If you want to create a snack garden, then the cocktail tomato 'sugar grape' is a must. The sweet, cherry-sized fruits are simply delicious.
The "Sugar Grape" cocktail tomato has a rich harvest. This is a fast-growing variety that surprises with numerous mini tomatoes early in the gardening year. Planting and cultivating the popular sweet tomato is not difficult. The "Sugar Grape" cocktail tomato can even be grown on a balcony or terrace.
Origin and characteristics
Although the name of the breeder remains unknown, it is safe to assume that the Zuckertraube cocktail tomato originated in Germany. Today it is mainly seed companies from Austria who sell the variety on a larger scale and thus ensure its preservation. The "Mexican honey tomato" is often sold as "sugar grape". However, these are independent varieties that are not related to each other. Also: although the fruits resemble cherries, the "sugar grape" is not counted among the cherry tomatoes but among the cocktail tomatoes.
Features
As an indeterminate variety, the "Sugar Grape" cocktail tomato grows indefinitely. Plant heights of up to three meters are therefore not uncommon.
Already at the beginning of the season (mid-June), the cocktail tomato "Zuckertraube" surprises with a rich harvest, because one truss can carry up to 15 tomatoes. The cherry-sized fruits taste sweet and aromatic. The great thing is that the plants bear fruit until the first frost.
Plant "sugar grape" cocktail tomato
The "Sugar Grape" cocktail tomato can be cultivated in tubs, in a greenhouse or outdoors. The following plant locations are suitable, for example:
- Greenhouse
- Tomato House
- covered balcony
- covered terrace
- under a rain canopy for protection
- Planting under larger trees
When planting in the bed, you should also pay attention to suitable plant neighbors. Here is a brief overview:
| cheap plant neighbors | unsuitable plant neighbors |
|---|---|
| » Radish » Kohlrabi » Parsley »Radish » Celery » Spinach | » potatoes » peppers » peas » cucumbers » fennel |
➭ How to plant the "Sugar Grape" cocktail tomato:
To give the plants a head start in the bed or tub, the cocktail tomatoes are grown indoors from March. This should be done at temperatures between 22 and 28 degrees. In May, the young plants can then move into the tomato house. The planting distance should then be 50 to 75 centimeters. When planting, the "Zuckertraube" cocktail tomatoes must also be provided with supports and tied up so that the vigorous plants do not buckle and break off.
If you decide to keep them in tubs, the planter should hold at least ten liters of substrate. You should also use good quality potting soil. The substrate should be loose and have good water permeability. You can avoid waterlogging with drainage in the bottom of the planter.
Important:
Outdoor planting requires rain protection. Because the plants do not tolerate moisture from above. The little tomatoes threaten to burst open. Wet conditions also favor the occurrence of brown rot and other diseases.
Care for the "sugar grape" cocktail tomato
❍ Water & fertilize:
As a heavy feeder, the mini tomato requires sufficient moisture and nutrients. Not only do you need to water daily, you also need to fertilize regularly. From June, organic liquid fertilizer is administered at 14-day intervals. The fertilizer is added to the irrigation water and thus reaches the roots of the plants in a targeted manner.
Tip:
The "sugar grape" cocktail tomato indicates a lack of nutrients by the yellowing of the lower leaves.
❍ Max:
An important care measure is the mini tomato's maximum yield. If you leave three to four deep-seated shoots on the plant, bushy growth is encouraged. Further shoots that form in the leaf axils should be removed regularly.
Use of the "sugar grape" cocktail tomato
The "Sugar Grape" cocktail tomato is a popular sweet tomato. The small, sweet fruits are a popular snack, especially for children. Since numerous fruits are produced throughout the season, there are enough mini tomatoes left over to make ketchup or salsa. The fruits, which are just the size of a cherry, are also very suitable for drying - either in the dehydrator or in theOven. Cocktail tomatoes pickled in vinegar or oil are also a delicacy.