Dwarf Tomato Project

[Riceloft]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I'm hoping I can fit three dwarfs in the space that one indeterminate would occupy, thereby offsetting the lower yield per plant. Plus, three stakes are cheaper than one large cage to support an indeterminate. Time spent pruning and tying back vines should be less, too.

These are my thoughts in trying to grow Dwarf Tasmanian Chocolate as a market tomato for next summer. We shall see if it works out.

Tasmanian Chocolate has been the best producer of all the dwarf's I've grown. In my experience I can get as much from 2 Tas Chocolates as I can from any single indeterminate, or darn close. This is up against varieties like Costoluto Genovese, Big Beef and Cherokee Purple.

As far as making it a market tomato, I've found that they don't keep on the counter as long as some other varieties (but longer than say, Cherokee Purple) so keep that in mind if you haven't had experience with it before.

Originally Posted by MrBig46

I will grow eight varieties of dwarfs this year. I pruned all indeterminantes varieties. Do I prune dwarves, too? Must I grow dwarfs in a cage or can be tied to the spiral ?
Vladimír

I would advise against pruning most of the dwarf varieties. I think Dwarf Golden Heart sprawls more than most others and would assume others in the same line (Nosey) do as well. I did some light pruning to keep it in check when I grew it out.

I use a 5ft wooden stake and one of the small laughable tomato cages for my dwarfs. The only issue I have with this setup is actually Tasmanian Chocolate. It puts out so many strong branches that load up with fruit, and gets up near 4-5ft tall that it threatens to topple over with this setup (and actually did on one plant last season).

[nctomatoman]

Agreed - best reason to prune the Dwarf varieties for best yields is to leave flower clusters and any short suckers alone, but do some foliage thinning to open up the center of the plants in areas where high humidity, heat and rains can lead to onset of foliage diseases.

[MrBig46]

Originally Posted by Riceloft

Tasmanian Chocolate has been the best producer of all the dwarf's I've grown. In my experience I can get as much from 2 Tas Chocolates as I can from any single indeterminate, or darn close. This is up against varieties like Costoluto Genovese, Big Beef and Cherokee Purple.

As far as making it a market tomato, I've found that they don't keep on the counter as long as some other varieties (but longer than say, Cherokee Purple) so keep that in mind if you haven't had experience with it before.



I would advise against pruning most of the dwarf varieties. I think Dwarf Golden Heart sprawls more than most others and would assume others in the same line (Nosey) do as well. I did some light pruning to keep it in check when I grew it out.

I use a 5ft wooden stake and one of the small laughable tomato cages for my dwarfs. The only issue I have with this setup is actually Tasmanian Chocolate. It puts out so many strong branches that load up with fruit, and gets up near 4-5ft tall that it threatens to topple over with this setup (and actually did on one plant last season).

Thank you.
Vladimír

[Ed of Somis]

For those of you who have grown these dwarfs...can you give me your best 3 varieties for taste and production??? Us newbies always love to hear from the "voice of experience".

[nctomatoman]

Wow - that's a great question - and I am only speaking from my particular growing technique/climate (Raleigh zone 8 5 gallon grow bags).

Rosella Purple, Dwarf Mr. Snow or Dwarf Sweet Sue, Dwarf Beryl Beauty or Dwarf Kelly Green or Summertime Green

a purple, a white or yellow and a green.

[Riceloft]

I can't speak much for taste (I don't eat raw tomatoes), but production wise, in my garden these are the top 2:

Tasmanian Chocolate
Dwarf Sweet Sue

I've grown less than half of the released dwarfs though, so this is by no means based on a complete trial.

[RobinB]

Of the released dwarves that I have tried (and it's not a huge list yet), I would say Tasmanian Chocolate, Rosella Purple, and Sweet Sue.

Unreleased? I've got some really special stuff coming along in Kiwi and Plucky lines, and others are working on great stuff too... more to come!

Robin

[Cole_Robbie]

My other dwarf I grew and saved seeds from was Summertime Gold. I'm going to grow a few of them next summer.

Is Summertime Gold virtually identical to Mr Snow?

What were the improvements obtained with the selection to create Summer Sweet Gold?

Just wondering, thanks.

[ABlindHog]

I have Summer Sunrise and Dwarf Purple Heart just sprouting and plan to grow them in 25 gallon tubs. Both are new to me, and will be the first Dwarf Project tomatoes I have grown. I would love to hear the thoughts of anyone who has grown them about their flavor, productivity, or just general observations. I would also like to hear opinions on the possibility of growing them two to a container. These large cattle supplement tubs are free but I have limited space for them. If I can double up in them I will have room to try Sweet Scarlet Dwarf, and Summer Sweet Gold.

[Blueaussi]

Dwarf Wild Fred surprised me last summer. I grew it the summer before, and it was just ok, but last summer it was popping out tomatoes right and left.

[nctomatoman]

Cole, what happened with Summertime Gold is that the selection that Bill worked up for seeds was just too similar to Dwarf Mr. Snow and didn't represent what we were after with Summertime Gold. Lee and I did some regrowing of the best selections, but we decided to rename it Summer Sweet Gold to avoid too much confusion. It should be a bit larger, more oblate, a truer bright yellow with more of a pink blossom blush.

[Cole_Robbie]

Thanks.