Dwarf Tomatoes on the International Space Station in 2018

Hatgirl · January 17, 2016

While reading about the zinnia that flowered on the ISS yesterday, I spotted this on the NASA blog

Quote:

In 2018, there are plans to launch dwarf tomato seeds to the space station. Smith said the lessons learned from growing zinnia flowers will be critical in the process of growing tomatoes, a fellow flowering plant

I wonder what variety they'll pick? Hopefully not MicroTom, or they'll be pretty annoyed when then actually eat one

ContainerTed · January 17, 2016

Maybe we could get NASA's attention if we change the names of a few dwarfs.

1. Arctic Rose could be "Interstellar Rose".
2. Russian Swirl could be "Spiral Galaxy"
3. Blazing Beauty could be "Burning Asteroid".

Actually, for taste, etc, I would recommend Red Robin.

PhilaGardener · January 17, 2016

Should grow something good as the taste will be out of this World!

**nctomatoman** · January 23, 2016

I actually was contacted by them a few years ago and sent them a selection of seemingly appropriate varieties from our project - so these will be ours, I believe! I would have to dig out the email to see if I have a list included. But yes, our Dwarf Project will truly launch in the space-sense, beyond the current earthly launches!

**carolyn137** · January 23, 2016

Remember this?

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/R...b=General_Info

I guess it was only seeds that were sent into space, not growing the actual plants, but being exposed to the same conditions that those early astronauts were exposed to.

Other than Scott Kelly, who is spending a year in space as lead astronaut with others, does anyone know who decides what gets blasted off earth when it's a team effort?

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/s...ain/index.html

Carolyn, who well remembers all those many years ago when the first person landed on the moon and she stayed up to watch all those blurry photo transmissions. And yes, she is one who likes GOOD plausible ? Sci Fi books as well.

PureHarvest · January 23, 2016

That is a major 'heck yeah'! for the Dwarf Project.
Seriously, Craig and Patrina, kudos to you guys.
I think that would be a career highlight for you guys.
Plus, now we can tell others: "Yeah, this is a cutting edge dwarf variety that I grow. All the International Space Stations are growing them"...lol

**nctomatoman** · January 23, 2016

We shall see - once/if the varieties are confirmed we will know for sure. They could have assessed from descriptions that they were still too large and went for the micro dwarfs.

Still - it was nice to be asked!

Ricky Shaw · January 23, 2016

Ground Control to Micro Tom, might be too soon to hear.

Hatgirl · January 23, 2016

I found this report from the NASA Human Research Program on the next stage of the project. There are even some photos of potential tomatoes - they look like micro dwarfs of some variety

Dutch · January 23, 2016

Picture courtesy of NASA.

Thanks Hatgirl!
SpaceStationTomato.JPG
Dutch

Dutch · January 23, 2016

Picture courtesy of NASA.

This picture is clearer...

SpaceStationTomato_b.JPG

Dutch

Dutch · January 23, 2016

Picture courtesy of NASA.

The third time should be a charm...

SpaceStationTomato_c.JPG

Mohamed http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Mohamed

Dutch

Hatgirl · January 23, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch

Picture courtesy of NASA.

The third time should be a charm...

Attachment 55847

Mohamed http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Mohamed

Dutch

Oh cool! It never occurred to me to zoom in.
Huh, I haven't grown Mohamed yet, but it's supposed to be tasty.

**carolyn137** · January 23, 2016

And Mohammed looks to me almost the same as Red Robin, except the latter has rugose foliage, not plain RL, and I mentioned it in another thread here recently that it's about the only one I can grow in the winter up here.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Red_Robin

Carolyn

jmsieglaff · January 23, 2016

Great pics Dutch! Is that in a greenhouse? When did you sow them?

January 17, 2016	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Maybe we could get NASA's attention if we change the names of a few dwarfs. 1. Arctic Rose could be "Interstellar Rose". 2. Russian Swirl could be "Spiral Galaxy" 3. Blazing Beauty could be "Burning Asteroid". Actually, for taste, etc, I would recommend Red Robin. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

January 23, 2016	#4
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I actually was contacted by them a few years ago and sent them a selection of seemingly appropriate varieties from our project - so these will be ours, I believe! I would have to dig out the email to see if I have a list included. But yes, our Dwarf Project will truly launch in the space-sense, beyond the current earthly launches! __________________ Craig

January 23, 2016	#5
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Remember this? http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/R...b=General_Info I guess it was only seeds that were sent into space, not growing the actual plants, but being exposed to the same conditions that those early astronauts were exposed to. Other than Scott Kelly, who is spending a year in space as lead astronaut with others, does anyone know who decides what gets blasted off earth when it's a team effort? https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/s...ain/index.html Carolyn, who well remembers all those many years ago when the first person landed on the moon and she stayed up to watch all those blurry photo transmissions. And yes, she is one who likes GOOD plausible ? Sci Fi books as well. __________________ Carolyn

January 23, 2016	#7
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	We shall see - once/if the varieties are confirmed we will know for sure. They could have assessed from descriptions that they were still too large and went for the micro dwarfs. Still - it was nice to be asked! __________________ Craig

January 23, 2016	#10
Dutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: S.E. Wisconsin Zone 5b Posts: 1,831	Picture courtesy of NASA. Thanks Hatgirl! SpaceStationTomato.JPG Dutch __________________ "Discretion is the better part of valor" Charles Churchill The intuitive mind is a gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. But we have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. (paraphrased) Albert Einstein I come from a long line of sod busters, spanning back several centuries. Last edited by Dutch; January 23, 2016 at 03:40 PM.

January 17, 2016	#3
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Should grow something good as the taste will be out of this World!

January 23, 2016	#6
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	That is a major 'heck yeah'! for the Dwarf Project. Seriously, Craig and Patrina, kudos to you guys. I think that would be a career highlight for you guys. Plus, now we can tell others: "Yeah, this is a cutting edge dwarf variety that I grow. All the International Space Stations are growing them"...lol

January 23, 2016	#8
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	Ground Control to Micro Tom, might be too soon to hear.

January 23, 2016	#9
Hatgirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 211	I found this report from the NASA Human Research Program on the next stage of the project. There are even some photos of potential tomatoes - they look like micro dwarfs of some variety

January 23, 2016	#15
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Great pics Dutch! Is that in a greenhouse? When did you sow them?