Dwarf Tomatoes in the Fog Belt: Season Recap

After the dwarf tomato experiment, it’s time for a recap. I wrote Dwarf Tomatoes: Rethinking Tomatoes in the Fog Belt (Again) in early July. Knowing my struggles to grow tomatoes for the last five years in cool, cloudy conditions, Brijette, owner of San Diego Seed Company suggested I try dwarf tomato varieties they offer. I chose Rosella Purple and Chocolate Lightning and grew them from seed in the spring.

Rosella Purple Dwarf Tomato (Photo from San Diego Seed Company)

Because the spring was cool, I didn’t plant my dwarf tomatoes until early June, expecting that we’d get some sun and heat in July, August and September. We didn’t. My husband provided confirming data from our solar system with panels on the roof adjacent to the garden.

Each month—June through September was cloudier than any of the prior four years. Solar output was down over 2022 by 9% in June, 7% in July, 16% in August and 12% in September. That amounts to diminished solar production due to coastal clouds and fog averaging 11% for the four months.

Bottomline, it was a cool, cloudy summer not suitable for growing tomatoes. Yet, my dwarf tomatoes grew robustly, exceeding the guidance that they would only need some simple staking. Next year, I’ll use my tomato cages.

My first tomatoes were not ripe until the end of September. Chocolate Lightning, pictured above was attractive and flavorful but only a few were harvested. I suspect some pollination issues and the plant was tired and showing the typical end of season disease. Still, I’ll try it again. With the dense foliage of dwarf tomatoes, good air circulation may be even more important.

Two Rosella Purple plants were more productive, though with the same loss of lower leaves to mildew and disease. The medium-sized fruit reminded me of my favorite, Black Krim. From the photos you can see most are slightly lobed and rose-purple in color. The juicy, red flesh is well-balanced and sweet. They aren’t the most perfect tomatoes I’ve grown but it was a tough season. I chose seed to save from a tomato without the cat-facing.

Thankfully, my reliable black cherry “explosion” tomatoes produced dozens of small oval fruit

Key take-aways on dwarf tomatoes from my first growing experience:
The plants are attractive and sturdy. I like the dark and dense crinkly (rugose) foliage and thick central stem.
The fruit is medium-sized and well supported on the plant.
The size of the plants is suitable for small-space gardens like mine.
The fruit of Rosella Purple and Chocolate Lightning have the heirloom qualities I prefer in tomatoes.