Advantages Of Growing Micro Dwarf Tomatoes

Micro Dwarf tomatoes are becoming hugely popular among tomato fanciers. Even though they have been around for quite a while, their popularity have certainly risen over the past few years. This may be so because more people with little or no outside growing space are wanting to grow good food. Some may be wanting to do so all year around, inside and out. Others are just trying to make it through the winter and just need to grow some good tomatoes in the process. Whatever the reasons may be, I am living proof that Micro dwarfs can easily fill that void. So here are some advantages of growing Micro Dwarf tomatoes.

Year Round Growing

The very first advantage of growing micro dwarf tomatoes is that they can be grown indoors and out, all year round. Here is what I do. Starting in mid-September, I sow my seeds and transplant them about 3 weeks later. From October, in my basement, I grow out the plants under lights (T5 HO).  They provide me with tomatoes all the way until January’s end. Some time in December, I start more seeds and grow them out until its time to put them out in mid-March. I repeat this cycle until it’s time to take plants in again. This provides my family with year round food. It’s about a  120 day cycle from the time seeds are started to the time that harvest is done, so plan your seed starting.

Plant Size Lends To Easy Maintenance.

Next, Micro Dwarf tomatoes are exceptionally easy to grow because the are so small and take up less space. I grow 40 plants on a 8 foot long by 3 foot wide table. Plants are grown out in 3/4 gallon containers.  Using two light panels, each measuring four feet long, my growing program has been very effective and efficient. Plants are so small that they require little to no pruning or staking. If needed, I use one Chinese wooden chopstick to stake plants. It works excellently every time! Micro Dwarf tomatoes are almost like plug and play. After they have been transplanted they require very little care. Heat from lights will dry out soil so daily watering may be required. In the years that I have grown micros, I have encountered no issues as it pertains to plant health. No diseases, no surprises!

I just wanted to quickly mention that some micro dwarf tomato varieties are good producers. If timed correctly, just a few plants can provide you with enough tomatoes to last through the entire year. I’ve done it with a rotation of just 6 plants staggered 3 weeks apart.

A huge advantage for me is that most varieties are relatively early. Many micro dwarf varieties begin to ripen around 65-70 days after transplant. Most begin to bloom within 4-5 weeks after transplant. When staggered, you can have a very long harvest season. In fact, your tomato harvest never has to end if you did year round growing. I do!

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