All About Dwarf Tomatoes and Determinate Tomatoes - How To Grow Them

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Follow me on Twitter @NCGardening for regular garden updates and photos!

[@JeanneKinland]

I sure will. You are full of knowledge. Love your videos!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@JeanneKinland thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying them.

[@eric4946]

If you are getting cracking try to add some ash to your soil before planting and early on. Salts/potash/ions help balance the water uptake in the plant.

[@ScottHead]

Just getting into dwarfs and micro-dwarfs, looking forward to it. Your video may change my entire garden plan for spring.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The Dwarf Tomato Project will change your perspective. Heirloom quality fruits on 3 ft tall plants is a reality. You don’t get the yield of an indeterminate, but it is a great way to grow many varieties in a small space.

[@jenniferspeers2453]

Have you seen/grown a Micro Tom tomato? Very small plant. 8inches tall haha. Cherry tomato. Tiny Tim is a personal favorite for compact determinate cherry tomatoes

[@cfrank409]

Where do you buy your seeds-I’m interested in the dwarfs and micro dwarfs-thanks-cfrank409 @icloud.com

[@TheRoadprincess]

Thanks for promoting the Dwarf Tomato Project. I love the different smaller plants. I immediately ordered 10 and wish I got more! I’m a senior that lives in a mobile home park, so these open tomato growing up to everyone!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The Dwarf Tomato Project is awesome. The plants are so easy to grow, they require no pruning and the fruit is so good, you'd swear they came off an indeterminate vine. They're amazing for small gardens and for gardeners that don't want to manage the large vines. You can build an entire garden around them.

[@prioritymaleman]

I've watched hundreds of gardening videos, from the big names (Gary and Kim, and many others...all very good) and small, and this is the best explanation of open-pollinated and dwarf/determinates I have ever heard. You have a new subscriber. You're smart and explain things well. I too live on the FL coast and have sandy soil, so your techniques are right up my alley. Thanks for all you do and the work you put into your videos, and I'm excited to learn more from you. I will absolutely be researching and trying these Dwarf Tomato Project varieties.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you, I appreciate it. I'm an engineer, so I'm very detail-oriented. My mind is always interested in why things work, not just how things work. As a result, my videos are a little longer than a lot of the bigger channels. I'm glad you find it worth it! Thanks for the sub.

[@courtneycullen6289]

As I said in the other feedn gro, I am a giant fan of the dwarf tomatoes. I can grow WAY MORE tomatoes with them and the selection is starting to get really good. Seems like all of the crosses with Wild Boar Tomatoes are giving me delicious, exciting, and EASY tomatoes. I still grow indeterminates, but man, fifteen indeterminates takes up a huge amount of space. You are correct! Keeping them alive is a big job!

[@KittyQuig]

Great work Mr. Millennial. Thank you very much for taking the time to make this video and share it with the world!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

My pleasure! Thank you for watching.

[@ctemple99]

I've been binge watching your tomato videos and have learned so much! I've been gardening for years and have rarely grown determinate tomatoes, but next year I will be giving some of these dwarf varieties a try along with some determinate varieties. Thanks for your efforts and info!

[@JeanneKinland]

My father in law has always grown Celerity and had great success. I'm glad to hear you love them too.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

For a hybrid, they're very good. Do they have the flavor of some heirlooms? No, but the high production and perfect, crackless fruit makes up for it. They're a good sandwich tomato.

[@vickieshilling9394]

Thank you so much, I learned an unbelievable amount and now realize I should’ve watched this long before I planted my tomatoes. Can’t wait to watch more of your videos. Thank you again.

[@colindsey]

I've been watching You Tube gardening videos from lots of sources for years. I recently found your channel and you are my new guru! Your videos zero in on the exact things I care about and think about non-stop and then provide solutions to the many things that frustrate me. None of the other channels are as spot on about the things that are preying on my mind as you are. My indeterminate tomatoes the last two years have been savagely disappointing for various reasons up here in New Hampshire. Chipmunks, rain, heat waves, droughts, blight, ugh. I'm thinking about putting in a high tunnel to control some factors so I can get a decent harvest next year. Your hoop house videos have been really helpful there, but now learning about dwarf tomatoes is blowing my mind. I can't wait to try these out next year. Not having to train, prune, and find someway to support them to eight feet sounds amazing. Thanks so much for these videos and all your work you have put into them. Needless to say, I'm a new subscriber :)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words, and I'm happy to hear the videos are helpful. I try to center my videos around what I'm actually doing at the time and how I deal with the problems I'm facing. That way, they're more timely and relevant. I'm no guru, though. I'm just a backyard gardener that loves this stuff and I'm always trying to build a better mouse trap. I'm an engineer, so my mind is always churning. Thanks for subscribing!

[@ingridwagner9541]

It's great to see.you promoting dwarf tomatoes. I live in Australia and have planted Little Sicily, Little Bing and have recently planted Totem, Tiny Tim and Little Napoli. Little Sicily are great sandwich tomatoes and Little Bing are nice little snacking tomatoes. I'm still waiting on the last 3 to produce but look forward to trying them. Dwarf/Patio tomatoes are so much easier to grow and take little space which is also good for people in apartments who can grow these on balconies. I've been super impressed so far with how many tomatoes each plant has provided.

[@DawnaRo]

I grew dwarf tomatoes last summer (2022) and I will never go back. The tomatoes were as big as any I've grown on indeterminate plants and they were sooo much easier to deal with. No pruning, easier to see and reach, etc. And they didn't sacrifice flavor either! I LOVE THEM! 30 minutes ago I just ordered more seeds for 2023 plants.

[@ICSpotz]

good info and ideas on types of tomatoes that do well within the narrow optimal growth requirements....I am definitely growing the Rosella Purple and other dwarf type next year....thanks

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks. You will love them.

[@AM-lz2jr]

I learned a lot from this. This video is packed with information. Thanks bro. Cool to hear about the real meaning hybrid, heirloom, open pollinated, etc. It's actually subtle but you always make it simple to understand.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching. I try my best to be informative without rambling on unnecessarily.

[@got2kittys]

The little patio tomatoes are very good variety planted in the garden. Big sets of fruits for square foot. And nice slicing size tomatoes.

[@jjjarrash9936]

This vid is one of, if not the most informing vid i have ever seen on tomatoes. Thx for this vid

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Floresti]

OK! You got me. I’ve grown determinate tomatoes before but never dwarfs or micro dwarfs. But after watching this video I will be growing Purple Rosellas and another dwarf tomato in my 2024 growing season. Going to do my research right now. Thanks.

[@lauriemclean1131]

Had a little bit of success at a farmers' market last year selling dwarf tomato plants in containers paired with a few herbs. I think as people become more concerned about being able to grow their own food, all aspects of container gardening as with dwarf tomatoes might be more marketable. Thanks for the great information.

[@kimekim12345]

Sounds like I live in a similar zone, so I've been having the same troubles with my determinates. I got my hands on some determinate and dwarf tomato fruits and buried them in some leftover soil. Now the seedlings are thriving and I'm really excited to see them grow

[@JamesSmith-pt8dy]

Hey .. everyone Moniee-Mon, is listening thanks for the info vedios keep doing what'cha do best God bless ya!.

[@carolineflynn1799]

Excellent video. I'm letting the ground rest this year so I'm going 100% container and have already started some dwarf cherry toms. But you sold me on the Rosella purple and there is still time in the season. Just ordered some of those and other varieties to try.

[@kansasgardener5844]

I have always grown indeterminate tomatoes. This is the first year I'm experiencing fruit set issues. It got hot here really early in the season. I was watching Mark's video on his tomato plants on his farm and he was talking about determinant tomatoes and I decided next year that's going to be my main crop and I will grow cherry indeterminate tomatoes. Your video just reinforces the fact that I'll get more tomatoes from determinant plants. Thanks.

[@wandakelly2173]

Thank you so much for the video. I just purchased about eight different varieties and got them yesterday. I am going to try to grow a couple this year. I’m in 8a. I think I have time.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@DawnaRo]

I grew dwarf tomatoes for the first time this year. I was impressed! Since I grow in containers, I found them to be very container friendly. The tomatoes were just as big as everything I had except the Beefsteak variety. The flavor was as good as regular tomatoes. I will definitely use them next year and will likely grow more of them than the regular variety.

[@Tangie0906]

I'm in Indiana zone 5b and we've had so much rain and chilly weather that I planted them late & my dwarfs haven't even set any flowers yet, except for one plant. Not sure which variety it is but yesterday I noticed lots of flowers on it. Made me so happy! This is my first year growing them and I hope I get some tomatoes to try. Either way I'll be growing them again next year just because they're fairly easy, like you said. And I have four of mine in 5 and 7 gallon grow bags and the other two in regular planters. Enjoyed your video, thanks!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Tangie0906 my heart goes out to the Midwest this year. They are getting absolutely slammed. From central Texas to Minnesota to Pennsylvania it has been a nonstop wall of storms. I hope things calm down for you and you get the nice summer you deserve.

[@Tangie0906]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you! There are a lot of areas worse off than where we are though, so I'll join you in hoping things calm down for the midwest soon!

[@smallspaceswithGloria]

I just love your garden 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you so much! I appreciate it!

[@brianramsey3824]

Thanks for video I feel the same way about the DTP

[@MattyDemello]

Wow. You've been at it for a while. It is not easy doing a garden and being successful AND run a channel at the same time. God bless you and your family. Thank you for all you do. Gardening should be called "a practice" because its really like medicine in more ways than 1. You're practicing skills and testing certain things out to see what works for you and tips that should help everyone.

[@hellokimmy68]

I know this is an old video, but I was just rewatching after getting into my own dwarf tomatoes. I grew them for the first time last year on your recommendation and they mostly did really well! Have you ever grown Uluru Ochre? Holy cow - it is SO different. I have literally never had another tomato like it before, I will grow it forever!

[@freewaybaby]

How is it different? Is it the taste? I’m looking for the best tasting…for next planting!😊

[@hellokimmy68]

@@freewaybaby Uluru Ochre? Wow, it's indescribable. I normally prefer quite sweet tomatoes, which this one has some of, but it almost seems like it has a natural saltiness with just touch of acidic twang. The texture was one of the things that got me. It was like cutting into a creamy custard. I would say the taste is decidedly fruity, almost like citrus. It's very different and difficult to put into words!

[@claudinelim4367]

Thank you dwarfs tomatoes 🍅 😘 ❤️

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@vsberlina3712]

OK, you've convinced me to try dwarf tomatoes. I have many friends that want to grow tomatoes but have limited space (and thus success) so these will be perfect for them. I've purchased 6 different types and a 'lucky dip' packet. Can't wait for Spring to come back to Melbourne so I can grow them.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Can you grow tomatoes all year in Melbourne? I imagine you certainly could in a container close to the north side of the house at least, right? If you have access to Dwarf Tomato Project tomatoes in Australia, prepare to be impressed. They are FANTASTIC. And SO EASY to grow.

[@vsberlina3712]

@@TheMillennialGardener I don't think so. Maybe in a greenhouse. But we're the equivalent of a US zone 10-11, so it gets pretty cold here in Winter. Australians have access to dwarfs from seedsofplenty.com.au/product-category/vegetables/tomato-dwarf/. Looks like a massive range.

[@kimberlycozad5789]

Thank you so much. I’ve planted tomatoes for the last several years in the hopes of canning. The plants were huge but I got hardly any tomatoes. I’m definitely switching to determinate tomatoes.

[@donphillips6797]

This is great I want to see more please let me know when your videos wil be on thank you

[@barbaraabramovitz9987]

Here in Missouri we get tomatoes all the way til frost. I think we have the right amount of heat. Although we do get some really hot weather, the tomatoes pick back up in their production once the temps come back down. I like determinates, but with all the fruit coming at once, I plant mostly indeterminate. I do take and root some of my suckers for a fresh crop of additional tomato plants mid summer.

[@ranikhrisna5763]

Finally there is one youtube gardener who said that growing tomato is difficult. You mentioned all my problem with growing indeterminate varieties. Once I thought I was success with the bunch of big fruits but the next fruit were very small, I don't know if it was the weather getting hotter or not enough nutrients. But my indeterminate tomatoes died off in my hot tropical climate and the others were not produce fruit for a long time. Now in raining season (temp 24-28 degrees C) where everyday is raining and my garden flooded, the other tomatoes are not growing well but they aren't died off. But I found there is 1 tomato plant going well in this season but I don't know the variety is since it was sprouting in the compost. It is fruiting very well despite the leaves are having rust in the lower part of plant. This one single tomato plant gives me a proof that I am not a bad gardener yet. This is my whole first year of gardening, starting from March 2020, so I've just learned about the weather and temperature. Next I should learn about varieties and save the seed that do well for me.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in the US, and they're also one of the hardest. They're so difficult because they love to be watered deeply, but they also hate rain. Rainfall causes so many diseases. Where I live, it rains 5 out of 7 days in the summer and it causes a lot of bacterial and fungal diseases, as well as fruit splitting and loss of flavor. They're very hard to grow in a place that rains, and people with drier, milder summers like in the Mediterranean and areas of the Midwest and Northeast in the US don't understand the struggles in the South and in humid, rainy, tropical climates. I've lived in both more northern, temperate climates and in more humid, wetter southern climates, and I can tell you tomatoes are one of the most affected plants based on the temperatures and rainfall. When you grow tomatoes, it is VERY IMPORTANT to grow many different varieties. This is why I grow 20 varieties a year. If you only grow 1-3 tomato varieties, you risk having nothing doing well. When you plant a lot of different varieties and stagger the plantings so they're reaching maturity at all different times, SOMETHING will do well. It's the best plan I've found aside from moving to a place that doesn't rain!

[@ranikhrisna5763]

@@TheMillennialGardener Actually I wanted to grow tomato in container since I make raising bed on top of concrete cement, I can't stake the concrete but my raising bed isn't deep enough too. Indeterminate really needs a lot of maintenance if you don't stake them. I almost give up growing tomato since a lot of tomato varieties are indeterminate. But the compost I bought really challenging me since many of tomato chili seedlings were coming from it. Well, I learned from my experience. Hopefully I can be better this year.

[@StephTeachesStuff]

I planted some Orange Hat micro dwarf tomatoes this year, they are SO fun to grow! I put them in 6" pots and they are totally loaded, I'll grow them forever.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

People need to grow more dwarf tomatoes. They're definitely underutilized!

[@oscarchica5566]

It seems so hard to grow tomatoes in the USA. Here in Canada, we have mild summers and the tomatoes love it. Also, our summers are short enough that determinate tomatoes grow and produce until the end of the growing season, in 2 to 4 big bursts. -From Montreal with love

[@bluewolf4915]

Based on your videos I've decided to grow half celebrity tomatoes this year. I'll still be doing two different indertimate varities also. Did very well with 7 foot tall tomatoes last year but they take too long to ripen. I like to can and freeze dry tomatoes so it will be nice to have some ripen together. Thank you.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm curious how you'll like Celebrity. I think they'll be a revelation. They are so easy to grow, and their fruit is virtually perfect every time. Just remember: do NOT prune determinate tomatoes, except for the lowest leaves underneath the first flower cluster. You can remove them for disease prevention so the lowest leaves don't get splashed by wet soil. Other than that, don't prune.

[@dannamadura3751]

I have limited access to dwarf tomatoes, but I planted some Floradades and I am really amazed how quickly they grew! They're putting out fruit now after 50 days! And I love how I don't have to prune them! I ordered some Tiny Tim seeds to try growing dwarf tomatoes. If you can get your hands on Diamante F1 seeds (East West Seeds), they are an indeterminate variety that grow well in the tropics. I imagine Floradade will grow well in your area too if heat is a problem.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Where are you located? Dwarf Tomato Project seeds are widely available in the US, Europe and Australia. If you're in the US, Victory Seeds has more varieties than you'll know what to do with.

[@mred3608]

Thank you for such an informative and interesting video. I really enjoyed it. I plan on planting 4 dwarf varieties and covering them with insect netting to keep out the dreaded fruit fly here in oz.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

When does the tomato planting season start for you? I am curious how they'll perform Down Under.

[@mred3608]

@@TheMillennialGardener I live near the beach North of Sydney so there is no frost to worry about. Probably I will start them inside and then plant out in October. It tends to be mild here till after christmas when temps pick up. It never gets overly hot, only occasionally, as we tend to get a sea breeze. Am really looking forward to growing the dwarfs and am going to try hydroponic bush jubilee watermelon as an experiment.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@mr ed lucky guy. We get 30-40 freezes a year, and my climate is probably milder than 90% of the US. Why not start the seeds now? I was just in Sydney, and it was just transitioning into cooler temps. I bet in 2 months once the seedlings are ready for transplant you'll be in great shape!

[@mred3608]

@@TheMillennialGardener good idea about starting the tomatoes! I used to know some people from Minnesota and there winters sound cruel. It's about 15C here at the moment dropping to around 8C at night. Inland is a lot colder though.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

mr ed Sydney has a pretty nice climate. If you’re north of it I bet it is even better. I’d be growing tomatoes all year around if I were you. You live in one of the mildest places on Earth with such clear skies all year long. I’m jealous! There are “parthenocarpic” varieties that will set fruit in the cold like Oregon Spring and Siletz that set fruit without pollination as well. I bet these will grow great in the winter in your area. I will be trying Siletz this winter. When they set fruit without pollination, the fruits are seedless! Pretty neat.

[@archstanton9703]

Do you have any dwarf tomato recommendations for growing in the southwest desert? I've never had much luck with tomatoes out here because they have hard time setting fruit in the heat. I've watched quite a few of your videos and learn something new with each one. Keep up the great work!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I would recommend searching for "Iraqi tomatoes." There are a handful of tomato varieties from the Middle East, particularly Iraq, that gained some popularity years ago, but I've never tried them. I would suggest purchasing some 30% or 40% shade cloth and erecting a sail over your tomatoes. Because of your lack of humidity, the air will cool substantially under the shade cloth. Instead of searching for varieties, I would suggest the shade cloth because it will make an incredible difference to your environment. I think it's pretty important to erect some poles in the ground and make a real "ceiling" and not just toss it over the plants, though.

[@archstanton9703]

@@TheMillennialGardener I have the plants under 40% shade cloth and it is tied above the plants. Next year I'm going to try to have two crops of determinate tomatoes. You videos have inspired me to try some dwarf tomato varieties. By the way, I've tried your fertilizer concoction, and tomorrow will be the third application. I'm learning a great deal from your videos. Keep up the great work! Thank you!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@archstanton9703 I'm glad the videos are helping. I'm not sure exactly what to recommend for your climate, but just keep experimenting. Moving from Pennsylvania to here rocked my world, and I'm experimenting non-stop to see what works and what doesn't. It's the only way. Every failure is a lesson learned, and every success is a huge win.

[@archstanton9703]

@@TheMillennialGardener It's tough growing tomatoes out here due to the heat. My tomato and pepper plants are nice and healthy but almost barren of fruit. The eggplant is starting to produce, which is one consolation. Next year I'm going to try planting early the Tasmanian Chocolate and Boronia dwarf tomatoes on the plants. Tomorrow, I'm going to use your fertilizing formula. Cheers!

[@daaara]

@@archstanton9703 Take a look at everglades tomatoes as well - they prefer more humid environments, but they love heat.

[@Pepito13520]

Thanks for your videos they are very helpful. Would you say that the dwarf tomatoes has more diasease resistance and they can manage difficult situations in a better way like the cherry tomatoes?.

[@lindakean7392]

Amazing your dwarfs are crowded and don’t appear to get much air, yet you have humid conditions! I threw in the towel on indeterminate due to disease despite ridiculous amount of care and time! Growing cherry now but I may take your advice and move to am Sun only. We have heat and humidity in Cincy.

[@TheJR1941]

Good testing & results ," Brandy Fred " , I will look for here in Australia . Is that a potting mix in your bed or straight local soil's?

[@marke.haller4267]

Excellent video! We built a 24x4x6h "green-to" this year, but not in time for getting head start on some maters, but have had enough time to learn how to manage temperatures. We were lucky enough to score some 12 inch starts from friends in August, and are just now getting some ripening on a sparse amount of fruits (temp control was an issue at first). We're coastal Oregon where no one can grow tomatoes unless under cover (except for cherry tomatoes) due to nightly cool temps and marine layer fog. Since our greenhouse is a reach-in/step-in, and shallow, we dare compelled to use pots rather than a full soil bed. I'm curious about your take on using fabric grow bags and the so-called "air root drying" effect on tomatoes. Thanks again for the great lesson!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Mark E. Haller I’ve used fabric pots for tomatoes on previous videos (see my tomato videos from 2018). I think they’re fantastic for annuals. I would never recommend them for fruit trees because the fruit tree roots bind themselves to the fabric and grow through the fabric, but tomatoes are excellent. I think in moist climates, they’re a good thing because the fabric pots help resist root rot. The aeration of the root system is good, in my opinion.

[@markc2152]

I’m in zone 6b last to years I grew brandywine and Cherokee purple they are a lot of work but unbeatable for burgers and sandwiches

[@kaitzu4560]

Nice to hear your feed back an opinion. Tomatoes have been and nightnare for me. Especially, with hundred other varieties to choose from. I've always chosen the indeterminate varieties like a fool. I hope these dwarfs will boost my confidence in tomatoes again..lol

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you struggle with tomatoes, give the Dwarf Tomato Project varieties a shot. They are much easier to manage. If you find tomatoes a challenge, these will help a lot!

[@franceneberner7524]

Wow - I have, for many years, scoffed at Celebrity, Big Boy, Early Girl - yearning for Heirloom varieties. Thanks to you, next year I'm definitely growing Celebity, and maybe try seeding my own of the dwarves.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Those that don't grow determinates tend to, simply put, never grow them. Once you try growing them, a light bulb goes off and you realize how good they are.

[@scuttlezebra2963]

Great video! I really appreciate the taste testing! There’s so many tomatoes out there, it’s nice to know what to get. I’d love more tasting videos, including the tomatoes that aren’t great. 😁

[@zw5509]

Just got a couple of Dwarf Toms this year. I had not heard of them and originally had them pegged as bush type. Not so. I chose the Brandy Fred also and an Arctic variety. I live north of DC and was hoping that I could push the harvest up. I grew from seed and was amazed at how strong the seedlings are and how stout the main stems are. Next year it may be all I grow. Start in cycles? Got some of my usual heirlooms too and they are work. Black Krim is my favorite. Good harvesting.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Dwarf Tomatoes are amazing. They're much stouter than indeterminates and resist wind well. They're incredible plants most people are really missing out on. I am growing Brandy Fred as well. I grew them last year, and while the yields were mediocre, the flavor is amazing. Truly heirloom quality. You won't be disappointed, and you'll be doubling down next year, I'm sure of it! I start Rosella Purple every year in December in small 7 gallon grow bags because I can bring them inside at night. Rosella Purple is a stellar performer in cool temps. I have 4 early tomato types yielding fruit for me now, and one has a ripe tomato that I'll pick tomorrow. I play this game every year with the dwarf and early determinates and it works well.

[@zw5509]

@@TheMillennialGardener the other I have is Arctic Rose. Have to let you know how the harvest goes. Just looking at the seedlings, they are much better looking and strong. If it goes well, it is all I will grow and maybe stagger starts? Take care.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@zw5509 if this works well for you, let me know and I'll recommend a few more dwarf types to you if you're interested. I still grow indeterminates because you still have the most variety with full-sized plants, but I've cut down on the number to grow more dwarf's because they're so much easier.

[@zw5509]

@@TheMillennialGardener Will do. Your description of the chores associated with heirlooms and regular Tom's are accurate and it is what makes dwarfs appealing. Also, capture of true seed to grow.

[@reighngold]

This is like the answer to the issue I'm running into this year which is basically, I have such tall tomatoes but there are so few fruit clusters on them. Like there's a lot of tomatoes, they just haven't started till like 3 ft up... Just got 4 varieties! We have 123 days left till our first frost date so I'm gonna give them a go! (honestly they'll do better if I plant them now given the insane heat helps them germinate and by the time it's flower setting time it's no longer hot enough for flowers to drop.)

[@reighngold]

Didn't get the seeds in time for this last season but I'm so ready for these this coming spring/summer!!

[@Shaw7373]

I'm sticking with indeterminates. I like having jobs to do in the garden, and I like having fruit for a long period. Also, I love how they just keep growing

[@peachykeen7634]

I have to admit I’m really tired of constantly pruning and tieing up my indeterminates. Will look into more dwarf varieties! Love SESE - the seed packets I get from them are always super vigorous and perfectly adapted for the mid-Atlantic and the southeast.

[@elizabethr2908]

Excellent video! ❤ I’m growing Dwarf Project tomatoes for the first time this year, Rosella Purple included. Can you please tell me more varieties of dwarf tomatoes that are indeterminate?

[@lexkek5625]

I live in California where even in winter you may get slapped with a 80-90 day randomly and then rainfall only to get fried in the summer with triple 100s heat. I have a very small space to grow and I cannot grow indeterminates and many of the tomatoes are. They just grow way too big for my small balcony. To make matters worse so many are also hybrids too so I can't save the seeds it's horrible! I'll check out the dwarf project so thank you for saving me a bunch of time!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I think you’ll really enjoy the tomato quality of the Dwarf Tomato Project. You can get really cool varieties that are typically absent from determinate selections. However, many are not heat tolerant. Determinates have many very disease resistant and heat tolerant varieties, but the Dwarf Tomato Project is all open pollinated seeds, so there are no F1 hybrids available. My suggestion is to plant them as early as possible, because most will get beaten up in the heat. Shade cloth may be a good idea for your climate.

[@lexkek5625]

@@TheMillennialGardener Yeah, I order five different dwarf seed packs from victory seed. I'm going to try to get into in asap when they arrive. I ordered a 40% shade cloth which I think will be enough. It's big enough to cover my entire balcony. I'll check out some determinate varieties like the Amelia which is known for its heat tolerance. I'm excited to see how my small garden grows been at it for five months growing peppers, herbs and many failed tomatos. 😂

[@craftersusan]

Once again, very informative!!! One of the things that makes me not want to grow tomatoes is how large they get.. the dwarf varieties seem to solve that problem.. I'd love if you could do a video on controlling tomato hornworms. I dread them!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you enjoy it. I do have a video on the hornworm subject: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGGvpYyfj9qsjKM I find hornworms to be one of the easiest pests to control. BT Concentrate kills them overnight (they have to eat leaves soaked in the spray and their insides will rupture and burst). The nice thing about BT is it doesn't hurt pollinators, dragonflies, lady bugs, etc. It only kills some worms and caterpillars, so you can soak EVERYTHING down in the stuff liberally and not worry about it. The downside with BT is it doesn't kill anything except the caterpillars and worms. If the worms have matured into moths, it won't hurt them, so it's bad at disrupting the cycle once it begins. Spinosad and Pyrethrin makes short work of the moths, as well as the caterpillars and worms, but it kills practically everything else: bees, dragonflies, lady bugs, everything. So, the solution I've found is to begin with BT to try and keep the issue under control, and if things get away from you, switch to the others and spray AFTER SUNSET because pollinators and good bugs usually go to sleep. Almost all the bad bugs are nocturnal, and the solutions burn off by the AM since they're natural.

[@craftersusan]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you! This is so helpful. I will check out you video too!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@craftersusan you’re welcome!

[@tpmhanuka]

your video is very precious , it desirve more views

[@TheMillennialGardener]

HABIP ERDOGAN thank you. I agree, haha!

[@petz8190]

Just subscribed. Great info. Where can I get some of these dwarf tomato seeds in europe?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching. I'm not sure where to source them in Europe. Craig spearheads the project and sources are linked at the bottom of this page. I get most of mine from Victory Seed. www.craiglehoullier.com/dwarf-tomato-breeding-project

[@FlyingZonda]

This is a great video, thanks! Placing my order now for the Rosella and others with Victory Seeds. I wish you had affiliate links for the types you are testing and reviewing, you should get a commission!

[@FlyingZonda]

Victory is sold out of Rosella Purple until 2022 :( The search begins elsewhere!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks. Glad it was helpful. Southern Exposure also sells Rosella Purple. I've purchased from them with great results.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Another brilliant informative video.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words. Thank you for watching.

[@cfbx-lx7216]

Seen once more time this video because I'm choosing this year tomato seeds. this video is very interesting about dwarf tomatoes that I didn't know before 2019 (not yet popular in Europe). Now it's easy to find seeds from dwarf tomato project here (Belgium & France) and I agree with you : Brandyfred tomato is absolutely fabulous and tasty, my favorite one and I grow each year one hundred different varieties of tomatoes. We'll try other dwarf varieties in 2021 (Rosella and others). Thanks for your instructive channel, greetings

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's great to hear the seeds have made it to Europe! Rosella Purple is my favorite. I also recommend Adelaide Festival and Dwarf Emerald Giant. This year, I am also trying Tasmanian Chocolate, Rosella Crimson and Dwarf Snakebite for the first time. Good luck!

[@curtishubbard907]

Damn that looks good

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you!

[@kevinfoley1073]

Can you inter plant dwarf tomatoes in between heirloom indeterminate plants? Is there a link that supports your channel and the dwarf tomato project you can share. Thanks

[@mschuiming]

Where do you get your dwarf tomatoes? None in nurseries here in California. Central CA foothills.

[@OMearify]

Could you please write a comment listing dwarf variety you had mentioned in the video, thanks for the excellent work.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

ROXAS ARMA dwarf varieties are: Rosella Purple Adelaide Festival Brandyfred The Determinate is Celebrity. You are very welcome!

[@kaykearney707]

Looking forward to trying!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You won't be disappointed. If you're curious where to buy seeds, I list some of my favorite suppliers here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpDSgIODYq-GfKM

[@npast1]

Very interesting video, thank you. Subscribed to your channel. I didn't know anything about these dwarf tomato. Will have to plan some next year. Upstate NY, hopefully they will grow well for me. I quickly checked a few websites, including the ones you mentioned, and I noticed that almost all have the dwarf tomato varieties seeds listed as "Out of stock," unlike more conventional varieties, which are still available. Looks like the seeds may be hard to get. What time of the year do you usually shop for the seeds online?

[@Ms.Byrd68]

You should 'clean' your palate when you do 'taste tests' so the tastes don't run together. Just a little water. Good video, appreciate the information, I agree the more viney plants require much more of your time, care & space.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I had iced coffee off camera, does that count? 😂 Thanks for watching!

[@chinfuzzchet3616]

My interderminates got obliterated with the 110+ heat index days back in the summer...I am def switching over to the darker next year.

[@VinSpacker]

I'm sold

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you want an excellent selection of dwarf tomatoes, check out Victory Seeds. Thanks for watching!

[@JohnSmith-sc6jt]

Going to try the Dwarf next year. What is the recommended spacing for the Brandyfred plant for best production? I have limited space available but want to maximize production.

[@tgif1207]

Can you explain/show the Florida weave?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I have a video on it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6u6hH-pZ9Cqf5I

[@markh9653]

Great content, but the camera was a little bouncy. Your your concise delivery and well thought out approach to gardening makes your channel a total winner.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Sony cameras don't have internal image stabilization, unfortunately. Sometimes moving shots are tough and I try to use a tripod as much as possible for this reason.

[@markh9653]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you for your response. I thoroughly enjoy your channel and gain a lot of useful information from your efforts. Keep up the great work!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks.

[@myriadcorp]

So I just ordered the rosella purple and brandy fred. Hope I can get some growing this year.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They are 70-75 day tomatoes, so they're average to a little earlier than average.

[@stevehegewald3260]

What a great channel!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you so much! I appreciate that.

[@jameswatson1066]

You might want to try the improved parks whopper it is a indeterminate that produces lots of great tasting tomatoes. I would try them before giving up on indeterminate.

[@jonathansmith4712]

Celebrity does not taste as good as the other three, not bc it’s a hybrid, but bc it’s determinate. Determinate tomato plants are rushing to mature all of their fruit at once, on a limited amount of foliage, so determinates never taste as good as indeterminates/dwarfs. I didn’t know this on my own but learned it from binge-watching videos of Craig LeHoullier, the mastermind of the Dwarf Tomato Project.

[@joanneholcombe735]

I cannot find determinant tomatoes anywhere in my area, which is southern Virginia about 30 miles from the NC border..ive called all the nurseries and big box stores and they dont even know about determinant tomatoes..help!..dont really want to start from seed...dont have the setup for seed starting..

[@TerryByrdJr]

I have to try some dwarfs if I can find them at the nursery by me I got some Cherokee purple but I really wanted rosella purple 🤦🏽‍♂️I hope they put out a decent amount of fruit🤞🏽

[@TheChromePoet]

I just ordered a micro dwarf Andrina tomato plant, it has big tomatoes for a dwarf, and produces a lot.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Interesting. I've never heard of that variety. I hope it works well! Let us know later.

[@TheChromePoet]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks I will.

[@jonl.garton4616]

Very well done video. Extremely educational! I will be planting these next year. Do determinate dwarf tomatoes develop suckers that need pruned off? I also wondered how they might do in hydroponics.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you, and thanks for watching. I recommend for dwarf tomato varieties and determinate varieties you do not prune, except for the lowest couple branches closest to the ground. I recommend taking off the lowest growth because they usually get infected with disease when water splashes dirt from the ground onto the leaves. That's usually how fungal infections occur. Other than that, I think no pruning is best (except to cut off diseased branches). Indeterminates are a different story - they require pruning for best results.

[@LeiaSmethurst]

In zone 7b (Oklahoma City) I’ve noticed this season that birds are really attacking my tomatoes. Yours aren’t covered, how do you avoid this?

[@sislertx]

Dang..ive been looking for your video where u talk about growing tomatoes in a grow bag during the winter!! Ive been looking for hours!! U also let me know about totally tomatoes...can snyone help me find this video??

[@brazosgardener1169]

Good Evening! I may have missed it in the rest of the comments, but where did you get your determinant tomatoe seeds? Specifically the Roselle(spelling?) Purple? I love the flavor of Cherokee purple and would really like to grow those. Thanks!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I buy them from several sources. I show you where I buy all my seeds here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpDSgIODYq-GfKM This will give you tons of options.

[@franl5585]

What was your soil prep, ammendments for your dwarf tomato bed? A friend gave me some dwarf tomato starts which I've never grown. Now I'm excited to see how they grow. (in my greenhouse in the Pacific northwest)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The medium in the bed was locally made turkey compost and soil. They have a giant pile of it that they've been rotating and mixing for decades. Not much else other than fertilizer and hardwood mulch on top to maintain soil moisture.

[@cochise2423]

that was a good video thx

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

[@nancyhaywood6486]

i assume you grew those dwarf tomatoes from seeds. is that right. if so where did you get your seeds. i'd like to try those.

[@Gaspa79]

The original video where I found the dwarf tomato project!

[@rosslocincam9916]

Many new gardeners in New Zealand are tempted to grow their tomatoes in containers. Ive read that a brief period of dryness can permanently damage tomatoes - we have hot dry windy summers in many parts of Aotearoa and last year I achieved some success growing tomatoes in pots semi submerged in the soil with decent holes in the bottom to to allow the roots to reach into the cooler damper soil below the pot. This year all of my tomatoes will be planted in the soil with a thick mulch of rotting silage over the soil. Is it best to stay with 1 leader on my Russian Red tomatoes or can I get away with 2 leaders.- to encourage greater fruit production.

[@hairywitch4063]

I will have to try these next year. Too late this year.

[@kellymahan861]

My new favorite best tasting tomato is called 'green giant' I bought the seed from Baker Creek heirloom seed co. It produces a ton of fruit...it is a huge plant and must be staked to keep it from falling all over. It can be hard to pick ripe, because it stays green until dead ripe, then just gets a little softer, with a slight yellow blush on the bottom.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I've been growing Dwarf Emerald Giant for a few years. Its parent is Green Giant. It looks and tastes the same, but it grows on 30 inch tall plants (the fruit is still 10-14 ounces). It is FANTASTIC. It may be one of my favorite tomatoes. It's so outrageously acidic. I've never had a more acidic tomato. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3q3Z5mBiM-Hi7M

[@kellymahan861]

@@TheMillennialGardener I have grown green giant up to one pound eleven ounce. They can get big and don't crack very much. Love it! I will need to dry dwarf Emerald Giant ...sounds great!

[@jeanlaikan8400]

When you take a seed from a hybrid tomato you have harvested & plant it back, the resulting tomatoes may not be same. What about planting a sucker from a hybrid tomato plant? Will the new plant be identical to the parent.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You are correct about the seed. If you buy dwarf varieties bred by Dwarf Tomato Project like I do, you can save the seed. Every variety is Open Pollinated. They are bred by seed savers for seed savers. I did grow a Celebrity, which I believe is an F1 hybrid determinate, so that you can't save. You could save the suckers, but mine generally get too diseased by late June to save anything. My climate is absolutely brutal for tomato growing, but I just love it so much I deal with the problems.

[@jeanlaikan8400]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks for the clarification.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@jeanlaikan8400 thank you for watching!

[@caseyarmstrong7064]

I grow my tomatoes in those plastic grow bags. I use a mixture of good potting soil, pest moss and compost. I’m finding that the leaves are looking a little wilted. Could this because the lack of watering. I water about every 3 days. But I’m wondering if the soil is not holding enough water, so in that case I need to water every 2 days or even every day. I know there heavy feeders and drinkers. Your response is greatly needed to watering issues. Thank you and have a great day

[@TheMillennialGardener]

casey armstrong yes, you are not watering enough. Usually in the heat of the summer you have to water daily. Sometimes even twice a day depending on the heat and vigor of your plant. This is also what is causing your blossom end rot from your other comment. If you allow your tomatoes to dry out, they will fail to uptake calcium from the soil and your fruit will rot on the bottom. Drip irrigation on a timer will solve this, or just make sure you water on a more regular schedule.

[@caseyarmstrong7064]

That’s great news, I will water everyday. Thanks a lot, live your videos.

[@caseyarmstrong7064]

Hello Gardner, this is Casey again. I do apologize I haven’t caught your name? I’ve asked you earlier about watering in containers and that I wasn’t watering enough. I recently put a catch basin under each plant, catching the excess water. If I were to guess it’s probably holding 2 cups of water, when I stick my finger down in the the soil, it feels moist, but when I pull my finger out emediately feels dry. Should I wait till the water in the basin is gone before watering, cause it could wick up, or just continuing with my watering regime. Oh and by the way the extra watering is defiantly helping with color and growth. Thank you

[@TheMillennialGardener]

casey armstrong watering from the bottom can be a good practice. Fungus and bugs like moist soil, so if you keep the top dry and water from the bottom it’ll satisfy the roots while potentially decreasing disease chances and pests. As long as the roots get water it shouldn’t matter. There is no reason to keep the top wet. If you feel the plant is wicking from the bottom reservoir I would maintain that. Just don’t let it dry out.

[@atariforever2002]

Great video. Questions... 1. With these open pollinated dwarf toms, are you worried about cross pollination between the varieties? 2. Did you say you have Dwarf determinates and Dwarf indeterminates varieties?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

1. No, not worried about cross pollination. You can save these seeds. Part of the Dwarf Tomato Project is they'll only sell stable varieties. 2. This is harder to describe. Some websites sell the tomatoes as determinate and indeterminate, but in my experience, they're a mix between both. They call them semi-determine. They grow to a pre-determined height like a determinate, set most of the crop at once, but they ripen like an indeterminate. You'll get a handful of tomatoes at a time. After you pick them, the plants will still try to flower and produce more like an indeterminate, so you will still get some tomatoes here and there, but they definitely start to tire out. They're really a mix of the two.

[@atariforever2002]

@@TheMillennialGardener thanks for the reply. To be clear what I am concerned about is cross polination when saving my own seeds. Having this many varieties of OP tomatoes that close together year after year dont you think they will cross?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@atariforever2002 it's possible. But tomatoes are generally wind-pollinated. I hand-pollinated most of my tomatoes by vibrating them with a toothbrush like in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmPdoKKom9WNa5I Since you're doing it by vibrating the flowers, it will help protect your seeds. There can still be some contamination, I guess, but honestly, I don't save very many seeds on my tomatoes. I only grow 1-2 of a variety each year, so a $2.50 packet of seeds lasts me 4 seasons (until they eventually stop germinating).

[@brendawydeven2934]

I think I'm switching to most determinate tomatoes next year with just a few select indeterminate. I have mine in 5 an 7 gallon grow bags because that's what I can afford on social security and I'm a renter. Determinate are so much easier to stake in pots. Do you sell the seeds for these tomatoes?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Determinate tomatoes are much easier to grow, require far less maintenance and produce a lot more tomatoes per square feet, for sure. Non-greenhouse growing commercial producers overwhelmingly grow determinate tomatoes, because they're just so much more productive. Indeterminate cherry tomatoes are the way to go if you want cherry tomatoes, but for beefsteak production, determinates will give you more food. I grow a few indeterminate beefsteaks for flavor, because I really can't find a better overall tomato than Brandy Boy, but indeterminate vines just don't produce like something like Red Snapper or Celebrity.

[@brendawydeven2934]

@@TheMillennialGardener thank you. I have been sharing a lot of your videos. They have been very helpful.

[@franksavignano942]

Great videos,but when you quote temps can you also convert from F to C .other part of world watch your videos: regards

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Frank Savignano in the US, unless you are a professional physicist or chemist, we don’t use Celsius. Because my videos are off-the-cuff, all I could do is approximate a temp in my head, which could be off as much as 5C. It would be totally wrong because it isn’t a unit of measure we ever use. It is easier to just type into Google: “xxF to C” (where “xx” is the temp in F) and get the exact info. It only takes 2 seconds, and that way you’ll get the correct answer instead of an incorrect approximation. We use C as much as you use F. It is seriously never used in anything.

[@Nathaniel_Peterson]

For those with extremely limited space or those who want to grow indoors, you can grow dwarf cherry tomato varieties like Heartbreaker, Red Robbin, Tiny Tim and others. They are ridiculously small...like 1.0-1.5 feet. And in my experience with Heartbreaker, it is very easy to grow and tolerates colder climates well. It's an insanely prolific plant too. Clusters of delicious heart-shaped cherries everywhere.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm growing my first cherry tomato this year. I've never been a big cherry tomato fan, but they set in the heat where others fail. I'm trying a variety called German Lunchbox. Hopefully it'll produce in July when all my others become infertile due to heat.

[@cg3251]

A note about Tiny Tim.... Tiny Tim does not set fruit in hot weather. So if your summers are hot, you will not get any tomatoes.

[@terryli340]

I grew Red Deuce F1 determinate tomatoes from Harris Seeds for the last few years. I have gotten many 1 pound tomatoes every year. Give it a try if interested.

[@arejetko]

Wow, for me on the Can/US border in BC, looks like dwarves on the patio, and some indy's in the green house - but probably not.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I would think dwarf tomatoes would be perfect for you since you have short seasons. Rosella Purple would be a rockstar in your climate, because it is early and loves cool temps. The determinate Siletz will also do fantastic for you, and it only grows to be 30 inches tall.

[@arejetko]

@@TheMillennialGardener much appreciated as it gets windy here and the taller ones get blowed over :) I'll save the for the greenhouse.

[@peterturner1582]

My growing space is limited and I have been trying to source the Dwarf Tomato Project seeds for a couple of years. Given it was an Australian/American consortium who produced these varieties I couldn't find the seeds in Australia. Finally I found them and they are awaiting transplant into my garden. Do you prune them at all or do I just let them grow like a determinate?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I let them grow just like a determinate. The only leaves I remove are the lowest leaves below the first flower cluster, since they tend to pick up every "splash" of rain and become infected by blight. Aside from those lowest leaf nodes, nothing above the first flower cluster should be removed.

[@peterturner1582]

Thank you so much for the reply. I now feel much more confident in growing the DTP varieties. I am planting 7 varieties along with Sungold, Beefsteak and some cherry tomatoes.