There's a Dwarf Out There...

[peebee]

...with my name on it.
Ok, so after growing 2 dwarfs over 4 years, in ground and pots, I am about to throw in the towel. Tried Wild Fred & Sweet Sue to be exact. DWF was meh in taste for me and not a good producer. Out of 4 plants, 2 of the DSS produced zero fruits and the other 2 produced a grand total of 4 tomatoes.
However, the DSS were the most robust plants I have ever grown; strong sturdy stems and no matter how hard I pruned back, new growth kept pumping out. I did NOT grow them any differently than my other 15 + varieties of non-dwarf tomatoes, which produced abundantly this year.
I would like to give dwarfs one last chance; so please tell me which ones did really well for you and I will then post in the Wanteds. I am partial to hearts but I am open to anything really. I just want to find The One.

[KarenO]

Try one of the older ones. My fav. Dwarf is new big dwarf, (nothing new about it, it's Been around for a very long time.) it may have been my climate in Edmonton but none of the newer dwarfs were as good for me
KarenO

[Cole_Robbie]

New Big Dwarf, Tasmanian Chocolate, Mano, and Jade Beauty

[natural]

I have had great success with several of the hearts from the dwarf project.

Dwarf Purple Heart (the largest fruited of this set), Dwarf Pink Passion, Dwarf Lemon Ice and Dwarf Golden Heart also produced exceptionally well for me.

Bill

[peebee]

Originally Posted by KarenO

Try one of the older ones. My fav. Dwarf is new big dwarf, (nothing new about it, it's Been around for a very long time.) it may have been my climate in Edmonton but nine of the newer dwarfs were as good for me
KarenO

Karen that was actually the very first I tried many many years ago; did not produce well for me. Maybe I am not meant to grow dwarfs, just like I cannot grow paste tomatoes. Is it just me, or are the dwarf foliage rather disease prone?

[KarenO]

I found quite a lot of fungal problems as well which did not affect regular plants grown alongside. I think the thick rugosed leaves hold moisture far mor than either RL or Pl foliage of non dwarf tomatoes. I will keep trying though, lots of varieties I haven't grown

[charline]

If you are a pruner you are not meant to grow dwarfs!
Do not touch dwarf plants and they will produce...
Sweet Sue is a very good producer with delicious sweet fruits.

[peebee]

Ok, I get it, the leaves ARE thicker and larger than normal, hence the problems perhaps. Interesting.
Charline, my DSS did not produce hardly at all. But I will try them again next year. I do not prune my tomatoes unless the bottom leaves start to die later in the season. My climate here is getting hotter and drier every year, we are in our 4th year at least of a drought and if things don't improve I think we will become a desert soon.

[charline]

I had another one that produced very well : tasmanian chocolate
I had many dwarfs but most of them produced only a few fruits. Some like pit viper are worth growing despite of the low production but I dont grow many varieties now because of that.
One thing is important: feeding. If they are in pots you have to fertilize often. If you forget ((like me sometimes) you wont get many fruits.

[Greatgardens]

Just curious... have you grown Better Bush or Husky Red (both F1). I've had several grow-offs, and Better Bush is the winner. Among the OP, Perth Pride and Dwarf Pink Passion (a heart) have done the best for me. (All grown in real Earth Boxes.)
-GG

[Sun City Linda]

I have never had great results with any of the dwarf project myself. Leaf disease seems common. The problem may be that in our arid climate the only thing I routinely spray for or attempt to control is mites. I do frequently grow New Big Dwarf and like it quite a bit. Maybe I'll give some of the others another go round this year and spray for leaf disease.

[schill93]

Seem to see a pattern here. It appears that those in cooler climates do best with them. Is there anyone else living in hot arid climates that have had success with them?

I know some people in hot humid areas have grown them successfully. Wonder if the heat and lack of humidity affects them more. I am in the hottest of arid desert areas, and want so much to grow them. I do know of another local here in LV that grew Wild Fred successfully. But she is a real top notch gardener, and I certainly am not.

[BigVanVader]

My Dwarfs werent very productive either, and most did develop disease BUT most of my other plants did too. Dwarf Mr. Snow tasted so good to me that I will be growing it and selecting for vigor/uniformity and taste until I get it acclimated to my area. Nothing really does well here some years so I'm used to it. I'm going to keep trying new ones and eventually pick a few of the best to continue growing here.

[peebee]

What a relief to know I am not alone. I guess it just comes down to certain varieties in certain conditions will determine outcome.
I think creating smaller plants that will produce like larger ones has been the Holy Grail for seed companies/growers for some time now. We're close, but perfection has not been attained yet.
Until that day comes, I will continue to experiment with different dwarf varieties.