Sugar grape: Everything about sweet cocktail tomatoes
The tomato variety ‘sugar grape’ is a rich cocktail tomato. We present the snack tomato in a profile.
The red cocktail tomato ‘sugar grape’ brings a rich harvest of sweet fruits [Photo: Janelle Lugge / Shutterstock.com]
The cocktail tomato ‘sugar grape’ already bears tons of small, sweet fruits early in summer. In this portrait you will learn everything about the properties and cultivation of the ‘sugar grape’.
Sugar grape: profile
Table of Contents
| fruit | Cocktail tomato; deep red |
| taste | aromatic, very sweet |
| Ripening time | early |
| growth | Stick tomato, up to 3 m |
| Location | Pot, greenhouse, protected field |
Origin and history of the tomato variety ‘sugar grape’
The tomato variety ‘sugar grape’ has its origin in Germany, but the exact breeder is not known. Seed companies such as Reinsaat KG from Austria propagate the ‘sugar grape’ as a conservation variety. It received its cultivar approval back in 1994 and has since become an indispensable part of the assortment of every tomato lover, but also in organic cultivation. Sometimes the tomato variety ‘Mexican honey tomato’ is also offered under the synonym ‘sugar grape’, but it is not a middle name, but two separate varieties.
Properties and taste of the cocktail tomato
‘Sugar grape’ is an indeterminate variety, it grows indefinitely. It has a strong growth, can become very tall and reach a height of 300 cm. The ‘sugar grape’ variety is early ripening, the first fruits can be harvested from mid-June to the end of June. The harvest time lasts until the first frost.
The fruits of ‘sugar grape’ are round and deep red in color. They are the size of a cherry and are therefore also offered as cherry tomatoes. The weight of each tomato is 15 to 20 grams, and the fruits hang from long panicles on the plant. The taste is very good, aromatic and extremely sweet. The tomato variety ‘sugar grape’ is solid and can therefore be propagated from its own seeds.
The tomato ‘sugar grape’ ripens on long panicles [Photo: Kei Shooting / Shutterstock.com]
Special features when growing sugar grapes
The ‘sugar grape’ is suitable for cultivation in pots, greenhouses and in protected open fields. A rain cover protects the cocktail tomato from bursting and other tomato diseases, which can spread quickly through water droplets or high humidity. The young plants, which are sensitive to the cold, should only be put in the greenhouse from the beginning of May and outdoors and in pots from mid-May after the ice saints. For planting in pots, but also for difficult soils, we recommend the use of high-quality potting soil such as our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil. This has a loose, water-storing structure and relies entirely on sustainable peat substitutes such as compost.
Fill a planter with a capacity of at least 10 liters to about a third with potting soil and place the ‘sugar grapes’ in it. Alternatively, dig a deep planting hole in the bed or greenhouse. The plant should disappear at least halfway into the bucket or hole in the ground. Snap off any leaves that are too deep and fill with soil. New, fine roots form along the plant stem when it comes into contact with the ground. In this way, the tomato plant grows well and quickly supplies itself with water and nutrients. Finally, water the ‘sugar grape’ well and secure it with a stick.
Sugar grape tomato: care
The cocktail tomato ‘sugar grape’ needs a good supply of water and nutrients throughout the summer. Tomatoes are among the heavy eaters, so they have a particularly high need for fertilizer. From June, you should therefore fertilize regularly. With the help of an organic liquid fertilizer, the supply of nutrients is easy, especially on the balcony, but also outdoors and in a greenhouse. Our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable fertilizer is applied in a dosage of 5 to 15 ml to 5 liters of water when watering. The essential nutrients it contains, such as potassium and nitrogen, thus reach the plant roots directly. Even acute nutrient deficiencies, such as yellowing of the lower leaves, can be quickly cured in this way. Pruning tomatoes is an important measure for this fast-growing variety. By letting up to four deep-seated stinging shoots stand, the cocktail tomato expands more and becomes bushier. Flowers and fruits quickly form on the side shoots. All other shoots in the leaf axils are regularly removed. The additional shoots should be tied well.
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Harvest and use
The first sweet fruits of the ‘sugar grape’ can be harvested from mid-June. Many fruits often come together by the end of the season. The variety is very suitable as a snack tomato and is particularly popular with children because of its sweet taste. Cocktail tomatoes are also well suited for drying or soaking in oil or vinegar. Sweet, tasty spreads, ketchup or salsa are also possible with the sugar grape tomato.
Another particularly aromatic variety is ‘Black Cherry’. We present you the spicy, dark red-purple variety in the profile.
