Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
October 30, 2017 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,124
|
Micro-dwarfs with fruit larger than 2 oz.?
I made a post this past summer about "Linda" -- a basket tomato from Ukraine. I would call this a near micro -- growing to a max of about 15" (although sprawling a bit). Nevertheless, a very small plant. I put two of these in a 12" hanging basket and they did great, producing a few fruit of nearly 4 oz (most 2-3 oz). I ripped out one plant and cut the other back nearly to the soil, and it regenerated, making a good run for me with some nice "fall tomatoes." I'm also going to plant a couple to grow under lights, but I'll probably have to "top" the plant due to lack of headroom.
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ighlight=Linda At least from my experience, that's quite a tomato from a plant so small. Patio F1 produces 3-4 oz fruit in large numbers, but it is much larger plant. Are there others that produce relatively large fruit from near-micro plants? There is also a pink version of Linda that I'm going to try next season, but whether it will produce large fruit like Linda red remains to be seen. -Greatgardens Last edited by Greatgardens; October 31, 2017 at 06:34 AM. |
October 30, 2017 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
|
You might ask dfollet (Dan). I grew out some of his crosses, and a few did make larger fruit, but I did not keep the seeds, because I wanted cherry-sized fruit. So such a thing does exist.
|
November 1, 2017 | #3 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Utah
Posts: 693
|
Quote:
I missed your original 'Linda' post. One of the things I am most interested in finding is a micro with 'tomato-size' fruit, rather than 'cherry-size'. I had one that was about 13" in a 6" pot and had fruit that ranged from 3 oz to 6 oz. - real tomato size. The down-side was that there was not a mature seed between all the fruit from that plant - Go figure. I've got several growing right now that have fruit from mega-blossoms that look like they will be well over 4 oz and and the plant stay under 12". It's the first time I've seen mega-blossoms on micros. Four out of eight F3 plants from a one of the crosses had them. It is too early to know how large the regular single-blossom fruits on those plants will be. I have my fingers crossed. I keep hoping someone will find a large one. |
|
November 1, 2017 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
|
I have a Follett chocolate cherry that is larger than most cherries
but not quite as large as you want. Growing a few out this winter. I'm content with the size and great taste as is. Yet would welcome a larger size. The problem with semi-determinate micros like Linda is the wide sprawl. I like my Winter grows to behave, stay upright and compact without pruning. Last April first I attached a store bought sleeve of Cumato to one of Dan's micros. For some reason I had second thoughts about posting, or got busy and forgot...when I come across that pic in my photo file every now and then, I fool myself for a sec, lol. (5 big chocolates on that tiny plant, ) ....would be nice and not impossible me thinks. Cross mine with Linda....ten yrs later might have something. |
November 2, 2017 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,124
|
That's a cute story about the Cumatos! That long-term development process is a bummer for me. I'm almost 73, so I now think in terms of what can be done with F1 types. But a nice stable line would be great. Hope Dan's experiments bear fruit (and seeds)!
|
November 2, 2017 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
|
I'm sure it exists, we just need to find it. 3oz is a good size but
2-2.5 is still a decent slicer. Well, it does exist, as ColeRobbie found it. No seed, I bet Dan finds one. Like I mentioned, many seeds suppliers have some listed but they all seem to sprawl, go wide, or need the room to trail down. I keep coming across this pic of PatioPrincess but the copy says 18-24" and 4-5oz fruit. Seems more like 12-14" and 1-2oz fruit. Typical bad info. http://www.reimerseeds.com/patio-princess-tomato.aspx |
November 2, 2017 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 211
|
I've been growing indoor windowsill tomatoes for a while now. The largest fruits have been on the taller 18inch plants. Megabyte/Megabite, 506 Dwarf Bush Early, and Snow Fairy are all about 3oz. But I have learned that larger fruits on small plants mean they real really good support!
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|