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July 7, 2017 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hudson Valley, NY, Zone 6a
Posts: 626
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Dwarf tomatillo?
One of my 8 tomatillos makes me wonder if it's a dwarf. All 8 are the same age and were planted out the same day (June 1).
The wee plant on the right in the foreground is loaded with blossoms, but it's smaller in every way -- stem, stalks, leaves, blossoms. The little one is about 3 1/2' tall, while the other 7 are in the 5-5 1/2' range (the raised bed is terraced to accommodate the property's slope). I didn't notice anything different at the seedling stage. Has anyone seen something like this before? Can tomatillos be dwarfs? |
July 7, 2017 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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I had 2 big ones and 2 little ones this year. One of the little ones died, the other is covered with fruit.
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Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture |
July 7, 2017 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: WV
Posts: 603
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I've found tomatillios to be more variable than tomatoes...
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July 9, 2017 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hudson Valley, NY, Zone 6a
Posts: 626
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OK; it's not just me then! It is strange, though, because these were grown from saved seed, and last year's plants were all tall. Maybe I'll save seeds from the little one and see what I get next year...
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July 10, 2017 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 586
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Tomatilloes are strongly outbreeding, while tomatoes are strongly inbreeding. The consequence is that it will take a lot more time (and numbers of plants each year) to stabilize a new variety.
If the stature is genetic, you are still likely to not get all short plants next year from seed saved from shorty. However, every normal-sized plant will be a carrier for the short trait. Saving seeds from short plants each year will eventually filter out the tall trait. In tomatoes, the dwarf and micro seedlings germinate a little bit slower than the normal sized plants. If you grow enough seedlings, you might notice the same pattern with your tomatilloes. I say go for it. One of my projects is trying to stabilize a tomatillo line with inky-black fruit. Not sure how long it will take, but I've got the time.
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July 10, 2017 | #6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hudson Valley, NY, Zone 6a
Posts: 626
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Quote:
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July 10, 2017 | #7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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Quote:
__________________
Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture |
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July 10, 2017 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hudson Valley, NY, Zone 6a
Posts: 626
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It's still early, but I think mine might be different -- the big ones started to blossom two weeks ago and already have some swollen husks, but the little one only has a few blossoms open and tons of buds. It's weird...
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