For many years now we have grown Juliet “grape” tomatoes. We do this because this variety tastes great and ALWAYS produces lots of tomatoes all summer up until frost. We go out the day before the first killing frost in the fall and pick all the green and pink tomatoes. We bring them inside to ripen and many times will have tomatoes for Thanksgiving and once in a while for Christmas. We usually plant a variety of larger fruited beefsteak type tomatoes which we prefer to eat. They seem to bear more inconsistently than the Juliet. From our experience the Juliet will produce even in partial shade.
Juliet Tomatoes!
Juliet tomato transplants are usually available for purchase at big box and smaller retail outlets, but some years they are hard to find. I encourage you to keep looking, or calling until you find them. The extra effort will be rewarded. As with all tomato transplants we strip off the bottom leaves and plant the transplants as deeply as possible with only about 6 inches of top sticking out of the ground. We do this because the tomato stem will put out roots along the portion of the stem that is buried. This effort effectively lowers the root system several inches deeper in the soil and creates a root system that is more drought tolerant and that has access to more nutrients. Other types of transplants, like peppers, will not do this and they need to be planted at the same level as they are in the transplant container.
Juliet Tomatoes on the Vine
The Juliet tomato is an indeterminate variety meaning that it will keep growing taller all summer long. Because it keeps growing Juliet plants will need to be grown in a tomato cage, staked, or trellised to allow for the continued growth. We highly recommend that you try Juliet tomatoes in your garden!!