Have you ever wished for the taste and quality of an heirloom tomato, but on a plant you could grow in a small space or container? This year, we are excited to introduce four new varieties from the Dwarf Tomato Project that achieve just that.
The Dwarf Tomato Project is a collaborative initiative that began in 2006, uniting tomato enthusiasts worldwide to develop compact, easy-to-maintain tomato plants without compromising on flavor or variety. The project's mission is to create delicious tomatoes of all flavors and sizes on dwarf plants, making them ideal for gardeners with limited space.
Dwarf tomato plants are characterized by their sturdy structure, dense crinkly (rugose) foliage, and thick central stems. Depending on the variety, these plants range from 2 to 4.5 feet in height, making them suitable for container gardening, balconies, or small garden plots. Despite their compact size, they produce a diverse array of fruit types, including some large fruits up to around 18 ounces. The flavor profiles are extensive, encompassing sweet, tangy, fruity, and even hints of saltiness, ensuring there's a variety to suit every palate. Fruit colors are equally diverse, featuring green-when-ripe, bi-colors, stripes, purples, pinks, reds, yellows, oranges, and whites.
All varieties developed by the Dwarf Tomato Project are designated as 'Open Source' under the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI). This designation ensures that these seeds remain free from patents and other restrictions, allowing gardeners and breeders the freedom to use, share, and further develop these varieties. The OSSI pledge emphasizes the importance of maintaining these freedoms for current and future generations.
By choosing to grow dwarf tomato varieties from the Dwarf Tomato Project, gardeners contribute to a movement that values biodiversity, sustainability, and the joy of cultivating flavorful, heirloom-quality tomatoes in spaces of any size.
The new dwarf varieties we are offering this year are Boronia, Tasmanian Chocolate, Dwarf Rosella Crimson and Dwarf Blazing Beauty. Quantities are limited.
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County