We teased the dwarf tomatoes in our farm tour video, so we're back to talk all about these little guys! We don't carry seeds in our catalog yet, but we're trialing quite a few varieties that we hope to stock for this fall. I have become a HUGE fan of dwarf tomatoes, so I'm excited to share these with you!
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0:31 WHAT & WHY
2:46 Plant Structure
4:56 Seed Starting
Let's start with the basics. Dwarf tomato varieties are super compact and resemble a little bush more than a typical tomato vine. The thick main stalk and tight foliage play to some advantages for us.
First, they don't require as much trellising or staking. When we're talking about 800 tomato plants, that saves us A LOT of time and labor.
Second, they can withstand wind and sun. The foliage isn't going all over, leaving the stalk or fruits to be sunburned. This summer is going to be a big test for us since temps can get pretty toasty out here.
Because of those things, these varieties are great for people in urban environments or with limited space. We're lucky to have a lot of room in our Ramona location, but our urban farm in San Diego is much smaller, and we have to be very intentional with every plant. Dwarf tomatoes are a great option for growing in containers or pots, meaning someone with a balcony or patio can enjoy the fruits of their labor. I believe that everyone can and should be able to grow some of your food, and that starts with me offering seeds that fit your environment.
Looking at the plant structure & anatomy some more, there are some things I want to highlight:
-The leaves are very tight together.
-It grows like a bush, shading the plant, fruit, and soil.
Looking at one of our non-dwarf varieties, there is a lot more space between the leaves and branches. It has a much more open structure. Its length means that we need to do more with trellising.
Before you get to enjoy your dwarf tomato, though, you need to get your seeds going! You'll start them exactly the same as any other tomato. You'll still wait until the threat of frost has passed, or you can start them indoors. They're really no different from what you're used to with tomatoes.
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