How to Grow Grape Tomato Vines
Grape tomatoes are a hybrid of the tomato plant. The tomatoes are snack-sized, about one-half to three-fourths of an inch in length. They have less juice than the cherry tomato. Grape tomatoes are relatively expensive in grocery stores because of the labor-intensive harvesting they require, but grape tomato vines are easy and inexpensive to grow at home. They can be used in sauces, salads, garnishes, salsas or as a mid-afternoon snack. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Grape tomato seeds
- Nitrogen rich fertilizer
- Phosphorous and potassium rich fertilizer
- Watering can or hose
- Tomato cage
- Seed cups
- Gardening trowel (small shovel)
Instructions
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Growing Grape Tomatoes
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1
Plant grape tomato seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost. Plant several seeds in each individual seed cup and keep well-watered. Fertilize with nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Keep the seed cups in a warm, sunny area.
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2
Start "hardening" the plants a couple of weeks before planting them outside. Take the seed cups outside for several hours a day. Place them in a warm, sunny place. Build up the amount of time, until the plants are eventually outside all night, but carefully monitor for frost. Tomato plants are susceptible to frost and will die out if exposed to it for long.
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3
Dig a hole in the garden to transplant the tomato plants outside and pour in nitrogen-rich fertilizer. The hole should be deep enough to cover the roots and about an inch of the stem. Plant the grape tomato plants in the hole, being careful not to disturb the roots and water. Plant them in rows 24 inches apart. Put about 30 inches between each row. The tomato plants should be planted in full sunlight.
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4
Water the grape tomato plants daily, but be careful not to get too much water on the leaves. Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer until the plants have blossomed, and then switch to a fertilizer with phosphorous and potassium. Once the plants are about 18 inches tall, use a cage to support the vine. You can also grow the grape tomato vines along a fence and tie them to the fence at intervals.
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5
Grape tomatoes are grown in bunches and should be harvested when plump, red and firm. Store the harvested tomatoes in a cool, dry place, but do not refrigerate.
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