Atomic Grape
Solanum lycopersicum 'Atomic Grape'
A stunning cherry tomato that delivers incredible flavor in beautiful purple and red striped packages. These elongated fruits offer an exceptional sweet-tart balance that makes them irresistible for fresh eating. The vigorous indeterminate vines produce prolific harvests of these colorful conversation-starters throughout the season.
Harvest
70-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Atomic Grape in USDA Zone 7
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Atomic Grape · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Atomic Grapes at room temperature for 5-7 days to maintain their complex flavor profile — refrigeration dulls their distinctive sweet-tart taste. If you must refrigerate, bring them back to room temperature 30 minutes before eating.
For preservation, these cherry tomatoes excel when frozen whole after washing and removing stems. Their firm texture holds up well to freezing, making them perfect for winter cooking. Dehydrating intensifies their unique flavor — slice lengthwise and dry at 135°F for 8-12 hours until leathery but still pliable.
Their beautiful appearance makes them exceptional for quick pickles or fermented cherry tomato medleys. The thick skin handles light processing well, though their premium fresh-eating quality makes preservation almost seem wasteful. Focus on eating fresh during peak season and preserve only surplus harvests.
History & Origin
Atomic Grape was developed by Wild Boar Farms in Napa Valley, California, through their innovative breeding program focused on creating tomatoes with exceptional flavor and visual appeal. Released in the mid-2010s, this hybrid represents a breakthrough in cherry tomato breeding — combining the rich, complex flavors typically found in large heirloom varieties with the productivity and disease resistance of modern hybrids.
The variety was specifically bred for the gourmet fresh market, targeting chefs and farmers market growers seeking something extraordinary. Its development involved crossing carefully selected purple and red cherry varieties over multiple generations to achieve the distinctive striping pattern and balanced flavor profile.
Wild Boar Farms, known for their artisanal approach to tomato breeding, created Atomic Grape as part of their 'Artisan' series — varieties that blur the line between hybrid vigor and heirloom character. The name reflects both its grape-like elongated shape and the 'explosive' flavor impact that made it an instant hit among specialty growers and gourmet gardeners.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds
Carrots
Helps loosen soil for tomato roots, doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that eat aphids
Peppers
Similar growing requirements and can share space efficiently
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Oregano
Repels various pests and may enhance tomato flavor
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Keep Apart
Walnut Trees
Produces juglone toxin that severely stunts tomato growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good disease tolerance including resistance to tobacco mosaic virus
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, whiteflies, spider mites
Diseases
Early blight, late blight, fusarium wilt, septoria leaf spot