I love the new dwarfs!

Tracydr · May 18, 2013

I just wanted to thank all those who have been instrumental in developing the dwarf varieties. I'm growing 6 different varieties and they are amazing! Easy to manage, tons of fruit and the fruit is wonderful, although so far I've only tasted Sleeping Lady.
I will be planting mostly dwarfs from now on except a few cherry varieties.
If you come up with something similar to Matt's Wild Cherry, black cherry and green doctors, I may only grow dwarfs.
In my climate the portability of 5 gallon containers is so helpful. I can bring them in if its too cold or too hot, greatly extending my season.
This will be a huge help in the fall. I can plant in pots and wait until its comfortably cool to put them out rather than trying to get seedlings through the 110 degree days in mid-August. I can also move them in if frost threatens early.
I was able to put three Sleeping Lady plants in pots and planted them last October. I brought them in when we had a week of hard freezes this January and now I've enjoyed a bunch of fruit earlier than ever before.
When I first heard of dwarf varieties they didn't make much sense to me, as I had in my mind the tiny varieties used for little pots. Once I learned more about them, they seemed perfect for our climate, since we basically have two very short seasons unless you can move pots indoors. I still had no idea how productive they would actually be.

**mdvpc** · May 18, 2013

I am sure others that were involved in the Project will post here, but glad you like them! The tomatoes in the photo on my avatar are 5 of the varieties.

Tracydr · May 18, 2013

I just got in from tying some of the plants up because I failed to put cages on them earlier. They are so loaded with tomatoes. I swear, one of them has more tomatoes than plant! I've never had any plant produce like this. I think the one that has the most is a Beryl Beauty.

SharonRossy · May 18, 2013

I am about to plant Tasmanian chocolate and Iditarod Red, and I can't wait. I bought seeds for next year as I only heard about the dwarf project late but I think I may completely become a total convert!
Sharon

amideutch · May 19, 2013

Quote:

I am about to plant Tasmanian chocolate and Iditarod Red

Grown both and excellent choices. Don't let the word "Dwarf" fool you. Yes the plants are small but more attention is needed in supporting the fruit trusses than you would find with indeterminates or determinates as these plants will load up with fruit and if it is not supported will break off. Photo's of Iditarod Red.

akgardengirl · May 19, 2013

The fruit looks to be much bigger than any of my Iditarod Reds. Mine is more of a saladette size. The plant is loaded!
Sue

amideutch · May 19, 2013

Quote:

The fruit looks to be much bigger than any of my Iditarod Reds. Mine is more of a saladette size. The plant is loaded!

My bad. Sue, you are right the plants in the pictures are Yukon Quest.

Ami

Cole_Robbie · May 19, 2013

I'm the only vendor at my farmer's market who sells dwarf tomato plants. Few people I meet know what they are, so we immediately have something to talk about. Most of my varieties are hybrids. I did have German Extreme Dwarf Bush this year and it looks to be doing well. Yukon Quest is now on my list for next year. Thank you for posting those pics.

Tracydr · May 19, 2013

One of my Summertime Greens is getting close to picking. I've never had GWR before, can't wait to taste. I'm a little worried that I won't pick them at the right time. It's so packed with fruit that I can hardly find them. The foliage is thick, too which makes it harder to check.
I love that these plants have such thick foliage. It really prevents sunburn, something that's a huge problem in AZ

COMPOSTER · May 19, 2013

You folks have me very excited about the dwarf tomatoes. Although I grow most of my vegetables in beds I love to have 10-12 pots of tomatoes and peppers on my deck. The dwarfs seem custom made for just this application. I'm growing Rosella Purple, Mr Snow and New big dwarf. Which one would you suggest I add next and why?

**Lee** · May 19, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracydr

One of my Summertime Greens is getting close to picking. I've never had GWR before, can't wait to taste. I'm a little worried that I won't pick them at the right time. It's so packed with fruit that I can hardly find them. The foliage is thick, too which makes it harder to check.
I love that these plants have such thick foliage. It really prevents sunburn, something that's a huge problem in AZ

Summertime Green looks like this:

Sometimes you'll notice a pink blush on the blossom end when fully ripe. You can also tell by gently feeling, as it's softer when ripe.
My personal favorite of all the GWR dwarves.

Lee

Riceloft · May 19, 2013

I grew Yukon Quest and Iditarod Red last year in 5 gallon containers. They were very productive. I'm in love with the growth habit. In a 8' long raised bed I've got 6 in a row (compared to squeezing 4 regular sized tomatoes in, against the advice of many!). This year I'm growing the following dwarves:

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

I somehow misplaced my Arctic Rose seeds otherwise I'd have 1-2 of those as well.

**nctomatoman** · May 19, 2013

They are easy to love (until they load down with fruit and are in grow bags in the middle of the driveway)....gorgeous plants, for sure.

Interest in them is growing (no pun intended) - I had all 17 released ones as seedlings this spring at the Farmers Market and sold loads of them - looking forward to people's impressions, but those who grew some last few years came back for many more this year.

ScottinAtlanta · May 20, 2013

Good threat, but isn't the word "dwarves", as in "I love the new dwarves?"

Qweniden · May 20, 2013

A couple of hopefully not overly stupid questions. I know that generally that a few people here are involved with this project but I don't really know anything about it.

1) What are the advantages of the dwarf plants? Container growing?
2) Are they typically determinate or indeterminate?
3) Where do people get the seeds?

May 18, 2013	#1
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I love the new dwarfs! I just wanted to thank all those who have been instrumental in developing the dwarf varieties. I'm growing 6 different varieties and they are amazing! Easy to manage, tons of fruit and the fruit is wonderful, although so far I've only tasted Sleeping Lady. I will be planting mostly dwarfs from now on except a few cherry varieties. If you come up with something similar to Matt's Wild Cherry, black cherry and green doctors, I may only grow dwarfs. In my climate the portability of 5 gallon containers is so helpful. I can bring them in if its too cold or too hot, greatly extending my season. This will be a huge help in the fall. I can plant in pots and wait until its comfortably cool to put them out rather than trying to get seedlings through the 110 degree days in mid-August. I can also move them in if frost threatens early. I was able to put three Sleeping Lady plants in pots and planted them last October. I brought them in when we had a week of hard freezes this January and now I've enjoyed a bunch of fruit earlier than ever before. When I first heard of dwarf varieties they didn't make much sense to me, as I had in my mind the tiny varieties used for little pots. Once I learned more about them, they seemed perfect for our climate, since we basically have two very short seasons unless you can move pots indoors. I still had no idea how productive they would actually be. Last edited by Tracydr; May 18, 2013 at 02:26 PM.

May 18, 2013	#2
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	I am sure others that were involved in the Project will post here, but glad you like them! The tomatoes in the photo on my avatar are 5 of the varieties. __________________ Michael

May 19, 2013	#13
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	They are easy to love (until they load down with fruit and are in grow bags in the middle of the driveway)....gorgeous plants, for sure. Interest in them is growing (no pun intended) - I had all 17 released ones as seedlings this spring at the Farmers Market and sold loads of them - looking forward to people's impressions, but those who grew some last few years came back for many more this year. __________________ Craig

May 18, 2013	#4
SharonRossy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,140	I am about to plant Tasmanian chocolate and Iditarod Red, and I can't wait. I bought seeds for next year as I only heard about the dwarf project late but I think I may completely become a total convert! Sharon

May 19, 2013	#6
akgardengirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anchorage, AK zone 3/4 Posts: 1,410	The fruit looks to be much bigger than any of my Iditarod Reds. Mine is more of a saladette size. The plant is loaded! Sue

May 19, 2013	#8
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I'm the only vendor at my farmer's market who sells dwarf tomato plants. Few people I meet know what they are, so we immediately have something to talk about. Most of my varieties are hybrids. I did have German Extreme Dwarf Bush this year and it looks to be doing well. Yukon Quest is now on my list for next year. Thank you for posting those pics.

May 19, 2013	#10
COMPOSTER Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Connecticut Posts: 252	You folks have me very excited about the dwarf tomatoes. Although I grow most of my vegetables in beds I love to have 10-12 pots of tomatoes and peppers on my deck. The dwarfs seem custom made for just this application. I'm growing Rosella Purple, Mr Snow and New big dwarf. Which one would you suggest I add next and why?

May 19, 2013	#12
Riceloft Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Parma, Ohio (6a) Posts: 299	I grew Yukon Quest and Iditarod Red last year in 5 gallon containers. They were very productive. I'm in love with the growth habit. In a 8' long raised bed I've got 6 in a row (compared to squeezing 4 regular sized tomatoes in, against the advice of many!). This year I'm growing the following dwarves: Yukon Quest (x2) Iditarod Red Sweet Sue (x2) Rosella Purple (x2) Sarandipity Cherry F7 (x2) Dwarf Golden Heart F8 (x4) Tasmanian Chocolate I somehow misplaced my Arctic Rose seeds otherwise I'd have 1-2 of those as well.

May 20, 2013	#14
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Good threat, but isn't the word "dwarves", as in "I love the new dwarves?"

May 20, 2013	#15
Qweniden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 267	A couple of hopefully not overly stupid questions. I know that generally that a few people here are involved with this project but I don't really know anything about it. 1) What are the advantages of the dwarf plants? Container growing? 2) Are they typically determinate or indeterminate? 3) Where do people get the seeds?