Grape Tomatoes?

Greatgardens · March 12, 2021

True grape tomatoes are quite unique, IMO. Although they are not as sweet as really sweet cherry tomatoes, some do have decent sweetness, and they have a meaty, "crunchy" solid texture that make them very desirable (especially for salads). I even grew some tasty gold grape toms. from seeds I saved from Aldi. They visibly were identical to the tomatoes I bought in the store.

The best I've grown to date is Burpee's Napa Grape. But perhaps there are better ones now? What are some good ones that you've grown or wanted to try?

Fred Hempel · March 12, 2021

We have released one called Creamsicle Grape

It is the only one we grow, and it is pretty versatile. Makes great sun-dried or oven roasted tomatoes.

Greatgardens · March 12, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

We have released one called Creamsicle Grape
It is the only one we grow, and it is pretty versatile. Makes great sun-dried or oven roasted tomatoes.

Hi Fred-
I checked your web site. Creamsicle Grape is a true grape tomato -- not a cherry tom.? Approximately what size are the fruits?
Thanks.

Fred Hempel · March 12, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greatgardens

Hi Fred-
I checked your web site. Creamsicle Grape is a true grape tomato -- not a cherry tom.? Approximately what size are the fruits?
Thanks.

It is a true grape tomato. Dry, firm, long shelf-life. About the size of Sungold. But the comparison is only for size. It is totally different. A grape.

Wi-sunflower · March 12, 2021

I have been saving seeds from an orange grape I also got from Aldi. Same experience in that it's the same as what we bought. At the time it was the first orange grape I had ever seen. Not yellow or gold but ORANGE. Personally I think that tomato is as close to the original Sun Gold as anyone has gotten with grow-outs.

Here is my page on it. http://knapps-fresh-vegies.com/aldi-orange-grape.html

Carol

Greatgardens · March 12, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wi-sunflower

I have been saving seeds from an orange grape I also got from Aldi. Same experience in that it's the same as what we bought. At the time it was the first orange grape I had ever seen. Not yellow or gold but ORANGE. Personally I think that tomato is as close to the original Sun Gold as anyone has gotten with grow-outs.

Here is my page on it. http://knapps-fresh-vegies.com/aldi-orange-grape.html
Carol

Hi Carol-
I suspect we are talking about the the same Aldi tomato. They used to carry these, but I haven't seen them in several years. But I would quibble about them being like Sungold (at least as I grew them).

Fusion_power · March 12, 2021

I'm curious if that Aldi grape was by chance named "Zima"? If so, I can tell you a ton of things about the genetics, where it was developed, who developed it, and a few things about how and why it was released.

Greatgardens · March 13, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fusion_power

I'm curious if that Aldi grape was by chance named "Zima"? If so, I can tell you a ton of things about the genetics, where it was developed, who developed it, and a few things about how and why it was released.

That does sound familiar, but I can't say for certain. I grew it in 2016, and still have the seeds. Up here in the Midwest, those purchased from Aldi were awesome off-season. But I only grew the F2's one time, and in the summer they were just another good tomato. I'd love to hear any info you have about Zima.

zipcode · March 15, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fusion_power

I'm curious if that Aldi grape was by chance named "Zima"? If so, I can tell you a ton of things about the genetics, where it was developed, who developed it, and a few things about how and why it was released.

It's tough to know the name of a commercial tomato. They are almost always released under a brand name. And the actual variety under that name remains unknown, and also they can change during the years. Recently I've seen some saying on the packet the variety name, but it's uncommon.

Barb_FL · March 15, 2021

It's indeterminate but Tokita has SunGrape - it tastes great. (sweet, thin skin). I don't know why I forgot about it. Seeds are available in US from Osborne Seeds; I don't know if they are available anywhere else.

zipcode · March 12, 2021

The commercial grape tomato makes evident the problem of commercial F1s: they all screen for the same desirable genes. Not sure who introduced this type of grape, the crunchy one with dimples and a distinct taste, there's definitely no old variety with such characteristics. Now they are many f1 all almost a clone of the other. They are really good though

.

Greatgardens · March 13, 2021

@Fred Hempel -- Thanks for the additional info!

Greatgardens · March 13, 2021

Here's another tangent to the original question... Are there any Determinate true grape tomatoes? I've kept pretty much up to date on the dwarf project released varieties, and I don't remember any grape dwarfs (yet).

Edit: Is Elfin (OP) a grape tomato or a grape-shaped cherry? I've seen it described both ways. I've also seen it described as Det. and Indet. So maybe it is semi-det.? Looking through my seed collection, I found a package of Elfin from Tomato Growers Supply, but no date on the package. Their description is "grape shaped cherry." The seeds are absolutely tiny and dark-colored.

Wi-sunflower · March 13, 2021

There is 1 determinate grape that I know of - Sprite. I've only grown it a couple of times and can't tell you the taste as I don't care for red tomatoes.

As far as I can remember, that Aldi orange grape was NOT Zima. I don't know what company it came from. But from another store I got another orange grape called Sunbelle from a company called Sunset. I believe they are a Canadian Greenhouse grower. Similar but not exactly the same. http://knapps-fresh-vegies.com/sunbelle.html

Someone gave me some Zima seeds and we grew them for the first time last year. But I never even saw them as we were busy and the tomatoes were really weedy last year.

Carol

Greatgardens · March 13, 2021

Yes, yours do look more orange than I remember mine, but it's been 5 years, so I'm not sure. And with gold/orange tomatoes, the longer they sit, the darker they get. I think that I remember seeing your listing for the Aldi orange and that prompted me to buy a small container of tomatoes at Aldi. I really liked them, and saved the seeds. Maybe I'll give yours a try. I really should grow them side-by-side to compare, but I have more tomatoes now than I can give away.

And thanks for the info on Sprite!

March 12, 2021	#1
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	Grape Tomatoes? True grape tomatoes are quite unique, IMO. Although they are not as sweet as really sweet cherry tomatoes, some do have decent sweetness, and they have a meaty, "crunchy" solid texture that make them very desirable (especially for salads). I even grew some tasty gold grape toms. from seeds I saved from Aldi. They visibly were identical to the tomatoes I bought in the store. The best I've grown to date is Burpee's Napa Grape. But perhaps there are better ones now? What are some good ones that you've grown or wanted to try?

March 12, 2021	#2
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	We have released one called Creamsicle Grape It is the only one we grow, and it is pretty versatile. Makes great sun-dried or oven roasted tomatoes. __________________ Artisan Seeds -- www.growartisan.com Last edited by Fred Hempel; March 12, 2021 at 09:35 AM.

March 13, 2021	#13
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	Here's another tangent to the original question... Are there any Determinate true grape tomatoes? I've kept pretty much up to date on the dwarf project released varieties, and I don't remember any grape dwarfs (yet). Edit: Is Elfin (OP) a grape tomato or a grape-shaped cherry? I've seen it described both ways. I've also seen it described as Det. and Indet. So maybe it is semi-det.? Looking through my seed collection, I found a package of Elfin from Tomato Growers Supply, but no date on the package. Their description is "grape shaped cherry." The seeds are absolutely tiny and dark-colored. Last edited by Greatgardens; March 13, 2021 at 09:22 AM.

March 13, 2021	#15
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	Yes, yours do look more orange than I remember mine, but it's been 5 years, so I'm not sure. And with gold/orange tomatoes, the longer they sit, the darker they get. I think that I remember seeing your listing for the Aldi orange and that prompted me to buy a small container of tomatoes at Aldi. I really liked them, and saved the seeds. Maybe I'll give yours a try. I really should grow them side-by-side to compare, but I have more tomatoes now than I can give away. And thanks for the info on Sprite! Last edited by Greatgardens; March 13, 2021 at 08:55 AM.

March 12, 2021	#5
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	I have been saving seeds from an orange grape I also got from Aldi. Same experience in that it's the same as what we bought. At the time it was the first orange grape I had ever seen. Not yellow or gold but ORANGE. Personally I think that tomato is as close to the original Sun Gold as anyone has gotten with grow-outs. Here is my page on it. http://knapps-fresh-vegies.com/aldi-orange-grape.html Carol

March 12, 2021	#7
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	I'm curious if that Aldi grape was by chance named "Zima"? If so, I can tell you a ton of things about the genetics, where it was developed, who developed it, and a few things about how and why it was released.

March 15, 2021	#10
Barb_FL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Indialantic, Florida Posts: 2,000	It's indeterminate but Tokita has SunGrape - it tastes great. (sweet, thin skin). I don't know why I forgot about it. Seeds are available in US from Osborne Seeds; I don't know if they are available anywhere else.

March 12, 2021	#11
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	The commercial grape tomato makes evident the problem of commercial F1s: they all screen for the same desirable genes. Not sure who introduced this type of grape, the crunchy one with dimples and a distinct taste, there's definitely no old variety with such characteristics. Now they are many f1 all almost a clone of the other. They are really good though .