Important - for those growing our Dwarf project releases
 

I've pondered for some time that it is appropriate to start to build a picture of which of our 60 varieties do well, where - do they perform as expected? Which struggle, which succeed, which are the favorites, which are the laggards.

So here is a survey - it is simple, and the hope is to catch anyone who has grown the named, released varieties - no matter how or where you got them (the four major vendors, as a project member, etc).

Patrina and I have each tried it out - it is quick, simple, and you can run through it for each variety. I will provide reports now and then. This will really help those who sell the varieties, and those of us who want to grow them, understand better which ones do well and where - and for what reasons.

The survey is here. [url]https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScx95sdemSHP3awzYs_NKDwF4oamw4WeUnWjdSQWcO5Nn4R8g/viewform[/url]

Have at it, have fun - and be honest. Please note any questions you have about the survey in this thread.

I grew nine this year, and hope to respond over time. It would be good to know which ones I've already reviewed.

I can see the data - so feel free to ask here or email me and I can provide the info of what you've already reviewed

Okay, thanks!

Craig, I would be happy to help with results...and will fill out the survey. Will you be making the results available to folks on this site?:?!?:

Sure Ed - I will provide some periodical reporting - we are approaching 70 entries at the moment. Hoping to well into the hundreds over time; I've asked each of the four main seed companies offering the dwarfs to provide the link on their website.

Did I already do Dwarf Golden Heart?

Shrink, looks like you've done Choc Light, Dwarf Purp Heart, Adelaide Fest, BrandyFred.

Okay, thanks. Golden Heart is standing out right now, and the fruit are bigger.

FWIW, I am seeing my BrandyFred setting their first fruit. I am happy to have a long season or they would be history! I will be out of town for two weeks in the near future, and I hope it won't be too late to see how they turn out.

Craig,

Have you been doing these reports? I've been looking for this exact data :). I'm interested in doing a few varieties from the dwarf project next year but don't really know where to start. Getting people's real world feedback would be awesome. Maybe giving us read access to the data from this?

Hi silkcom - results are coming in slowly - in fact only 92 responses so far. I am of two minds about it - getting people to fill in surveys is incredibly challenging - the flip side being we have 92 responses (I don't think Patrina has done many yet, nor have I).

With the gardening season underway, I will see what I can do to push this a bit. I've not even looked at the data myself yet - too busy! - but hope to mid summer when my speaking schedule slows down a bit.

Best thing to do is just look at the descriptions of the named varieties, find threads on them at Tomatoville - or Google the name, which will take you to the companies that carry them - there are often reviews there.

[QUOTE=silkcom;637423]Craig,

Have you been doing these reports? I've been looking for this exact data :). I'm interested in doing a few varieties from the dwarf project next year but don't really know where to start. Getting people's real world feedback would be awesome. Maybe giving us read access to the data from this?[/QUOTE]

Here is one place, of many, to start your research. [URL="http://www.victoryseeds.com/dwarf-tomato-project.html"]http://www.victoryseeds.com/dwarf-tomato-project.html[/URL]

A google search, 'best tasting dwarf tomatoes' will link you to a thread here, etc.

That's why I was thinking you just open the spreadsheet itself. Then we could be helping build the reports :).

Here are this years; hoping to get them to their permanent homes soon. Loxtan Lass and Lad, Rosella Crimson, Dwarf Sweet Sue and Dwarf Golden Gypsy. A!so repeat performance for New Big Dwarf and Dwarf Wild Fred.

I just submitted reports for Dwarf Purple Heart, Rosella Purple and Tennessee Suited and would encourage any other dwarf growers to take the time and report what you've found.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this excellent project to give us great new dwarfs to try.

Some of this years seedlings.

My location is Grand Forks, ND.

I planted two Tasmanian Chocolates this spring.

March 16, I started the seed indoors.

May 30, the plants were moved outside. Taz #1 was planted in the large pot, Taz #2 in the ground.

July 25 I harvested seven fruits from the two plants (4 from Taz#1, 3 from Taz #2).

The fruit was medium-small (6-7 oz ?), nicely formed, flattened, and unblemished. The taste was good.... mild and sweet. Perhaps a tad on the bland side, but I am comparing them to the Jersey Boys I picked the same day which are five-star wonderful.

So far, (and there isn't all that much farther to go) I extremely impressed with the vitality, health, and vigor of Taz. The entire season, both plants have been vigorous, bushy, and healthy. They have less leaf disease than a couple hybrids planted next door to them. The plants look so good they could serve as accent plants in a show garden. I am truly (and surprisingly) impressed with the vigor and health of my two Taz's. They are causing me to rethink some of my tomato biases (I have not have not been impressed, until now, with the "heirloom"/non-hybrid tomatoes I have grown over these last twenty years).

Taz breeders, I am impressed! Thank you!

I will try more Dwarf Project tomatoes next year. While I love Taz, if I could ask for more, I would like earlier and with a little more "zing" flavor-wise. Mind you, I am not complaining, I am really impressed with the bushy vigor and health of this plant. And the fruit is attractive and tasty.

I start a lot of tomatoes with the intention of giving several away. There is a small circle of folks to whom I deliver plants every year (and who look forward to my offerings).

Most of the people I give tomatoes to are people who like and want tomatoes but aren't exactly your "Master Gardener" types (folks who start their own tomatoes and have their own tomato plans and schemes).

I have learned (slowly) that most of the people whom I deliver plants to are not really prepared (or have the interest or time) to stake and prune and manage the growth of a large indeterminate. They want to stick a plant in the ground and then use a cage they got from Menard's for $5 to keep it upright and productive.

I don't blame them. I have my hobbies, they have theirs. I have my time and space, they have their time and space. When I consider their needs, a healthy vigorous dwarf-determinate plant like Taz is perfect!

So, next year for my give-aways, I am going to plant a bunch of Taz's... and a bunch of Red Racers. Red Racer is a seriously good early tomato. The best I have run across so far (much better than "4th of July" or "Stupice").

For my tastiest of purposes, I am doubling down on "Jersey Boy" next year. This is the second year in the row it has been my favorite eating tomato and the second year in a row it has delivered fruit almost a week earlier than "Big Beef".

(it won't out-produce "Big Beef", but then, what does?)

Good points.

Some of this year's dwarf project 'maters. Most, but not all.

Nice variety, Shrinkwrap! What are some of the names? Are these all official releases, or are you still working on some of the ones in development?

[QUOTE=ddsack;742512]Nice variety, Shrinkwrap! What are some of the names? Are these all official releases, or are you still working on some of the ones in development?[/QUOTE]

These are official releases. I don't have the hutzpah for the heavy lifting!. I'll add some names as I can. I can't seem to keep up.

WeI know the pictures include

Awesome
Brandy Fred
Dwarf Blazing Beauty
Loxton Lad
Rosella Crimson
New Big Dwarf[I][/I]
Malee Rose

Might also include
Adelaide Festival
Rosella Purple

Sweet Sue and Golden Gypsy seem the latest.

I think these last two are Golden Gypsy.
All from seedlings from my April 7th post on this thread.
Some of these I picked just "blushing" and not ripe.

A clarification:

The Taz's I harvested were on the small side. And most of the green fruit I see on the potted Taz are in the six to seven oz size. But, the Taz I planted in the ground has several good-sized fruit in the 8-12 oz range.

The potted plant appears to have smaller, earlier fruit.

Now that the only Project grow-outs I'm still working on are the paste lines, I decided to add some of the earlier released slicers. Nothing blushing yet, but plenty of fruit set on most.

I have six Dwarfs (two Sleeping Lady, two Arctic Rose, one Tastywine and one Golden Gypsy) planted in the same amount of space I would normally give to two indeterminent plants. Each has a 6' bamboo stake next to it for the minimal support the Dwarfs seem to need.

If all goes well this year, I'm seeing more Dwarf Project varieties in my future garden plans.




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Some names.