Grape Tomatoes
Type: Perennial but treated as an annual because it is short lived
Description: Honestly, I hated grape tomatoes and I thought they were gross, till one day my Environmental Science teacher took me out to my High School’s garden and I got to eat one straight from the plant (and some I ate with fresh basil leaves!) and it was the most delicious tomato I have ever tasted. It didn’t even need salt, it was amazing all on its own. Grape tomatoes are little juice bombs, literally you bite into one and it’s like a burst of juice explodes in your mouth. They are just a bit bigger than grapes or can be the exact size of grapes.
When to plant: Spring
Level of difficulty: 4
How to plant: Grape tomatoes are a juicy addition to the garden!
Tips/Facts/Uses:
Description: Honestly, I hated grape tomatoes and I thought they were gross, till one day my Environmental Science teacher took me out to my High School’s garden and I got to eat one straight from the plant (and some I ate with fresh basil leaves!) and it was the most delicious tomato I have ever tasted. It didn’t even need salt, it was amazing all on its own. Grape tomatoes are little juice bombs, literally you bite into one and it’s like a burst of juice explodes in your mouth. They are just a bit bigger than grapes or can be the exact size of grapes.
When to plant: Spring
Level of difficulty: 4
How to plant: Grape tomatoes are a juicy addition to the garden!
- Start out with a seed starter tray and plant the seeds ¼ of an inch deep and ½ of an inch apart and water GENTLY. Soggy soil and hot weather are not a good mix for tomatoes.
- Place the tray in a sunny area. Tomatoes absolutely love a sunny day.
- When true leaves begin to form, it is time to move the seedlings out into bigger containers so they can continue to grow. Transplant to a container that is 3x4 and plant the seedlings in pre-moistened quality soil. Seedlings like temperatures 65-70 degrees F.
- When you want to plant your seedlings outside wait till the temperature is regularly around 55 F. “Harden” them off by leaving them outside for different hours of the day. Start with one hour, then two, then three, and eventually it will get to the point where you are just leaving them outside all day and all night.
- When your plants reach 6 in tall, remove the stems. Prepare a bigger pot. A large pot. Fill it with quality soil. (You can plant 1-3 plants in one large pot).
- Flip the container upside down to empty it of soil and your plant. Gently massage the root ball to loosen up the roots. Fertilize it with nitrogen at the beginning stages and then switch to a general fertilizer or a fertilizer made for tomatoes.
- Place a stake or two in the soil for the grape tomatoes to grow on and also place a cage around the plants, or put a trellis too.
- Water gently.
Tips/Facts/Uses:
- Perfect for salads!