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Mark A. Miller
Solanaceae
LYCOPERSICON esculentum 'Sweet Olive'
Sweet Olive Tomato, Tomato
The small, prolific, oval-shaped fruits of this tomato are sweet, delicious and very flavorful, perfect for snacking. They are borne in long clusters on determinate plants, and begin ripening early, approximately 60 to 70 days from sowing.
Plant tomatoes in full sun and fertile, well-drained, slightly acid garden loam after all danger of frost has passed. Seedlings may be started indoors under grow-lights several weeks ahead of time, and should be hardened off before planting outdoors. Set them deeply in the ground for best establishment; the main stem will form roots beneath the soil’s surface. Determinate types such as this offer more compact, tidier growth than rambling, indeterminate varieties, and are more suitable for containers and northern gardens with short summers. Prune these plants very conservatively, if at all, since doing so may diminish flower and fruit production. ‘Sweet Olive’ may require staking to help support its abundant clusters of fruit.
These veggies (technically, fruits) are heavy feeders, and it is important to provide them with regular water and nutrients. Be sure to choose a fertilizer specifically formulated for tomatoes, and avoid excessive watering as this can result in cracking of fruit and diminished flavor. Best production and flavor occurs when both days and nights are warm. Tomatoes become tough and less flavorful in cooler temperatures, and thus should not be stored in the refrigerator. In semi-tropical climates, they may even be grown as a winter crop, as long as temperatures remain favorable.
For more detailed information about the care, pests and diseases, and history of tomatoes, refer to the general entry for the species (Lycopersicon esculentum) in the Learn2Grow plant database.
12 - 1
11 - 15
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun
2'-8' / 0.6m - 2.4m
2'-4' / 0.6m - 1.2m
Indeterminate
Mexico, Central America, South America
Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Fast
Average Water
Vining/Climbing
Spring, Summer, Fall
Showy
Yellow
Red, Dark Red
Green, Dark Green
Yes
Single
No
Medium
Matte
Semi-Evergreen
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
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