two newbie questions

gardeninglee · May 28, 2016

I have a midseason tomato I am growing now and one of the flowers set fruit pretty early. I probably have about 50 blossoms or so that just fell off. If I have seed from that one tomato that set is there a chance that the new plant will set early?

I want to try growing some dwarf tomatoes next season. If I typically start seeds in mid-Feb, should I start the dwarf ones the same time or earlier? Or can I start even earlier say in Dec or Jan? I grow on a patio that during the winter (Dec-Jan) gets about 4.5 hours of sun.

I'm on the west coast, a few miles east of the beach so I still get a lot of fog and cloudy days up until July.

peebee · May 28, 2016

Hi, I'm in Torrance and I start my seeds either in late Dec or early Jan. You would start Dwarfs (Dwarves?) the same time you would start any tomato seed, there is no difference just because they may be a bit smaller than other tomatoes.
I just answered 1 of your 2 questions as I don't fully understand what happened to those 50 blossoms that fell off, and if that even will matter in the end about your question about whether saved seeds from the one early fruit will produce early fruits in the future. Others here more experienced may respond, but in my experience blossom falling only happens when there is unseasonal weird weather, such as a sudden heat wave. I have seen it personally only maybe twice in 20 years of gardening. And I don't think a variety can "change" from early to mid-season or vice versa. Certain conditions can change how early or late a fruit can form usually.
I'm sure more members will respond soon.

ginger2778 · May 28, 2016

I think you can do as Peebee said and start your dwarfs at the same time. I find them slower and later to set fruit( not all but generally), so for my growing season, which is long, it's OK, but if I had a short growing season, I would start them 2-3 weeks earlier than other tomato types.

gardeninglee · May 28, 2016

It's just too cold and foggy for it to set fruit. I'm in west LA not too far from you but I get a lot of overcast/fog right now. I haven't seen more than 15 min of sun during the day for the last couple of weeks. I've grown this variety for a few years now and it will start to set fruit around end of June and does well even in high temps but when it's foggy there's nothing. It just grew to be huge before it usually does. The only thing different I did this time was fertilize with some old baby formula my baby wouldn't drink. I only gave it a 2 oz bottle once and it's now about 4 feet tall - huge with tons of blossoms but only 1 fruit. Big considering very little sun and it's in a container.

JLJ_ · May 28, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by gardeninglee

. . . The only thing different I did this time was fertilize with some old baby formula my baby wouldn't drink. I only gave it a 2 oz bottle once and it's now about 4 feet tall - huge with tons of blossoms but only 1 fruit. Big considering very little sun and it's in a container.

Have to ask . . . what sort of baby formula was it that the baby human didn't like but the baby tomatoes loved?

gardeninglee · May 28, 2016

This is after pulling out the suckers and making it grow from two stems.

peebee · May 30, 2016

What's the name of the variety?

gardeninglee · June 1, 2016

I don't remember the name. I bought the plant way before I became obsessed so I didn't pay much attention. I just planted and threw away the little plant tags back then. It produces pinkish fruit a little smaller than a tennis ball and has a really great flavor.

May 28, 2016	#1
gardeninglee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 203	two newbie questions I have a midseason tomato I am growing now and one of the flowers set fruit pretty early. I probably have about 50 blossoms or so that just fell off. If I have seed from that one tomato that set is there a chance that the new plant will set early? I want to try growing some dwarf tomatoes next season. If I typically start seeds in mid-Feb, should I start the dwarf ones the same time or earlier? Or can I start even earlier say in Dec or Jan? I grow on a patio that during the winter (Dec-Jan) gets about 4.5 hours of sun. I'm on the west coast, a few miles east of the beach so I still get a lot of fog and cloudy days up until July.

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May 28, 2016	#2
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	Hi, I'm in Torrance and I start my seeds either in late Dec or early Jan. You would start Dwarfs (Dwarves?) the same time you would start any tomato seed, there is no difference just because they may be a bit smaller than other tomatoes. I just answered 1 of your 2 questions as I don't fully understand what happened to those 50 blossoms that fell off, and if that even will matter in the end about your question about whether saved seeds from the one early fruit will produce early fruits in the future. Others here more experienced may respond, but in my experience blossom falling only happens when there is unseasonal weird weather, such as a sudden heat wave. I have seen it personally only maybe twice in 20 years of gardening. And I don't think a variety can "change" from early to mid-season or vice versa. Certain conditions can change how early or late a fruit can form usually. I'm sure more members will respond soon.

May 28, 2016	#3
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	I think you can do as Peebee said and start your dwarfs at the same time. I find them slower and later to set fruit( not all but generally), so for my growing season, which is long, it's OK, but if I had a short growing season, I would start them 2-3 weeks earlier than other tomato types.

May 30, 2016	#7
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	What's the name of the variety?

June 1, 2016	#8
gardeninglee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 203	I don't remember the name. I bought the plant way before I became obsessed so I didn't pay much attention. I just planted and threw away the little plant tags back then. It produces pinkish fruit a little smaller than a tennis ball and has a really great flavor.