Finally! The garden may be long gone for 2023, but my summary blog posts took some time to complete. The following information closes the door on my tomato reports. Here is the final summary update, focusing upon the dwarf varieties from the Dwarf Tomato Project that were grown in the Veterans Healing Farm greenhouse. As with my last update, pictures will be scarce - I took some videos, but not pictures of individual plants or tomatoes. I will be as descriptive as possible.
NOTE - all plants are from Victory Seed Company packet seeds unless otherwise noted.
Dwarf Sweet Sue - This is exactly what Dwarf Sweet Sue is supposed to be - loads of medium sized nearly round bright yellow tomatoes with a pink blush as they mature. Superb flavor. This is superior to the plant I grew in my back yard, and is a standard for the variety. Seed saved as T23-72.
Dwarf Irma's Highland - T22-31 - One of the true tomato machines in the greenhouse, it was a prolific producer of chocolate colored cherry tomatoes with a nice mild, balanced flavor. It is on the tall side for dwarfs, behaving nearly like an indeterminate, due to Mexico Midget in its blood. Seed saved as T23-73.
Dwarf Firebird Sweet - I just love this variety and it did very well in the greenhouse. The medium sized pink tomatoes were heavily striped with green and gold - the deep crimson flesh was delicious. The Beauty family just kept giving and giving to our project! Seed saved as T23-74.
Dwarf Elsie's Fancy - A sister tomato to Dwarf Walter’s Fancy (Walter and Elsie Gibbs are my maternal grandparents), the heavily variegated potato leaf plant produced a heavy yield of medium sized bright true yellow tomatoes (vs Walter’s ivory fruit). Flavor was excellent. Seed saved as T23-75.
Dwarf Purple Heart (Fruition Seeds packet) - It is a shame that both Dwarf Purple Heart plant (two sources) demonstrated a high susceptibility to foliage disease in the greenhouse. Before meeting its demise, it produced a heavy yield of medium to large strongly heart shaped purple fruit with delicious flavor. Seed saved as T23-76
Dwarf Choemato - The plant struggled. Some medium oblate yellow/red streaked tomatoes were produced, but I didn’t manage to get any for seed saving before the plant was pulled. The tomato seemed to have fusarium wilt. I did save seeds from this from the plant I had in my back yard.
Dwarf Eagle Smiley - T21-51 - Though this plant nearly took over the greenhouse with its sprawling nature and extreme productivity (and delicious flavor), the color was an unexpected ivory, rather than bright yellow. We may have a new selection to work on and release. Justin, my friend who did most of the work on Eagle Smiley, has some of the ivory fruited seed to work with. Seed saved as T23-78.
Dwarf Snakebite - This plant was not in a great location and struggled mightily with disease, but did manage to produce some decent medium sized pink tomatoes. It has been much better in different seasons and locations. Seed saved as T23-79.
Dwarf Parfait - The plant seemed like it would never catch on, but it eventually thrived, producing large green fruit of surprising size - when cut, showed an orange core - with superb flavor. This is definitely a unique tomato deserving to be more widely grown, with a color tending to Uluru Ochre, but with more green. The tomatoes are nearly heart shaped. Seed saved as T23-80.
Dwarf Russian Swirl - It has been years since I’ve grown this, and it really surprised me with its productivity, earliness and beauty - smooth medium sized or larger oblate yellow tomatoes with generous red swirling. I loved it - more people need to know how excellent this is. Seed saved as T23-81.
Lucky Swirl (Fruition Seeds packet) - This plant struggled mightily with fusarium, early blight and possibly collar rot. Though some large yellow/red swirled tomatoes were produced, I didn’t manage to harvest any prior to plant death - so didn’t save seeds. I did get saved seeds from the Victory seed source (reported later in this blog).
Dwarf Idaho Gem - What a surprise - this plant (a substitute for one that died due to collar rot) produced large pale green (clear skin, green flesh) tasty tomatoes, rather than the hoped for bright yellow. It needs some more selection work (Victory was notified of my surprising result). Seed saved as T23-83.
Dwarf Mahogany - I planted a replacement plant, as the original came down with collar rot - was rerooted and grew well in my back yard garden. The plant in the greenhouse produced some tomatoes, but I didn’t manage to harvest any for seed saving.
Dwarf Langston - #7592 - This was a late replacement for a pulled plant. Though it grew well and produced tomatoes, I didn’t manage to get any from the plant for seed saving prior to the end of the season. I did grow it successfully in my back yard garden, and have saved seeds from that.
Dwarf Shimmering Beauty - #7758 - This was a greenhouse replant, replacing one that died. The medium to medium large tomatoes were light and dark green striped, with green flesh and a swirl of pink inside - it seems like it is ready to be released as a new variety - joining its other colorful relatives from the Beauty family. Seed saved as T23-86.
Maralinga - This replant (replacing one that died of collar rot) did great - and produced an excellent yield of delicious oblate chocolate colored tomatoes. It is one of those many varieties from our project that deserve to be more widely known and grown. I like it far better than the more popular Tasmanian Chocolate, which has the same coloring. Seed saved as T23-87.
BrandyFred - I never really paid enough attention to this one, but wow - it was impressive! Heavy yield of medium to large oblate purple fruit that were delicious. Yet another DTP variety deserving more attention. Seed saved as T23-88.
Banksia Queen - I finally got around to growing this one - I was part of the development team on this early on. The plant is on the tall side - the yield is very good, tomatoes medium to large, oblate, often a bit irregular - bright yellow with nearly white interior, just delicious - a nice hint of tartness. Seed saved as T23-89.
Coorong Pink - This is simply a very nice, very good tomato - high yield of smooth, medium sized pink fruit with an excellent, balanced flavor. Certainly deserves more attention. Seed saved as T23-90.
Dwarf Sarah's Red - This is my first time growing it in some years. I expected slightly larger tomatoes, but for those looking for a scarlet red saladette type, this fits the bill - yield is heavy and flavor is pleasant. Seed saved as T23-91.
Chocolate Lightning - I love this variety but it can be cranky with productivity. I found it’s favorite home - in the ground in the greenhouse! It was a tomato machine, with lots of gorgeous chocolate medium sized tomatoes with greenish gold stripes, and a deep crimson interior. Flavor excellent. Bravo for Chocolate Lightning this year! Seed saved as T23-92.
Dwarf Hannah's Prize - This was one of the few misfires/surprises in the greenhouse. Rather than large red oblate fruit, the tomatoes were gorgeous - scarlet red with fine, jagged golden stripes - with excellent flavor. It resembled Dwarf Beauty King in color. I think it deserves to be stabilized and released - perhaps called Dwarf Hannah’s Stripes? Anyone want to work on it? Seed saved as T23-93.
Dwarf Pink Livijia - Though a bit overwhelmed in its location by the neighboring indeterminate plant, it did quite well and produced tasty oblate medium sized pink tomatoes. I suspect that this is an underrated variety with great promise. Seed saved as T23-94.
Adelaide Festival - This plant produced an abundant crop of medium to medium large oblate purple tomatoes with greenish stripes. The flavor was excellent. I didn’t manage to get a ripe fruit for seed saving before all were distributed, and the plant pulled.
Dwarf Goldfinch - This plant was heavily shaded. The few tomatoes that were produced were of an incorrect color (scarlet red). I didn’t save any seed, but wish to regrow this highly regarded variety soon.
Dwarf Beauty King - This variety, like Chocolate Lightning (same family) can be a bit skimpy with yield in some seasons. It clearly loved the greenhouse conditions, as it produced its medium to medium large, smooth, scarlet tomatoes with gold stripes and superb flavor prolifically! Seed saved as T23-97.
Dwarf Black Angus - This was one of the few disappointments in the greenhouse. Rather than the hoped for medium large purple tomatoes, the plant produced small to medium oval pink tomatoes with ho hum flavor. A bit more work is needed to cull out some misfires in the seed, and I alerted Victory to this. Seed saved as T23-98.
Dwarf Golden Tipsy - This tomato has been renamed - it was formerly known as Dwarf Golden Gypsy. It did great in the greenhouse, producing delicious medium sized bright yellow tomatoes with pale yellow flesh, full flavored with a hint of tartness. This is simply a superb variety. Seed saved as T23-99.
Loxton Lass - Similar to sister tomato Loxton Lad, this has the most interesting growth habit - very short, lots of blossoms, then fills out over time. Medium orange fruit were prolifically produced - flavor quite nice, on the sweet side. I hoped to see a clear distinction between Lass and Lad, but that was not clearly accomplished. Seed saved as T23-100.
Dwarf Purple Heart - This plant performed just as the Fruition sample - high yield, early production, medium to large purple hearts - and early demise due to extreme foliage disease issues. Seed saved as T23-101.
Lucky Swirl - I suspect that this variety doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves, but for those wanting a productive large fruited, sweet tasting yellow/red bicolor, this is excellent. I did quite well in the greenhouse. Seed saved as T23-102.
TastyWine - The plant did well - healthy, good yields good flavor - a medium sized oblate pink. I would have liked to see larger fruit size - perhaps it needs a bit more selection work. Victory was notified. Seed saved as T23-103.
Wilpena - My first experience growing this variety was a very positive one. The potato leaf plant produced a good yield of medium to large tasty oblate scarlet red tomatoes. Seed saved as T23-104.
Summer Sunrise - I love this variety! The potato leaf plant produced lots of medium or larger smooth, oblate bright yellow tomatoes with a hint of pink blossom end blush. Flavor is outstanding. Seed saved as T23-105.
Summertime Green - This is quite a distinct dwarf, with dense, heavy growth, late fruit set, with tomatoes well embedded into the plant. The tomatoes are quite large, green in and out, with superb flavor and excellent productivity. This was one of our first project releases, and still one of the best - it seems Dwarf Emerald Giant gets more attention, perhaps because it is potato leaf. Seed saved as T23-106.
Rosella Purple - One of the most popular dwarfs, Rosella Purple did quite well, with a good yield of medium sized purple tomatoes with great flavor - and the typical few misshapen fruit. Seed saved as T23-107.
Dwarf Blazing Beauty - Though this produced very well and tasted great, the color was a bit more pale orange than I recall when it was in development. A bit of selection may be necessary by Victory to bring this back to the original release form. The flavor has delightful tartness. Seed saved as T23-108.
Dwarf Grinch - I need to grow this tomato more often. Fruit size is medium to large, smooth and green (clear skin) with green flesh when ripe and a hint of pink in the center. The flavor is excellent. This is a sister tomato to Dwarf Goldfinch. Seed saved as T23-109.
Saucy Mary - This got my vote as tomato machine of the greenhouse. The healthy plant produced a profusion of medium sized or larger plum shaped (oval) smooth tomatoes that were striped in varying shades of green and gold, with green flesh. I don’t know how popular this is, but it is just a great variety. Sue’s Aunt Mary would be so proud of new namesake tomato! Seed saved as T23-110.
Dwarf Wild Spudleaf - This is one of my go-to varieties for productivity and flavor. The attractive potato leaf plant produced lots of medium sized smooth delicious purple tomatoes. Seed saved as T23-111.
Dwarf Perfect Harmony - This is a sister tomato to the scarlet Dwarf Harmonic Convergence. The smooth medium orange tomatoes are delicious with a hint of tartness. The variety did well in the greenhouse. Seed saved as T23-112.
Rosella Crimson - T20-58 - Though this plant produced a heavy yield of medium to medium large pink tomatoes, some of irregular shape, of excellent flavor, I didn’t manage to harvest a fruit for seed saving before the plant was pulled.
Dwarf Suz's Beauty - If there is a DTP variety deserving to be more widely grown and known, it is this one. The plant did extremely well in the greenhouse, producing a heavy yield of medium sized yellow tomatoes with heavy red swirling. The flavor is excellent. This is yet another winner from the diverse Beauty family. Seed saved as T23-114.
Rosella Crimson - This is one of our original releases, and one of the varieties that proved our concept of excellent tomatoes on short plants. I always thought that this variety, when happy, resembles Brandywine in flavor. It also can struggle a bit with foliage disease. It did reasonably well in the greenhouse. Seed saved as T23-115.
Kodiak King - This one is for those that like their tomatoes really big - the scarlet tomatoes can reach over one pound, with a nice balanced flavor. It did quite well in the greenhouse. Seed saved as T23-116.
Sweet Scarlet Dwarf - Always one of my favorites from our project, it is also on the late side. The medium to medium large oblate scarlet tomatoes have very full, rich flavor, with a refreshing hint of tartness. This is one of the stars of our project. Seed saved as T23-117.
Willa's Cariboo Rose - The productivity of this somewhat obscure release from our project just blew me away. The medium sized pink tomatoes formed in big clusters. Flavor is fine - balanced toward the sweet side. This is one impressive DTP variety. Seed saved as T23-118.
Dwarf Walter's Fancy - Gorgeous plant with dark green foliage with white variegation on the foliage and stems. It really loved growing in the greenhouse, producing a high yield of medium sized oblate ivory tomatoes of excellent taste. Seed saved as T23-119.
Dwarf Zoe's Sweet - It was interesting to see how the chartreuse leaf gene “stretches” the plant upward, making it behave like a short indeterminate type. The pale green leaves were lovely and distinct, and the tomatoes were oblate, medium to large and nice and sweet - very much like one of its parents, Mortgage Lifter. Seed saved as T23-120.
Loxton Lad - This variety really pushes out the blossom clusters early, when the plant is quite short - yet continues on throughout the season. The medium sized orange tomatoes are very tasty - this is an underrated variety. Seed saved as T23-121.
Dwarf Wild Fred - Grew as hoped for, producing medum to medium large oblate purple tomatoes with excellent flavor. Seed saved as T23-122.
Dwarf Choemato X Dwarf Walter's Fancy F1 - creation of the Chewy family - new cross - I did a few crossing demos for my VHF tomato team. For this one, I took pollen from Dwarf Walter’s Fancy and applied it to a flower from Dwarf Choemato. The cross appeared to take - a tomato formed, which was allowed to ripen, and seed was saved. We will call this the Chewy family. The best possible outcome would be a potato leaf, variegated leaf dwarf with yellow/red bicolored delicious tomatoes. When the hybrid seed is grown out, it will be a potato leaf, green leaf dwarf with solid yellow tomatoes - that’s my guess. I will be looking for volunteers to explore this new family. Seed saved as T23-123.
Dwarf Blazing Beauty X Dwarf Walter's Fancy F1 - creation of the Orangey family - new cross - My second demo cross hopefully created what I will call the Orangey family. The best possible outcome would be potato leaf, variegated leaf dwarfs with orange, tasty tomatoes. When the hybrid seed is grown out, it will be a potato leaf, green leaf dwarf with orange tomatoes - that’s my guess. I will be looking for volunteers to explore this new family. Seed saved as T23-124.
Dwarf Zoe's Sweet X Dwarf Walter's Fancy F1 - creation of the Zoe family - new cross - My third demo cross hopefully created what I will call the Zoe family. The best possible outcome would be variegated chartreuse leaf, variegated leaf, dwarfs with an array of possible colors - I expect pink, white and yellow at least - with good size and excellent flavor. When the hybrid is grown out, it will be a potato leaf, normal dark green leaf dwarf with pink tomatoes - that’s my guess. This will be the easiest to prove that the cross took. I will be looking for volunteers to explore this interesting new family. Seed saved as T23-125.
BrandyFred X Polish F1 - creation of the Brandy family - new cross - My fourth demo cross hopefully created what I will call the Brandy family. I am not certain that I harvested the fruit that contains the hybrid seeds, but it will be easy to find out. The best possible outcome would be a potato leaf dwarf with excellent yields of large pink or purple tomatoes with superb flavor. When the hybrid is grown out, if I chose the correct fruit, the result will be indeterminate potato leaf plants with pink tomatoes. I will be looking for volunteers to explore this new family - the focus on this will be flavor. Seed saved as T23-126.
And so - that’s it. All of my 2023 garden results summaries are published. As to what’s next - first, catalog in samples of seeds recently received. Then, start the process of fulfilling seed requests that are sitting in my Google seed request folder. A big job then follows that - organizing my seed collection, which will also involve tossing any seed samples that are older than 20 years (I may revisit this and move the date up to 15 years). Once all that is done - then the process of writing the Dwarf Tomato Project book begins!
