so who grows dwarf heirloom tomatoes?

[mopinko]

looking through the selection at http://www.victoryseeds.com/tomato_dwarf.html

my head is spinning a bit.
i have grown them for several years thanks to NRaleighLiberal.
i have a couple faves.
to be honest, i mostly grow them for my annual plant sale, where they are pretty popular for the many small and balcony gardens in the hood.
but i grow a few to get a little more variety out of my larger but still limited space.

which ones would you want to grow?

[Ohiogal]

1. I have never grown dwarf heirlooms

but we always try at least one new variety of tomato in the garden each year.

Last year, my husband got a new variety of seeds from the University of Florida, they are trying to develop a couple new varieties of tomato that taste like heirloom tomatoes. They asked for a $10 donation. They were asking home gardeners across the country to try them and then report back on how they did in your area. It was kinda fun. Ours both did well. What are your favorites? Where do you live? If I may ask.

[mopinko]

2. i am in chicago.

most of what i grow are descendants of the wonderful gift of a couple fistsfull of seed from NRaleighLiberal, before he was famous, when i started farming.
i knew very little about heirloom vegetables, and i got a big padded envelope full of education. just when i needed it, too.
he has supplemented my collection through thick and thin, and i owe him more than i can ever repay.

so i grow his cherokees, purple and green. i have a huge yellow tomato that he gave me, but i lost track of the name. so i just call it moah's yellow.
added lillian's yellow 2 years ago.
i have a couple nice italian imports for the big red ones.
and a random collection of dwarfs.

a few cherries that have started to naturalize.
tomatillos and ground cherries, too.

this years most important crop was seed, because gardening w my arm in a sling is and a bunch of untested new lights =disaster.

but i was told not to expect to have a season anyway (rotator cuff). so every step was a gift. and it turned out decent in the end.

tons more on my fb blog in my sig.
eta-virtual tour in videos is fun.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. What is "dwarf" about them? Plant? Tomato?

[mopinko]

4. the plant.

they will grow and produce in a 5 gallon bucket.
the fruits come in all sizes, w some rather large.

dont produce as much as a full size plant, but great for people w little space, or to sneak one more variety into a limited space.

[NutmegYankee]

5. I'm growing three types right now.

Under LED lights and indoors, but they are doing well.

The three are Adelaide Festival, Wherokowhai and Dwarf Crimson Sockeye. I'll report back on the taste.

[wiggs]

6. Not heirloom, but astonishing for ease and production: Lizzano. 5 gallon

bucket would be big enough for the 24" x 24" plant to produce many dozens, hundreds really. Early too.

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. The newly produced Dwarf growing tomatoes are from a project I've co-led for 13 years

Background is here

http://www.craiglehoullier.com/dwarf-tomato-breeding-project/

My co-leader in Australia has a web site too

https://www.dwarftomatoproject.net/

Our first releases were in 2010 - we now have 90 in catalogs - aiming for another 20 by the end of the year.

We've worked with four companies to do our releases - Victory Seeds, Tatiana's TOMATObase, Sample Seed Shop and Heritage Seed Market. Others are now jumping in big time - Fruition Seeds, Restoration Seeds.

My third book will be telling the story of how we did this project, coming out late this coming year.

[mopinko]

8. ladies and gentlemen, this is da man

just in case anyone has missed what a treasure we have here at du.
nrl has been my friend for many years, dating back to our time in the hot tub.
my farm would NOT EVEN be what it is today w/o him.

i had only the vaguest idea about heirloom veggies 6 years ago when i started. i had grown brandywines, w little success. i thought they were picky things that would only grow where they had developed.
i knew that he was a serious gardener, that he loved tomatoes, and that he was working on a book.
he told me, imma send you some seeds.
he sent me a big envelope that was an education.
i still grow a big ole yellow that he sent me that year. and his cherokees.

i am glad so many places are growing those drawfs, so i dont have to beg him for seeds every time i have a crappy year.

love you man. hope spring is going well for you.