Dwarf Pink Passion vs. Dwarf Arctic Rose?

Greatgardens · August 31, 2017

Planning on possible improvements for next year, and I want the earliest variety of dwarf for a "first early" but still large enough to be a "slicer." I've been using DPP for the past two seasons and get my first ripe fruit in mid-June (5b). Dwarf Arctic Rose would seem to have a bit of an edge since it is a smaller plant, so I should be able to plant it a bit earlier -- maybe a week? By starting them very early, I can get ripe fruit even before ones like Fourth of July, etc.

Has anyone grown both? I could grow both that can comment? I do want to stick with dwarfs since they tend to stay smaller than regular compact determinates in my experience. That means they will stay longer under my lights and longer in my cold frame without getting too big.

Or any other dwarf suggestions that you've had good luck with?

-GG

Labradors2 · August 31, 2017

I start early with Early Annie. I try to get them sown in mid-Feb for fruit in mid-June. I plant them in 2-gallon containers and lug them in and out, depending on the weather. My only problem is that my seeds appear to have gone rogue. Sometimes I get PL and odd shaped fruit, but the main thing is that they all taste divine to me

I really like Dwarf Arctic Rose too, but have never tried DPP - yet.

Linda

zeroma · August 31, 2017

Hum? I don't understand your statement, "Dwarf Arctic Rose would seem to have a bit of an edge since it is a smaller plant, so I should be able to plant it a bit earlier -- maybe a week? "

what does a smaller plant have to do with the zone you live in? especially when you are looking at just one week?

Z

Greatgardens · August 31, 2017

Plant seeds... If the plant is smaller, I should be able to plant it slightly earlier without it outgrowing my light bench and/or cold frame. Arctic Rose is also described as slightly earlier maturing than Dwarf Pink Passion. It doesn't relate to the zone I'm in -- that is just an indication for the general tomato growing season. We generally can't put tomatoes outside unprotected before the first week of May, but if they are still growing in my cold frame, I'm getting a head start. I get ripe dwarf micros by mid-May. Same principle. I plant micro (seeds) about Feb. 1.
-GG

**nctomatoman** · August 31, 2017

Dwarf Arctic Rose is quite a bit more compact than Dwarf Pink Passion - both are quite early, relatively speaking. The Nosey line (Dwarf Pink Passion) tend to be a bit more vertically stretched (due to the heart shape gene). Fruit size of each is medium, the fruit shape of Pink Passion is strongly heart shaped. I would describe the flavor of each as on the mild side, sweet, very pleasant - and both are quite productive.

Gerardo · August 31, 2017

I've grown both, as Craig mentioned above, Arctic Rose definitely tends to be on the small side, and it loads up real nice. Mild flavor on both, with PP winning by half a length.

JosephineRose · September 1, 2017

My dwarf arctic rose was early and prolific but the flavor did not impress me.

August 31, 2017	#1
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	Dwarf Pink Passion vs. Dwarf Arctic Rose? Planning on possible improvements for next year, and I want the earliest variety of dwarf for a "first early" but still large enough to be a "slicer." I've been using DPP for the past two seasons and get my first ripe fruit in mid-June (5b). Dwarf Arctic Rose would seem to have a bit of an edge since it is a smaller plant, so I should be able to plant it a bit earlier -- maybe a week? By starting them very early, I can get ripe fruit even before ones like Fourth of July, etc. Has anyone grown both? I could grow both that can comment? I do want to stick with dwarfs since they tend to stay smaller than regular compact determinates in my experience. That means they will stay longer under my lights and longer in my cold frame without getting too big. Or any other dwarf suggestions that you've had good luck with? -GG Last edited by Greatgardens; August 31, 2017 at 12:47 PM.

August 31, 2017	#4
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	Plant seeds... If the plant is smaller, I should be able to plant it slightly earlier without it outgrowing my light bench and/or cold frame. Arctic Rose is also described as slightly earlier maturing than Dwarf Pink Passion. It doesn't relate to the zone I'm in -- that is just an indication for the general tomato growing season. We generally can't put tomatoes outside unprotected before the first week of May, but if they are still growing in my cold frame, I'm getting a head start. I get ripe dwarf micros by mid-May. Same principle. I plant micro (seeds) about Feb. 1. -GG Last edited by Greatgardens; August 31, 2017 at 03:23 PM.

August 31, 2017	#5
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Dwarf Arctic Rose is quite a bit more compact than Dwarf Pink Passion - both are quite early, relatively speaking. The Nosey line (Dwarf Pink Passion) tend to be a bit more vertically stretched (due to the heart shape gene). Fruit size of each is medium, the fruit shape of Pink Passion is strongly heart shaped. I would describe the flavor of each as on the mild side, sweet, very pleasant - and both are quite productive. __________________ Craig

August 31, 2017	#2
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	I start early with Early Annie. I try to get them sown in mid-Feb for fruit in mid-June. I plant them in 2-gallon containers and lug them in and out, depending on the weather. My only problem is that my seeds appear to have gone rogue. Sometimes I get PL and odd shaped fruit, but the main thing is that they all taste divine to me I really like Dwarf Arctic Rose too, but have never tried DPP - yet. Linda

August 31, 2017	#3
zeroma Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 637	Hum? I don't understand your statement, "Dwarf Arctic Rose would seem to have a bit of an edge since it is a smaller plant, so I should be able to plant it a bit earlier -- maybe a week? " what does a smaller plant have to do with the zone you live in? especially when you are looking at just one week? Z

August 31, 2017	#6
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	I've grown both, as Craig mentioned above, Arctic Rose definitely tends to be on the small side, and it loads up real nice. Mild flavor on both, with PP winning by half a length.

September 1, 2017	#7
JosephineRose Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: California Posts: 383	My dwarf arctic rose was early and prolific but the flavor did not impress me.