Small tomatoes for Veggie Babe

Nightshade · January 10, 2009

VB,

Ask ContainerTed-- who is also a member here-- for his fantastic spreadsheet with information for hundreds of varieties. I used it to select many of the varieties described below for growing in my smaller containers this spring.

Lots of people really like New Big Dwarf, which can grow from 1-3' and has full size tomatoes, but I'm saving it for the fall season.It is listed as a 90 dtm which means it might stil be fruiting by first frost, but it will be small enough to cover, move to sheltered spots, and ultimately bring inside if I have to.

There are many more experienced growers here than I, so perhaps they will chime it with their own experiences and recommendations.

Red Robin 12”
Tiny Tim 12"
Yellow Canary 12"
Totem 18”
Totem and Red Robin have been my "windowsill" tomatoes this winter. They are blooming their little heads off now. I've had so much fun playing with these that I've just ordered Tiny Tim and Yellow Canary, the yellow match to the Red Robin cherry size tomato. I have seen a description of Totem which says they, too have cherry size fruit, but I think their fruit will be more like ping-pong or golf ball size.

Tumbling Tom and Tumbler 1-3'
These are both good for hanging baskets, or any place where they can trail over the edge of their planter. Tumbling Tom comes in red and yellow. Tumbler is ordinarily sold as red, but Knapp's Veggie Seeds has some that has segregated to pink.

Pixie 18"
Pixie was originally sold as a hybrid seed, but it breeds true. It comes in red and orange.

Gold Nugget Cherry 2’
Chello 2-3'
I'm trying these gold and yellow cherries in my spring garden.

Italian Gold 3'
This is another one that was originally a hybrid but comes true from seed. It is a beatiful orange paste with smallish fruit. I found the seed at Knapp's Veggies.

Glacier 3'
Silvery Fir Tree 1-4”
These are very early tomatoes, and very tolerant of cool weather.Kimberly is also a small cool-tolerant, early fruiting tomato. Siberia/Siberian is also, but there is some confusion over which name belongs to which variety. You will find both a small and a tall plant offered as Siberian. Ditto for Siberia.

Be warned that people often say that while the taste of the early/early tomatoes is better than storebought, it is just not as good as later fruiting varieties.

Sophie's Choice 1-3'
Mountain Princess 2-3’
I believe both of these are a bit later than those just above, and that they have larger fruit. I have heard very good things about the taste of these two.

Sprite 2-3'
This is a grape tomato on a short and bushy plant. People with lots of room say there are many better grapes to grow....but this may be the best choice for people like us.

newatthiskat · January 10, 2009

Thanks for the info Nightshade. I find it very usefull as well. I am sure it will help many others

Kat

ContainerTed · January 10, 2009

For anyone who wants a copy of the spreadsheet, send me an Email (not a PM) and I'll attach the spreadsheet to the reply. The spreadsheet can be opened by any recent version of Windows software (Vista, Xp, ME, 2000). It currently lists more than 640 varieties that I found to be "interesting". It is a compilation of info that is available on the web, and contains data from many websites and seed vendors. It is intended to be a tool that new "tomato-ologists" can use for planning gardens and also to introduce them to a sample of the huge number of varieties that are available.

Ted

Nightshade · January 10, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by newatthiskat

Thanks for the info Nightshade. I find it very usefull as well. I am sure it will help many others

Kat

Thanks Kat. I'm always glad to help feed the addicti... uh, to provide useful information!

Jan

January 10, 2009	#1
Nightshade Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: So. California Posts: 178	Small tomatoes for Veggie Babe VB, Ask ContainerTed-- who is also a member here-- for his fantastic spreadsheet with information for hundreds of varieties. I used it to select many of the varieties described below for growing in my smaller containers this spring. Lots of people really like New Big Dwarf, which can grow from 1-3' and has full size tomatoes, but I'm saving it for the fall season.It is listed as a 90 dtm which means it might stil be fruiting by first frost, but it will be small enough to cover, move to sheltered spots, and ultimately bring inside if I have to. There are many more experienced growers here than I, so perhaps they will chime it with their own experiences and recommendations. Red Robin 12” Tiny Tim 12" Yellow Canary 12" Totem 18” Totem and Red Robin have been my "windowsill" tomatoes this winter. They are blooming their little heads off now. I've had so much fun playing with these that I've just ordered Tiny Tim and Yellow Canary, the yellow match to the Red Robin cherry size tomato. I have seen a description of Totem which says they, too have cherry size fruit, but I think their fruit will be more like ping-pong or golf ball size. Tumbling Tom and Tumbler 1-3' These are both good for hanging baskets, or any place where they can trail over the edge of their planter. Tumbling Tom comes in red and yellow. Tumbler is ordinarily sold as red, but Knapp's Veggie Seeds has some that has segregated to pink. Pixie 18" Pixie was originally sold as a hybrid seed, but it breeds true. It comes in red and orange. Gold Nugget Cherry 2’ Chello 2-3' I'm trying these gold and yellow cherries in my spring garden. Italian Gold 3' This is another one that was originally a hybrid but comes true from seed. It is a beatiful orange paste with smallish fruit. I found the seed at Knapp's Veggies. Glacier 3' Silvery Fir Tree 1-4” These are very early tomatoes, and very tolerant of cool weather.Kimberly is also a small cool-tolerant, early fruiting tomato. Siberia/Siberian is also, but there is some confusion over which name belongs to which variety. You will find both a small and a tall plant offered as Siberian. Ditto for Siberia. Be warned that people often say that while the taste of the early/early tomatoes is better than storebought, it is just not as good as later fruiting varieties. Sophie's Choice 1-3' Mountain Princess 2-3’ I believe both of these are a bit later than those just above, and that they have larger fruit. I have heard very good things about the taste of these two. Sprite 2-3' This is a grape tomato on a short and bushy plant. People with lots of room say there are many better grapes to grow....but this may be the best choice for people like us. Last edited by Nightshade; January 10, 2009 at 11:45 AM. Reason: typos

January 10, 2009	#2
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	reply Thanks for the info Nightshade. I find it very usefull as well. I am sure it will help many others Kat

January 10, 2009	#3
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	For anyone who wants a copy of the spreadsheet, send me an Email (not a PM) and I'll attach the spreadsheet to the reply. The spreadsheet can be opened by any recent version of Windows software (Vista, Xp, ME, 2000). It currently lists more than 640 varieties that I found to be "interesting". It is a compilation of info that is available on the web, and contains data from many websites and seed vendors. It is intended to be a tool that new "tomato-ologists" can use for planning gardens and also to introduce them to a sample of the huge number of varieties that are available. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch