Tiny Dwarfs :)

[tgplp]

Hi all!! I want to do a crossing project but don't have much room. This is just for fun, all I care is that in a few years I will have a tiny dwarf I can give a name and call my own. I want to get a dwarf under 12'' tall. It would be super cool to get a small dwarf with striped fruit, or sungold type fruit, or maybe even black cherry type fruit. I understand I probably won't see any dwarfs in the F1, but when I grow out the F2 seeds, can I discard any "tall" seedlings that don 't look like dwarfs?

Here are the dwarfs I will use:
Micro Tom
Minibelle
Chibbikko
Tiny Tim
Anmore Treasures
Hahms Gelbe Topftomate

Here are the "normal " sized toms I will use:
Black Cherry
Green Zebra
SuperSweet 100
Stupice
Sungold
Sweetgold
Gardener's Delight

Any tips/ ideas?

Thanks!
Taryn

[oneoftheearls]

idea #1

when you get Black Cherry Dwarf....send me some seeds

[summerhawk]

I agree with oneoftheearls!!!

Black Cherry Dwarf

Sounds like that would be a good project! Good luck!

[tgplp]

thanks! I'll be sure to send you guys some seeds.

Taryn

[jcm05]

Taryn,
I have grown most of those dwarves you listed and none of them have decent flavor IMO. I've said it before that the only "mini" dwarf that I've grown with decent flavor was Hardin's Miniature. It's been around for years, gets no taller than 12-14 inches for me in a 1 gallon container, grows great on an office windowsill and produces fairly well. I can send you some if you want.

I agree that you want to use parents with excellent flavor so avoid green zebra. Of those you listed I would use black cherry or sungold. If striped fruit are something you are still considering, maybe use one of Brad Gates' varieties as a parent.

Assuming you get a good cross, you should certainly see dwarf plants in the F2 progeny. At that point you can discard seedlings that aren't dwarf.

Good luck and be sure to share your progress.

[tgplp]

Yeah, the point of my 'experiment' is to get windowsill dwarfs with interesting colored, shaped and tasty tomatoes. Is Berkely Tie Dye heart a good flavored variety? The thing is, it is probably to big. is it possible that I can get cherry tomatoes that have Berkely Tie Dye Heart's color, pattern, and flavor, but in a smaller size on a dwarf?

The only progress so far is Micro Tom has at least 12 flower buds on him! ;D of course, that won't matter unless another parent has flowers on it. I can't wait! The first tomato flowers of the season.

Is Micro Tom open pollinated I'm running out of Micro Tom seeds, so if i could save seeds from the tomatoes that will come from the flowers, that would be great.

Taryn

[PVP]

Mar 19, 2011 15:10:12 GMT -5 tgplp said:

Yeah, the point of my 'experiment' is to get windowsill dwarfs with interesting colored, shaped and tasty tomatoes.

Is Berkely Tie Dye heart a good flavored variety?

The thing is, it is probably to big. Is it possible that I can get cherry tomatoes that have Berkely Tie Dye Heart's color, pattern, and flavor, but in a smaller size on a dwarf?

Is Micro Tom open pollinated?

As pointed out here and at another tomato board where you discussed the same project, you may be disappointed when trying to develop really great tasting dwarf tomatoes.

Yes, Berkeley Tie Dye Heart is a fairly good tasting variety.

Yes, it's possible to get a dwarf variety with the gs, skin stripe patterns similar to Berkeley Tie Dye in a smaller fruited, dwarf type tomato. Use Rambling Red Stripe, which is a bird nest tumbling type specifically for small, hanging containers.

Yes, Micro Tom is open pollinated, as is Micro Gemma (the yellow sister). Unfortunately, they both taste like crap.

[nolika]

I love the look of Micro Tom and always have lots of them as ornamental plants, I do eat the fruits but the flavor is not outstanding (well, not even close).
I didn't know it had a yellow sister, would sure like to get my hands on that Micro Gemma, those two would look great in a flower pot together.

I plant many dwarf and sprawling toms on my balcony each year and would sure love to see someone breed another good one (Gartenperle is my favorite so far)...

Good luck, Taryn and do keep us posted. Oh, and pics, don't forget to post pics!!!

[jcm05]

Mar 20, 2011 13:12:46 GMT -5 nolika said:

I didn't know it had a yellow sister, would sure like to get my hands on that Micro Gemma, those two would look great in a flower pot together.

I have micro gemma seeds. It is a complete spitter but you are welcome to some if you'd like.

[nolika]

I would LOVE to have some of these spitters ;D
Sending a PM