The Ultimate Guide to Growing Rapunzel Tomato Plants

No garden is complete without tomato plants, but those looking for tomatoes and foliage that stand out usually pass up ordinary tomato varieties. However, the Rapunzel tomato plant (Lycopersicon lycopersium ‘Rapunzel’) quickly checks that ‘extra’ box. With its long trailing habit of foliage like long flowing hair, it’s named after the fairytale princess Rapunzel who let her locks down for her prince’s visit. Besides the remarkable foliage, this tomato plant produces clusters of sweet, cherry-size cherry tomatoes. Here are all the details about growing Rapunzel tomatoes for the gardening novice or experienced horticulturalist.

 

Watch the video:

What Makes Rapunzel Tomato Plants Unique?

The cherry tomato variety Rapunzel is unlike all other cherry tomatoes. That is, it is unique, and it is special. The defining characteristics of Rapunzel is that the tomato plant produces trusses of tomatoes that dangle down from the vine for a good distance (depending on the ultimate size of the plant), which carry as many as 40 small bright red fruits on them. These fruits have a sweet and delectable taste, they are great for snacking – or adding to salads and garnishes.

Unlike other varieties of cherry tomato that are determinate (they set all their fruit at once, and then stop growing size-wise), the Rapunzel tomato is indeterminate (it keeps growing and bearing fruit until it dies from frost – a trait the more vigorous varieties of beefsteak tomatoes share with it). So if you want to grow this plant, you are likely to have more fresh tomatoes than you know what to do with. All of which explains why a vigorous, indeterminate tomato plant planted on 21 June in any household that doesn’t suffer from a green thumb will produce a ton of yellow tomatoes.

Planting Rapunzel Tomato Seeds

Rainbow heirloom tomatoes are a splendid, eye-catching, alternative to the usual red ones. Growing them is a delightful experience.
HIGH-QUALITY SEEDS are the foundation of your mailboxes. Tomatoes are grown from seeds or seedlings. (You will need to start seeds indoors.) The main growing season for tomatoes in most places begins in early spring when we see the first days of longer daylight hours. In some places, the season can be extended until late fall. Buy seeds of a variety called Rainbow Heirloom tomato, titled Rapunzel tomatoes, available in most garden centres or online.

Starting Seeds Indoors

If you are growing chilli-sized Rapunzel tomatoes from seed indoors, make sure you plant those seeds 6-8 weeks prior to the last expected deep freeze in your area, so your plants get a jump on the season and are big enough to be planted out when it warms up.

Fill seed trays or small pots with a good quality seed-starting mix that is light and has good drainage for good root growth.

Sow the seeds: Plant 2-3 per hole or pot. Cover the seeds with a fine sprinkling of soil. Rapunzel needs light to germinate, so don’t dig them deeper than they sit in the packaging.

Water: Water the seeds gently, so the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Then cover the trays with a plastic dome or plastic wrap to keep the air humid internally (this will help with germination).

Water Them: Seeds require moisture to germinate, so don’t neglect them! And give them plenty of water when they appear – no matter how dramatic they seem, Marla recommends keeping them in the tray so they can absorb as much water as they need. Provide Light and Warmth: Keep the seed trays out in a warm spot (around 70-75°F, or 21-24°C) until the seeds germinate, at which point they can be brought to a location with good light (such as a south-facing window, or grow lights).

Thin the Seedlings: When the plants are about 1.5-2in tall (after producing two ‘true’ leaves, not the still fuzzy first leaves), trim back each seedling cluster to leave just the strongest seedling per pot.

Transplanting to the Garden

You can transplant the seedlings into the garden once they are six to eight inches tall and the danger of frost is past.

Harden Off the Seedlings: To get your seedlings ready to plant outdoors, gradually ease them into outdoor conditions by leaving them outside for an hour or so every day, adding an hour each day over the course of a week.

Consider Weather: While some types of tomatoes thrive in the heat of summer, others prefer cooler temperatures. Sow tomato seeds indoors for a head start. Learn more about Plant Hardiness Zones here.Prepare the Soil: Rapunzel tomatoes perform best in well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Before planting, mix in compost or aged manure to provide the soil with plenty of nutrients.

Plant the Seedlings: Dig with a trowel to make a hole that’s slightly deeper than the root ball of the seedling and then plant it so that it’s sitting in the hole and the roots are arranged like spokes from wheels, with the plant above it buried to the first true leaves and the roots below.

Water Well: Whenever seedlings are planted, water them thoroughly so they can feel at home.

Support: Since Rapunzel tomatoes are indeterminate ( as you feed them) and will get long and viney, plan to support them by putting up cages or stakes when you plant them. Don’t plant them and then try to add stakes or cages: you’ll end up damaging the roots.

Caring for Rapunzel Tomato Plants

After you plant your Rapunzel tomato, you must water, fertilise, prune, and mist or dust for pests.

Watering

Because they need moist soil to set and ripen fruit, tomatoes are often overwatered, which can lead to root rots or even cracking tomatoes. Water your Rapunzel tomato plants deeply and evenly every week, giving them about 1-2 inches of water per week. Try to water in the morning, so the foliage can dry out during the day and reduce the risk of foliar fungus problems.

Fertilization

Rapunzel tomatoes are heavy feeders, so give them a balanced slow-release fertiliser at planting time, and side-dress with tomato-specific fertiliser every 2 to 4 weeks thereafter, following the manufacturer’s directions. For maximum fruit-set, look for a fertiliser with higher phosphorus – the middle number in N-P-K ratios.

Pruning

Pruning controls the vining habit of indeterminate tomatoes, such as Rapunzel, allowing better air circulation and also directing the tomato’s energy into growing fruit. Pinching off lower leaves that touch the ground helps to reduce disease. Snip off suckers, which grow where the main stem crosses a branch and leaves, to focus the growth of the plant’s vitality.

Mulching

A layer of mulch around the base of your Rapunzel tomato plants will hold in soil moisture, suppress weeds, and moderate soil temperature. Best of all, organic mulches such as straw, shredded leaves, or grass clippings will break down over the growing season to improve soils.

Pest and Disease Management

There are many diseases and pests that can attack tomato plants. However, with attention, you can keep all your Rapunzel plants healthy.

Pests: Aphids, tomato hornworm, whiteflies and other insects often bother tomatoes. Insecticidal soap or neem oil will help control them, or you may want to try getting a beneficial insect like ladybug to control the pests.

Diseases: Fungal diseases such as blight, powdery mildew and Septoria leaf spot can all affect crop vigour as can alternaria, a tomato leaf mould. These diseases can all be minimised by good air circulation and the avoidance of overhead watering. If necessary, fungicides can be sprayed on to plants to treat these disorders.

Crop rotation: Don’t plant tomatoes exactly where you have for previous years’ crops – be sure to rotate them and their neighbours (such as potatoes and eggplants) into a crop rotation arrangement that alternates with non-solanaceous plants, which are not related to the tomato Nightshade, or Solanaceae, family.

Harvesting Rapunzel Tomatoes

One of the most enjoyable aspects of cultivating Rapunzel tomatoes is the harvest. Tomatoes develop slowly, and you can enjoy the sweet, rich tomatoes over the growing season.

When to Harvest

Rapunzels are harvestable when entire fruits are deep red and just a little soft to the touch. The long trusses will often ripen from the bottom up. Either pick ripe fruits off individually or remove the entire truss for maximum presentation.

Storing Your Harvest

Fresh, tomatoes are best eaten raw, but if you find yourself with a dangerous surplus, you can always store them for later. As long as they are ripe, you can keep tomatoes out of the fridge, at room temperature, for up to a week. Or you can refrigerate them, which will mar their flavour somewhat, or you can freeze them, can them, or dry them if you want their sweetness available to you year-round.

Tips for Maximizing Your Rapunzel Tomato Yield

To get the most out of your Rapunzel tomato plants, follow these additional tips:

Peridotic Bloom: Water regularly to ensure the soil is moist and even, especially around fruit set, to help prevent blossom end rot and cracking.

Feed your plants regularly with a balanced, or better yet a tomato-specific fertiliser, to make sure they have everything they need to keep cropping. HOW TO GROW TOMATOES Regular Feeding Make sure that your plants get fed with a potassium and phosphorus rich balanced – or tomatoiser on a regular basis.