2011 Dwarves in the Fall/Winter Greenhouse
 

Its the greenhouse season for me. Started the 9 released dwarf project varieties, and 4 more that are being still developed. Here is a photo of Dwarf Caitydid, it was set out as a very small plant on September 5, and has fruited this past weekend, at 40 days from set-out. Only one fruit so far, but there are several more blossoms that should fruit this week.

Lovely Michael! Looks like a whole bunch of blossoms at the top :)

Patrina

Patrina

There are. I expect more fruit set pretty soon.

Michael,

That's a happy looking plant!

In your experience with greenhouse growing of heirlooms have you determined a minimum day/night temperature for optimum flavor? I grow a few tomatoes every spring in my unheated greenhouse but the flavor never gets great until early July. I would add heat if I thought the minimum requirements were low enough to justify the cost.

Thanks,
Steve

Steve

Since I set out plants in September usually, and harvest in the late November/December/early January time frame, I cant really say that the flavor ever gets as good as a spring/summer growout. They are a lot better than any store tomato. I usually do this to advance the dwarf project, and also for seed saving, and of course, to have some decent tomatoes. My temps range from 70/95 during the early part to 50/75 during December/January.

My greenhouse is heated, and I live in El Paso, so we do get decent sunlight and temps during the winter. I think the flavor is determined not only by temperature, but also day length and amount of sunlight.

So I cant really give you a good answer-your climate is so different from mine.

I'll be interesting to see your evaluation of the dwarfs as a fall/winter crop. I should have planted a larger fall crop myself. I have one Wild Fred plant and I just picked the first fruit yesterday. It was delicious - even better flavor than any dwarf tomato I harvested this summer! (including Dwarf Fred). The only thing I can figure is lately have kept the soil drier (slightly stressing the plants) than with my summer container plants. Otherwise, I can't explain the improved flavor since the days have been getting shorter and the temps cooler. One of the fun puzzles...

Here is Dwarf Catydid today, Nov 2, 11. It has several fruit, these are the two biggest. Several others varieties have fruited. I will update with photos this weekend.

Good stuff, Michael.:yes:

How tall is the plant currently, shown in your photo?

Raybo

Ray

Its the same height as the first photo. I will measure it tomorrow and post. Its very compact.

Ray-the Dwarf Catydid in the photo is 28 inches tall from top of container to top of plant.

Here are the dwarves on 11/13/11. They were just watered. All have set fruit, except for Tasmanian Chocolate, which I direct seeded late.

The F generation is the number after the variety name, if I put one.

They are:


Wild Fred 8
Tasmanian Chocolate 7
Rosella Purple 10
Beryl Beauty 10
Jade Beauty 10
Emerald Giant 9
Summertime Gold
Mr. Snow
Caitydid 4
Caitydid 4
Tasty Wine 5
Sweet Scarlet 5
Blazing Beauty 6
Sweet Sue
Summertime Green

Michael:
What size and type of pots are you using?

They are 5 gallon root pots. In most of the containers, I have 2 plants.

Michael,

Those are looking great! You have a nice, clean operation.

Steve

Thanks for the compliment, Steve!