Suze, I know that the snippet you posted above was from something Craig posted last night at Tville. But about two weeks ago I asked him to write a definition of dwarf and distinguish it from others and asked him to write it so I could cut and paste it in the Tomato Forum here at DG in answer to some questions/confusion.
He has far more experience with dwarfs than I do.
I've already posted what's below in the Tomato Forum, about two weeks ago, but now that you're bringing it up here I do think it's more detailed than the snippet he wrote last night and would help folks decide if they have a dwarf, or not.
I've not been active with the Plant Files, but it doesn't mean I'm not interested. I have never had a camera , and several years ago I did start reading through the variety lists, but to be honest, with hundreds and hundreds, to look for errors of fact, it just got tiresome.
I have been asked by admin here to help out from time to time and I would hope that if there are any varieties/areas where I can help that someone would contact me.
Finally, as you know, there are very few authentic dwarf varieties now available, but as we both know, in a few years many new dwarf varieties will become available due to the superb Dwarf project at Tville that's being done by US folks in our summer and the Aussies/Kiwis and Tasmanians in their summer, allowing for accelerated growouts towards genetic stability for those selections that look promising.
Craig is head of the Dwarf project for the US folks and Patrina is head of same for the downunder folks.
I think it's exciting since so many folks are moving towards container growing and the dwarfs are perfect for that and up until now fruit color and shape and taste have been limited.
So here's the longer more detailed article I asked Craig to write and that I did post in the Tomato Forum. This one I think is better than the above snippet, only b'c he spent more time with it knowing it was going to be posted as a definition and it is more detailed.
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Definition of Dwarf, by Craig Lehoullier
Dwarf tomatoes are distinct in having a very thick, stout central stem and crinkly dark green foliage - known as "rugose". They behave as indeterminate varieties in that they fruit throughout the season, as distinguished from determinates, which tend to ripen their crop within a short period of time. Determinates also have normal thickness central stems, are highly branched, with blossom clusters at the end of the branches. Dwarfs are more like very short indeterminates - by the end of the season, they are typically no more than 3-4 feet tall, depending upon the particular variety.
So, Indeterminates: normal diameter main stem, highly suckered, normal foliage that can be regular or potato leaf, fruit throughout the season, high foliage to fruit ratio, with the main stem and side shoots having the potential to grow 8-10 feet or more throughout the seawson.
Determinate - normal diameter main stem, highly branched, compact - foliage can be regular or potato leaf - such as Taxi or Fireball (reg leaf), or Southern Night and Black Sea Man (potato leaf). Foliage is the same as the foliage on indeterminate varieties - not crinkly or rugose. Very high ratio of fruit to foliage, ripens its crop nearly all at once then kicks the bucket. Flavors tend to be bland due to the high fruit to foliage ratio. True determinates did not emerge until the 1920s, - such as Cooper's Special and Pritchard Scarlet Topper.
Dwarf - very thick main stem, not all that branched, but grows vertically very slowly, foliage can be potato or regular leaf but is in both cases very dark green and crinkly (rugose). As young seedlings, Determinate and Indeterminate are pretty much indistinguishable, but it is easy to identify dwarfs due to the much shorter appearance, thicker central stem and crinkly foliage. Like indeterminates, they fruit until frost, but top out at 3-4 feet - also, they fruit sporadially throughout the season, and the high foliage to fruit ratio allows for better flavors. Very few true dwarfs are known, with the better known ones Dwarf Champion, Golden Dwarf Champion, Dwarf Stone and Lime Green Salad.
Carolyn
