How to Grow La Grave Tomato
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La Grave Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'La Grave'
vegetableLa Grave is a French heirloom tomato variety known for its distinctive ribbed, deeply lobed fruits with a rich, complex flavor. This indeterminate variety produces medium to large tomatoes with excellent taste suitable for fresh eating and cooking. It's a favorite among heirloom tomato enthusiasts for its historical significance and superior flavor profile.
When should you plant La Grave Tomato in your zone?
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Example La Grave Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant La Grave Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest La Grave Tomato
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact La Grave Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown in zones 3-4 with season extension
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Seedling
2-3 weeksDelicate seedlings with cotyledons and emerging true leaves; small, tender growth
Provide bright light (14-16 hours), maintain 70-75°F temperature, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, thin seedlings to strongest plant
Vegetative
4-6 weeks indoors, then 2-3 weeks after transplanting outdoorsRapid leaf and stem growth; plant developing robust root system and multiple leaf sets; no flowers yet
Transplant when 4-6 true leaves appear; harden off gradually before planting outdoors; maintain consistent moisture and feed with balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks
Flowering
3-4 weeksYellow flowers appear in clusters; plant becomes bushier; first flower clusters typically appear 6-8 weeks after transplanting
Install sturdy stakes or cages early; remove lower leaves to improve air circulation; switch to lower nitrogen fertilizer (5-10-10); maintain consistent watering to prevent blossom end rot
Fruiting
4-6 weeksSmall green tomatoes form at flower sites; fruits gradually enlarge and develop characteristic ribbed, lobed shape; gradual color change from green to red
Prune suckers (shoots between main stem and branches) on indeterminate varieties; thin fruit if too dense for larger specimens; maintain steady watering; continue fertilizing every 2-3 weeks; monitor for pests and diseases
Harvest
Ongoing throughout season (6-8 weeks of peak production)Fruits fully colored deep red with distinctive ribbed appearance; firm but slightly yielding to gentle pressure; peak flavor development
Harvest when fully colored; can pick at 'breaker stage' (first color showing) if needed; refrigerate ripe tomatoes only if necessary; use within 1-2 weeks for best flavor
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick daily inspections, encourage parasitic wasps, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), neem oil spray if severe
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Remove affected leaves immediately, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply copper fungicide every 7-10 days, sanitize tools
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Remove lower leaves, mulch to prevent soil splash, apply fungicide (chlorothalonil or copper), improve spacing and air flow, disinfect stakes and cages
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Strong water spray to dislodge, insecticidal soap, neem oil, encourage natural predators (ladybugs, lacewings), reflective mulches
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Increase humidity, strong water spray, neem oil or sulfur dust, miticide if severe, encourage predatory mites
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Maintain consistent soil moisture (most important), ensure adequate calcium, mulch around base, water deeply 1-2 inches weekly
Uses
Fresh Eating & Slicing
CulinaryLa Grave's rich, complex flavor and large, lobed fruits make it ideal for fresh slicing, sandwiches, and charcuterie boards. The heirloom variety offers superior taste compared to commercial tomatoes. [source]
Sauces & Cooking
CulinaryThe substantial flesh and low seed content make La Grave excellent for making fresh pasta sauce, pizza sauce, and gazpacho. The concentrated flavor develops further when cooked down. [source]
Canning & Preservation
CulinaryHigher acid content and firm texture make this variety suitable for home canning, making salsa, and creating tomato preserves. [source]
Heart & Eye Health
MedicinalRich in lycopene and other antioxidants, tomatoes support cardiovascular health and may reduce age-related macular degeneration risk. [source]
Seed Saving
CraftAs a heirloom open-pollinated variety, La Grave can be reliably seed-saved for future growing seasons, preserving genetic diversity. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Pick tomatoes when fully colored deep red, typically 75-85 days after transplanting; can harvest at breaker stage and ripen indoors if needed; use gentle twisting motion or cut with pruners; harvest regularly to encourage continued production; tomatoes picked at full color ripen in 2-3 days at room temperature; best flavor at room temperature, not refrigerated
Fun Facts
- 🌱 La Grave is a French heirloom tomato variety from the Provence region, named after a notable French gardening family, and has been cultivated for over a century.
- 🌱 The distinctive deeply-lobed, ribbed appearance of La Grave tomatoes is caused by irregular fruit growth patterns (catfacing), which is common in heirloom varieties and prized by enthusiasts for its uniqueness.
- 🌱 Indeterminate varieties like La Grave continue growing and producing fruit throughout the season until frost, unlike determinate types that produce all fruit at once and stop growing.
Gardening Terms
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