{"product_id":"brads-atomic-grape-tomato-seeds","title":"Brad's Atomic Grape Tomato Seeds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrad's Atomic Grape Tomato\u003c\/strong\u003e brings a painter's palette to the garden: elongated little fruits with deep purple shoulders and shifting green, bronze, orange and red stripes, paired with rich sweetness. This open-pollinated, non-GMO variety grows true to type when properly isolated and is suitable for seed saving. Although it is not an heirloom by the traditional age-based definition, it is a future family heirloom in the making.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHistory\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDeveloped by tomato breeder Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms in California, Brad's Atomic Grape belongs to a modern generation of open-pollinated tomatoes selected for striking color and memorable flavor. Its dark shoulders reflect anthocyanin pigmentation, while its striped ripening colors make each harvest a little different. This is a tomato that earns its place through both appearance and sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlant Profile\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDays to Maturity: Approximately 75–80 days from transplanting, depending on conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFruit Size: Small elongated grape to large cherry-sized fruits, with natural variation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant Size: Indeterminate vines commonly reaching 5–6 feet or more with support.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant Type: Open-pollinated, warm-season tomato; frost-tender perennial grown as an annual.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFlavor Profile\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eExpect sweet, richly flavored little tomatoes with juicy flesh and enough tang to keep the sweetness lively. Their multicolored skin makes them especially appealing whole or halved in fresh dishes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhen to Plant\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eStart indoors 6–8 weeks before your expected last spring frost. Transplant after frost danger has passed, nighttime temperatures are reliably above 50°F and soil has warmed to about 60°F or higher. Harden seedlings off gradually for 7–10 days. Use the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/planthardiness.ars.usda.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eUSDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map\u003c\/a\u003e to identify your zone, then use local frost dates to plan planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Tips \u0026amp; Planting Dimensions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSow seeds under a light ⅛-inch covering of fine seed-starting mix.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep the growing medium around 75–85°F for germination, commonly 5–10 days under favorable conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace plants 24–36 inches apart with 36–48 inches between rows.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvide 6–8 hours of direct sun and fertile, well-drained soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInstall sturdy stakes, cages or a trellis at planting; tie expanding vines loosely.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant transplants deeper than they grew in their pots, removing leaves that would be buried.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater consistently at soil level; mulch after the soil warms and maintain airflow; rotate away from recent tomato, pepper, eggplant and potato beds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003e🌱 Gentle Cover Germination 🌱\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eInto the surface, thin cover only, no light needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrad's Atomic Grape tomato seeds belong to our Gentle Cover group: they need just a thin layer of growing medium, not a deep planting hole. Light is not needed for sprouting, but steady warmth and even moisture are important. Start them indoors so you can manage those conditions, then provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge. Follow these seven steps to give your plants a strong beginning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart with the right foundation.\u003c\/strong\u003e Choose a light, well-draining growing medium. Seed-starting mix is ideal; if using soil or potting mix, sift it if needed to remove large pieces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCover lightly — just barely.\u003c\/strong\u003e Press seeds onto the moist surface and cover with no more than ⅛ inch of finely sifted mix. Light is not required for germination.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMist, don't drench.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mist gently to keep the surface evenly moist, never saturated. Avoid washing seeds out of place.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWarmth is your friend.\u003c\/strong\u003e Maintain a growing-medium temperature of 75–85°F. A thermostat-controlled heat mat can help in a cool room.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrap the humidity.\u003c\/strong\u003e Use a humidity dome or loose plastic cover while waiting, ventilating as needed to prevent excessive condensation. Remove it as soon as seedlings emerge and provide bright light.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGive them time.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sprouting commonly takes 5–10 days under favorable conditions and may be slower when cool. Keep moisture steady; after emergence, provide strong light and avoid excessive heat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThin with scissors, not fingers.\u003c\/strong\u003e Snip extra seedlings at the soil line, keeping the strongest plant in each cell. Transplant into larger pots as roots fill their starting space.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGrowth Type \u0026amp; Harvest Yields\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIndeterminate vines continue growing, flowering and setting fruit through the warm season until frost. Supported, well-watered plants offer repeated pickings of small clustered fruits; actual yield depends on season length, weather, soil and care rather than a fixed number per plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKnowing When to Harvest\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWatch the lighter portions of the skin shift from immature green toward bronze, amber, orange and red; purple shoulders alone do not mean the fruit is ripe. Some green striping can remain at maturity. Combine color with a slight give under gentle pressure and taste a sample to learn your plants' ripeness cues. Pick regularly, clipping stubborn stems rather than pulling the vine. Store dry fruit at room temperature out of direct sunlight and use promptly; refrigerate fully ripe fruit only when needed to hold it longer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCompanion Plants \u0026amp; Mutual Benefits\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBasil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shares a sunny growing space and provides a fresh kitchen partner; allow adequate room around tomato stems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSweet Alyssum:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flowers offer nectar for small beneficial insects near the vegetable garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCalendula:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adds flowers for visiting pollinators and beneficial insects without climbing through tomato vines.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLettuce:\u003c\/strong\u003e Can use space nearby early in the season and benefit from partial shade as tomato plants grow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChives:\u003c\/strong\u003e Provide an edible border and flowers for visiting insects when allowed to bloom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHow to Enjoy\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSnack on fully ripe fruits straight from the garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHalve into colorful salads with basil and a light dressing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd to grazing boards for a sweet, juicy contrast.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoast briefly with olive oil for pasta or toast.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMix with other small tomatoes for a vivid fresh salsa.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOrder Today\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrow a tomato with color worth admiring and sweetness worth coming back for. Add Brad's Atomic Grape to your garden and let our step-by-step growing guidance help you turn seeds into a memorable harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Garden Heirloom Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Starter Pack of 10 seeds","offer_id":67684391027002,"sku":null,"price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Garden Pack of 25 seeds - 🌱 Best Value","offer_id":67684391059770,"sku":null,"price":2.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1003\/7850\/9626\/files\/image_9c4bb28b-c1bb-49c1-9bd7-ea54822f6aec.png?v=1791851595","url":"https:\/\/gardenheirloomseeds.com\/products\/brads-atomic-grape-tomato-seeds","provider":"Garden Heirloom Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}