The appeal of Dwarfs

[tash11]

Originally Posted by dmforcier

tash there are other ferts besides raccoon bait ..err.. fish meal.

Actually I have bone and blood meal right now, and a 'fancy' organic one I bought on sale last year (and then my dog tore up the package and I dumped the rest into a bucket so I don't' know what it's called)

Originally Posted by schill93

What organic fertilizer would you recommend that doesn't smell and attract animals.

I just used some Mater Magic (cause I bought it for $1 on clearance at Walmart)
I can't keep my dog out of there, and these are in large pots.

$1 clearance, nice.

Save

[Labradors2]

Bone and blood meal not good. My dog dug up the neighbours bulbs in the winter because he planted them with bonemeal.

I used bloodmeal on my flower garden this summer in an effort to dissuade the chippies from digging (didn't have much effect). Had to be careful that the dogs weren't left in the front alone.......

Linda

[schill93]

Is Arctic Rose the smallest of the dwarfs? A sunny porch would work for some of the smaller dwarfs, but if your light source must be under lights, I would think even Arctic
Rose might be too big. The micro's would work, but they are primarily cherries aren't they?

[Cole_Robbie]

There are compact determinate varieties that are smaller plants than most dwarfs. Cole and Sol Gold are two of my favorites so far.

[Labradors2]

Arctic Rose is the smallest of the dwarfs - about 2 feet, I think. I grew it in a 3 gallon pot in a sunny window one winter and it had quite a good harvest!

Linda

[Shrinkrap]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

There are compact determinate varieties that are smaller plants than most dwarfs. Cole and Sol Gold are two of my favorites so far.

I like to grow determinates as well, but can't seem to find much variety in size, color and shape. Can you describe Cole and Sol Gold?

[Cole_Robbie]

Cole is red, Sol Gold is yellow. Both of them make a medium-sized tomato, not huge, but big enough to slice. Cole is typically my first "real tomato flavor" of the year, dtm is in the 50's. Fruit are shaped like mini-beefsteaks. Sol Gold is very sweet, especially for such an early yellow, fruit are also medium-sized. Both varieties grow plants that are little bushes about thigh-high at the most. The cheapest of cages would be enough to support them. Bushy growth makes it hard to attach them to single stakes. Both of them have about a 3-week harvest window, at least for me.

[Shrinkrap]

Okay, thanks!

[tash11]

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Bone and blood meal not good. My dog dug up the neighbours bulbs in the winter because he planted them with bonemeal.

I used bloodmeal on my flower garden this summer in an effort to dissuade the chippies from digging (didn't have much effect). Had to be careful that the dogs weren't left in the front alone.......

Linda

only not good when there are critters, hence why I didn't use any fert after planting this year.

Originally Posted by schill93

Is Arctic Rose the smallest of the dwarfs? A sunny porch would work for some of the smaller dwarfs, but if your light source must be under lights, I would think even Arctic Rose might be too big. The micro's would work, but they are primarily cherries aren't they?

I gave my friend (a self confessed 'not outdoor/plant' person) a Sophie's Choice seedling (not DTP) which she potted into a small container, maybe 12"? 15"? It was far too small of a container. She said the skins were tough, and she had trouble keeping it watered. I told her I will get her one of the big self watering pots for next year. You can see how it needs water here. But it didn't get much bigger then this.




My daughter says I need to put next to these pictures because the plant is sad.

[Shrinkrap]

I can't see your pictures, but wanted to say.....daughters....they're the best....

[habitat_gardener]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Cole is red, Sol Gold is yellow. Both of them make a medium-sized tomato, not huge, but big enough to slice. Cole is typically my first "real tomato flavor" of the year, dtm is in the 50's. Fruit are shaped like mini-beefsteaks. Sol Gold is very sweet, especially for such an early yellow, fruit are also medium-sized. Both varieties grow plants that are little bushes about thigh-high at the most. The cheapest of cages would be enough to support them. Bushy growth makes it hard to attach them to single stakes. Both of them have about a 3-week harvest window, at least for me.

Hmm, I wonder if mine were crossed. My Cole tomatoes were red, round, large cherry size up to ping pong ball size (looked just like Stupice), and the plants were less than a foot high.

[Cole_Robbie]

Was the plant container-grown, or in soil? My plants in soil often make fruit larger than what I see in other descriptions.

[habitat_gardener]

I had 2 plants in the soil. THey may have been stunted, because I kept them in 1 gallon pots for too long before finally planting them.

[Fritz77]

Very interesting. What material are your grow bags made of? It looks like felt. Are those on the left in pic #3 the same folded grow bags?

Originally Posted by oakley

Having just picked my last two rock hard green tomatoes, and 8 ripe SunGold, (two un-ripe and very hard/green)...I ate 4 and shared two, it is a tad exciting to have pulled in two tomato 'house' plants. Now flanking my MeyerLemon tree in a sunny south window.

Very experimental for me having not even attempted a grow bag or a dwarf until this past June. About the time i was planting my garden heirlooms, i started another 36 cell seed tray of dwarfs. Just a few varieties to watch the stout babies grow. Just for kicks. Ordered seeds late really for next season but what the heck...

A few went to city friends to try on their small patios/window ledges.

I kept these two on a stone wall in front of the barn and let them go, no pruning. The central stems i let fall forward as the sun encouraged. They were lovely. I can see having at least a dozen next year or more. The fallen forward central stems were maybe 30 inches. The laterals grew up and stocky. I moved them to the city in early September and they spent time on the deck bench raised on up-turned buckets. Last Sunday i cut the central thick stems with Felcos. And now i have 'DwarfRussianSwirl-laterals' growing inside and budding. (actually not sure the variety yet...i use #s and the grow map is up-state in the barn)

This was not planned but what a hoot. The upper left is a pic from last night. They will get some T5 time. And a feeding schedule maybe osmokote.

I'm starting a 36 cell tray of micros as soon as all the seeds arrive for some winter experimenting. I've been growing micro greens the past few years so this may not be that difficult to tend.

So the benefit is also movability and travel. And just maybe some winter tomatoes.

[Fritz77]

I’m also planning on growing some dwarfs for the first time next year . This should happen in my balcony which is South-West exposed (but also subject to pretty strong wind between April and June). The balcony is fairly small, about 80 square feet and I must leave room for a table and 5 chairs. So, I’m thinking about 2 max 3 pots. The varieties I may choose from should be the following: Utyonok, Tasmanian Chocolate and Betalux. Reading that those dwarfs may grow taller than me is kind of scary. I need to find plants that won’t grow taller than 4 – 4 ½”. I could afford 5 feet if I take my wife out to her favorite restaurant and pass the Hoover for 3 consecutive weekends. If they grow taller I may have to trim them, or she will do it for me.
I’ve read good reviews about Utyonok and TC. Have you ever grown Betalux?