I love the new dwarfs! - Page 4

ChrisK · June 8, 2013

What are disease experiences like with the dwarfs? I have a Sleeping lady and Dwf Wild Fred already going down to something.

chalstonsc · June 8, 2013

Chris,
My experience is that all eight dwarf project varieties I have grown over two years are not particularly resistant, if not prone, to disease. All of mine are well on their way down, but so is most everything else. Pretty much on schedule around here, except fewer tomatoes due to the late and cooler than usual Spring.

**Lee** · June 8, 2013

Summertime Gold and Sean's Yellow Dwarf seem to be more tolerant
of the diseases than the others I've grown.

Tasmanian Chocolate was one of the worst, but set fruit early and often
to make up for it.

As the goal was big, flavorful fruit, we didn't do much selection for disease tolerance. But the feedback is great to know what to look for.

Lee

**nctomatoman** · June 8, 2013

Having grown hundreds of them over the years as we develop them, there are a few generalities - perhaps (since there are so many variables season to season, garden to garden, etc)...

No dwarf has issues like some indeterminates that I've grown - Green Zebra, Silvery Fir Tree, Southern Night, Yellow Pear - I can barely get yields from any of them without them going down. I've had very, very few dwarfs go down prior to getting at least a few fruit, and most do quite well.

Because the foliage on them is just so dense, any presence of infecting agents, especially during hot and humid weather, can cause issues. Best thing to do is keep good air circulation around them - I am also wondering if doing some careful pruning of some of the inner foliage to open up the center of the plant a bit could help.

It would take lots of growing of each them various ways in different regions during different seasons to start to make some definitive conclusions, however....

Riceloft · June 9, 2013

I did not have any disease issues with Yukon Quest or Iditarod Red last season.

So far this year, none of the varieties I'm growing are showing signs of disease either, but its very early.

All varieties have set fruit except Sweet Sue. In fact, of all the tomatoes I'm growing, only Sweet Sue and Winsall are fruit-less. Each have dropped a set of trusses and have another nearing the opening stage. Its been pretty mild the last couple weeks so that could be a factor. Maybe Sweet Sue and Winsall like a little more heat and/or humidity.

For reference I'm growing these dwarfs:

Sweet Sue x2
Yukon Quest x2
Iditarod Red
Serendipity Cherry F7 x2
Dwarf Golden Heart F8 x4
Tasmanian Chocolate x2
Rosella Purple x2

ddsack · June 9, 2013

I have had no unusual disease experiences with dwarfs from the dwarf project growouts. Given good growing conditions, the've gone to the end of the season in good shape. I've had virtually no issues with my potted plants. The diseased plants were those in subprime garden locations, with sandy poor soil, not enough fert and drying out with too little watering, none of the big indets in those locations did well either.

efisakov · June 9, 2013

Craig, tomatoes are self pollinating (mostly), did you or anyone else try to grow Dwarfs under the fluorescent lamp during winter? I love my black tomatoes during the summer and fall, I miss having them at winter or spring.

NickD · June 9, 2013

Raybo grew several of the project dwarfs (along with a few other types) indoors under an HID light a couple of years ago. Here's the thread, which he updated throughout the winter:

Raybo's InnTainer 2011/12 Winter Indoor Tomato Project - Year #2 (pics)

He seemed to have good success with it, I think I might give it a try this winter... I miss the BLTs!

Nick

efisakov · June 9, 2013

thank you, Nick,

Heritage · July 4, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by akgardengirl

Thanks for letting me know about the points Steve. Last year Ted finally got to see what I was talking about. I actually selected for those points and taste of course! I thought for awhile that Loxton Lass would beat them all since it was the first to have buds/flowers but it has stalled!
Sue

Sue, just an update on the Iditarod Red points. I couldn't determine what influenced the "pointyness" - they appeared (apparently) randomly on most plants. I assume it was an environmental thing? Maybe temp or fertilizer.

On a side note, the IR fruit was extremely flavorful this year - I thought last year it was just a nice, early red, similar in flavor to Moravsky Div. This year it was a standout. Also, I picked one pink fruit today (clear epidermis) so will plant it right back to see if it grows true. Hopefully, will soon have an "Iditarod Pink" to add to the collection

Steve

thefluffybunny · July 4, 2013

Just wanted to thank everyone involved in the dwarf project.

I labored at this for several years back in the late 80s early 90s using Tiny Tim a parent. Results were okay, but not what I was looking for, However it sounds like this project has been very successful, so I can appreciate all the effort that has gone and continues to go into the project. Thanks to all involved.

I have recommended several people try the varieties out. They sound wonderful.

thefluffybunny · July 4, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

Having grown hundreds of them over the years as we develop them, there are a few generalities - perhaps (since there are so many variables season to season, garden to garden, etc)...

No dwarf has issues like some indeterminates that I've grown - Green Zebra, Silvery Fir Tree, Southern Night, Yellow Pear - I can barely get yields from any of them without them going down. I've had very, very few dwarfs go down prior to getting at least a few fruit, and most do quite well.

Because the foliage on them is just so dense, any presence of infecting agents, especially during hot and humid weather, can cause issues. Best thing to do is keep good air circulation around them - I am also wondering if doing some careful pruning of some of the inner foliage to open up the center of the plant a bit could help.

It would take lots of growing of each them various ways in different regions during different seasons to start to make some definitive conclusions, however....

I grow several fruits that are highly susceptible to brown rot / grey mold etc. Since I am a home grower, for my own consumption I can use remedies that are not practical for commercial purposed.

One of simplest and effective measures I take is to simply use a box fan to increase air circulation on susceptible varieties.

As you can see from the photos I have a fairly dense planting and limited sunlight with poor air circulation. The fan works very well drying the plants off in the morning as the sun does not reach them until afternoon.

Tomatoes2009.jpg

TomatoHedgeRow.jpg

SharonRossy · July 5, 2013

I'm growing Tasmanian chocolate not from the grow out project. Got the seeds from Tatiana. Finally starting flowers and so far healthy. Craig, I agree with you about Green Zebra. After several years of growing it, I gave up. It always had BER or something. Just wasn't worth the effort.

ScottinAtlanta · July 7, 2013

None of my dwarfs have succumbed to any disease - or even shown any signs of yellowing at all. They seem very hearty - Iditarod Red, Beryl Beauty, Dwarf Wild Fred, LGS.

Is Dwarf Beryl Beauty the tallest of the dwarfs? It has reached 5 feet for me, while the others are four feet and under.

**nctomatoman** · July 7, 2013

Beryl Beauty is a Sneezy - they tend to be on the taller side.

June 8, 2013	#46
ChrisK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,448	What are disease experiences like with the dwarfs? I have a Sleeping lady and Dwf Wild Fred already going down to something. __________________ Blog: chriskafer.wordpress.com Ignorance more frequently begets knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science. --Charles Darwin

June 8, 2013	#48
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Summertime Gold and Sean's Yellow Dwarf seem to be more tolerant of the diseases than the others I've grown. Tasmanian Chocolate was one of the worst, but set fruit early and often to make up for it. As the goal was big, flavorful fruit, we didn't do much selection for disease tolerance. But the feedback is great to know what to look for. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

June 8, 2013	#49
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Having grown hundreds of them over the years as we develop them, there are a few generalities - perhaps (since there are so many variables season to season, garden to garden, etc)... No dwarf has issues like some indeterminates that I've grown - Green Zebra, Silvery Fir Tree, Southern Night, Yellow Pear - I can barely get yields from any of them without them going down. I've had very, very few dwarfs go down prior to getting at least a few fruit, and most do quite well. Because the foliage on them is just so dense, any presence of infecting agents, especially during hot and humid weather, can cause issues. Best thing to do is keep good air circulation around them - I am also wondering if doing some careful pruning of some of the inner foliage to open up the center of the plant a bit could help. It would take lots of growing of each them various ways in different regions during different seasons to start to make some definitive conclusions, however.... __________________ Craig

June 9, 2013	#51
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,222	I have had no unusual disease experiences with dwarfs from the dwarf project growouts. Given good growing conditions, the've gone to the end of the season in good shape. I've had virtually no issues with my potted plants. The diseased plants were those in subprime garden locations, with sandy poor soil, not enough fert and drying out with too little watering, none of the big indets in those locations did well either. __________________ Dee **************

June 9, 2013	#52
efisakov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ, zone 7 Posts: 3,162	Craig, tomatoes are self pollinating (mostly), did you or anyone else try to grow Dwarfs under the fluorescent lamp during winter? I love my black tomatoes during the summer and fall, I miss having them at winter or spring. __________________ Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!”

June 8, 2013	#47
chalstonsc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: sc Posts: 339	Chris, My experience is that all eight dwarf project varieties I have grown over two years are not particularly resistant, if not prone, to disease. All of mine are well on their way down, but so is most everything else. Pretty much on schedule around here, except fewer tomatoes due to the late and cooler than usual Spring.

June 9, 2013	#50
Riceloft Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Parma, Ohio (6a) Posts: 299	I did not have any disease issues with Yukon Quest or Iditarod Red last season. So far this year, none of the varieties I'm growing are showing signs of disease either, but its very early. All varieties have set fruit except Sweet Sue. In fact, of all the tomatoes I'm growing, only Sweet Sue and Winsall are fruit-less. Each have dropped a set of trusses and have another nearing the opening stage. Its been pretty mild the last couple weeks so that could be a factor. Maybe Sweet Sue and Winsall like a little more heat and/or humidity. For reference I'm growing these dwarfs: Sweet Sue x2 Yukon Quest x2 Iditarod Red Serendipity Cherry F7 x2 Dwarf Golden Heart F8 x4 Tasmanian Chocolate x2 Rosella Purple x2

June 9, 2013	#53
NickD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Western Oregon Posts: 11	Raybo grew several of the project dwarfs (along with a few other types) indoors under an HID light a couple of years ago. Here's the thread, which he updated throughout the winter: Raybo's InnTainer 2011/12 Winter Indoor Tomato Project - Year #2 (pics) He seemed to have good success with it, I think I might give it a try this winter... I miss the BLTs! Nick

June 9, 2013	#54
efisakov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ, zone 7 Posts: 3,162	thank you, Nick, __________________ Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!”

July 4, 2013	#56
thefluffybunny Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: U.S. Posts: 22	Just wanted to thank everyone involved in the dwarf project. I labored at this for several years back in the late 80s early 90s using Tiny Tim a parent. Results were okay, but not what I was looking for, However it sounds like this project has been very successful, so I can appreciate all the effort that has gone and continues to go into the project. Thanks to all involved. I have recommended several people try the varieties out. They sound wonderful.

July 5, 2013	#58
SharonRossy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,140	I'm growing Tasmanian chocolate not from the grow out project. Got the seeds from Tatiana. Finally starting flowers and so far healthy. Craig, I agree with you about Green Zebra. After several years of growing it, I gave up. It always had BER or something. Just wasn't worth the effort.

July 7, 2013	#59
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	None of my dwarfs have succumbed to any disease - or even shown any signs of yellowing at all. They seem very hearty - Iditarod Red, Beryl Beauty, Dwarf Wild Fred, LGS. Is Dwarf Beryl Beauty the tallest of the dwarfs? It has reached 5 feet for me, while the others are four feet and under.