1 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 14,800 Seeds
- 4 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 59,400 Seeds
- 1 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 237,700 Seeds