Slicing Tomatoes (8/4/23)

[lynnee]

The Dwarf Awesome looks very healthy. I think it wants to outgrow the 24" Bounty height, but I'm going to try to keep it there. I could have transplanted it to the vacant Farm 12XL today, but didn't because it's doing so well where it is.

The first two flowers seem to be singles. What do you think, scarfguy? They're about 2/3 of the way up in the plant. (I didn't get a good angle on them in the photo of the whole plant.) There is also a little cluster of blooms above them (see arrow in photo).

[scarfguy]

I think the flower on the right looks like a double flower to me.  

I'm still getting double flowers on each cluster.  My first cluster has three good sized green tomatoes at this point. The good news is that the one that has developed from the double flower looks pretty normal.

[scarfguy]

SO... to continue the dwarf awesome saga...

If you remember, my dwarf awesome started dropping flowers and wasn't looking well.  I surmised it was too hot in the nook or, perhaps, too much temperature change as I work in that room and turn the air conditioning on frequently. SO... I moved it to the pepper room about 10 days ago.

Well, that did the trick.  It's healthy and happy again and producing flowers, fruit, and new growth.

[lynnee]

Great news!

You know, those DA double flowers may not be doubles after all. Your developing tomatoes are properly shaped.

One of my DA flowers looked like a double in a photo, but not when I looked at it straight on. You only have doubles when you have two sets of the surrounding green bud-covering thingies.

[lynnee]

Here is my Dwarf Awesome, in a Bounty Elite with the lights fully raised. I'm going to top it when it grows a few inches taller. The original two blooms fell off without setting fruit, but there are new flower clusters.

scarfguy , Is the DA self-pollinating? Do I need to "be the bee" to get fruit?

The flower photo shows a single bloom that looks like a double because of the way the petals are folded in the bud.

[scarfguy]

I don't think you need to pollinate, lynnee.  I do, however, shake the stalks each morning when I top off the water.

Yes, that flower is what I'm calling a double flower.  I don't know if is a true double flower or not.  Each of my flower clusters have at least one of these with the others being normal flowers.

Yes, the fruit from the double flowers looks normal.

ANYWAY, it certainly is an interesting tomato!

[lynnee]

The outdoor Dwarf Awesome has a few flowers now--just in time to keep me from terminating it. The indoor Bobcat finally set at least one fruit--ditto.

The indoor Dwarf Awesome looks very promising, because it shows no inclination to grow tall, and has several flower clusters.

[lynnee]

Indoor Dwarf Awesome has set fruit!

It still seems content at about 20" in height.

[lynnee]

Today I terminated the Bobcat (69 days), even though it had three developing tomatoes. I didn't want to put more effort and electricity into maintenance, for such a low yield. However, I will probably try this variety of container tomato again, giving it proper TLC. It looks like a variety that can do well in a large AG.

For now, I have high hopes for the Dwarf Awesome that is growing in a Bounty Elite. It has bushed out, is flowering, and has set some fruit!

[scarfguy]

I think the first of my Dwarf Awesomes are about ready. One is larger than the other.

Tomorrow is day 87.  I think I'll cut it loose tomorrow....  What do you think, lynnee ?

[slw]

Those look great, SG!   Personally I prefer vine-ripened!!  I have three Dwarf Awesome plants and so far just a single "double" bloom.  They certainly are taking their own sweet time!!

The patio plants that started out so gorgeous seem almost stunted or something.  Similar to Lynee's Bobcat they are disappointing, one has 2 sad looking tomatoes and the other has nuthin'.  They might be on their way to compost city in a couple of days. 

[scarfguy]

I had that problem with the last tomato plant.  It was a San Marzano that grew really big but it only produced a few puny tomatoes.  So many factors we just don't understand.

This AG stuff really requires that you can handle a lot of disappointments for the thrill of a few successes.

[slw]

Oct 11, 2023 22:36:59 GMT -5 scarfguy said:

This AG stuff really requires that you can handle a lot of disappointments for the thrill of a few successes.

That is so true.  I'm thinking I'm going to start terminating some stuff and moth-balling some gardens for a while.  I'd like to go visit my sister in Georgia and I'm imagining the AG carnage if I'm gone for a week.  Or maybe I'm just getting burned out and need to back off a bit. 

[scarfguy]

The first Dwarf Awesome slicer has just been sliced!

It does look like the double flowers produce a "double" tomato. (kinda like Siamese twins)

I think you "awesome" growers will like them. 

They have a nice meaty flesh, juicy, sweet and a classic mild "yellow tomato" taste.

[lynnee]

scarfguy, are the Dwarf Awesomes a yellow tomato? If so, that's fabulous. I never read the description carefully--just followed your lead because DA is supposed to do well in containers.

From your photo, I'd give the tomatoes a couple more days to turn more orange. But I'd go ahead and harvest the one that looks riper if there is some give when you squeeze it gently. If there's some give, it means the tomato has segments with seeds.



Sorry I wasn't here earlier today--I was clearing trash from the garage for tomorrow's pickup. My recycle bin weighs a ton! Can't wait to be rid of the surplus mason jars and outdated publications.

[lynnee]

Ah, you already harvested the Dwarf Awesomes! They look delicious.

I hope that mine turn out as well!

[lynnee]

Oct 11, 2023 23:46:29 GMT -5 slw said:

I'm thinking I'm going to start terminating some stuff and moth-balling some gardens for a while.  I'd like to go visit my sister in Georgia and I'm imagining the AG carnage if I'm gone for a week.  Or maybe I'm just getting burned out and need to back off a bit. 

The AGs will easily survive a week without you, so there's no need to terminate anything that is doing well. However it's a very good idea to clear out the underperformers before you take a trip. They'll just need pruning or something else tiresome when you get back home.

I don't feel at all bad about terminating a failed experiment. There's a limit to what you can learn, and there's no point to keeping an AG garden going when it has become a chore.

[scarfguy]

Oct 12, 2023 21:05:31 GMT -5 lynnee said:

scarfguy , are the Dwarf Awesomes a yellow tomato? If so, that's fabulous. I never read the description carefully--just followed your lead because DA is supposed to do well in containers.

The Dwarf Awesome is described by the vendor as:

"deep yellow colored tomatoes with red blushing. Slicing them open reveals juicy flesh displaying combinations of oranges, yellows, pinks, and reds with green seed cavities."

That is pretty accurate from the first one I harvested. 

[scarfguy]

Caution Dwarf Awesome growers!

This morning, I found a large cluster of 3 tomatoes had broken at the stem. The upright stature of these plants generally don't require staking BUT, BUT,  if you have a cluster of 2 or 3 tomatoes, they can get heavy rather quickly.  Be proactive and support them early.

[lynnee]

scarfguy, I was wondering whether the green seeds were a sign that the tomatoes weren't fully ripe! Yours were perfect!

Thanks for the warning about possible stem breakage.