Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

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Growing Coastal
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Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#1

Post: # 11415Unread post Growing Coastal
Fri Feb 21, 2020 11:14 am

I started these two just after Xmas at the new moon.
Noticed that the Lil Lise already has a fruit forming. She is the smaller plant of the two. I grew them before and I know that they both stay short. By the time they are too big for the plant table it should be warm enough to put them out under light in the garage. And later, in hanging baskets on the clothes line.

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Breaking nicely under led lights plus window sun (what little there has been!). We had something like 67 days with rain on each day. Having lights on in the house helped dispell the darkness of those days.
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These both make good tasting, cherry sized fruit.

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GoDawgs
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#2

Post: # 11424Unread post GoDawgs
Fri Feb 21, 2020 12:05 pm

Pretty little plants!

Dec 26th - "Plant sweet corn, beans, peppers and other above ground crops where climate is suitable..."

Do you grow by the moon too? I've been doing it for about three years now and things have been good enough that now I'm afraid to not use it!

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Growing Coastal
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#3

Post: # 11490Unread post Growing Coastal
Fri Feb 21, 2020 9:04 pm

I plant by the moon only if convenient. I argue with a friend who swears by it with the thought that the seed will remain as is in the soil until it is happy with the moon's state if that is what it requires. ;)

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Banadoura
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#4

Post: # 12136Unread post Banadoura
Thu Feb 27, 2020 7:48 pm

These plants look beautiful!

Can you share the following info:

When do you start fertilizing and how much?

Thanks

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Growing Coastal
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#5

Post: # 12138Unread post Growing Coastal
Thu Feb 27, 2020 9:31 pm

Hi Banadoura.
They are great little plants to grow and were fun to watch during winter months.
I start fertilizing when the seed mix has run out of feed which is pretty soon after they come up, just as they start to look a bit pale. I used a mild fertilizer, about 1/2 strength fish fertilizer 1 x/week. When big enough I potted them up into a soil mix that is richer than seed starter.
They are looking nice and green but I see a bottom leaf on each plant yellowing so I am going to start feeding again and give them a little epsom salts drink too. The micro dwarfs have such dense foliage that they won't miss the odd leaf. Actually, I remember taking out some leaves to allow for air circulation the one year I grew them outside. Now that they are in full bloom and fruiting I will change the fertilizer to a lower nitrogen and higher P and K but still at 1/2 strength, weekly.

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MissS
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#6

Post: # 12561Unread post MissS
Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:43 pm

I love your plants and what a nice thread.
~ Patti ~

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Growing Coastal
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#7

Post: # 12763Unread post Growing Coastal
Tue Mar 03, 2020 5:00 pm

Thanks Patti.
It is a simple, fun project that helped dispell the winter gloom. Soon they will have to go out into a setup in the carport to make room for seedlings. I hope they won't be too shocked.

Fruit is coming along nicely on both plants.
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I think they are almost at max height now. I chose these two because I know they remain short.
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Growing Coastal
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#8

Post: # 12764Unread post Growing Coastal
Tue Mar 03, 2020 5:03 pm

MissS wrote: Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:43 pm I love your plants and what a nice thread.
I'm afraid I put it in the wrong place as it is neither a breeding or crossing project! :oops:

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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#9

Post: # 12778Unread post MissS
Tue Mar 03, 2020 7:36 pm

Growing Coastal wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2020 5:03 pm
MissS wrote: Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:43 pm I love your plants and what a nice thread.
I'm afraid I put it in the wrong place as it is neither a breeding or crossing project! :oops:
Would you like me to move it? I can do that for you. Just tell me where you would like it. I think it's okay here though.
~ Patti ~

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HL2601
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#10

Post: # 13321Unread post HL2601
Mon Mar 09, 2020 1:35 pm

Your plants are great looking! They must make you feel very happy!

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Growing Coastal
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#11

Post: # 15420Unread post Growing Coastal
Sun Mar 29, 2020 10:34 am

Yes indeed HL. A happy-making winter project.

Fruit started blushing last week.
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Yesterday I picked one from each and had them with dinner. I thought Lil Lise had slightly better flavour and Vilma a slightly tougher skin. But that's only the 1st fruits which are not always the best, I've read. For me the 1st fruit of any tomato are the best after not having any for so long.

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Lots more to come. Three more Lil Lise are blushing. There may be others I haven't found yet in the dense foliage.

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bower
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#12

Post: # 15424Unread post bower
Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:18 pm

Those look great. Just planting some Red Dwarf micro today. In case it's a Ragnarok summer here. ;)
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm

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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#13

Post: # 15812Unread post Greatgardens
Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:14 am

Nice photos and nice looking plants.
What size pots are you using?

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Growing Coastal
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#14

Post: # 15849Unread post Growing Coastal
Thu Apr 02, 2020 11:30 am

These pots are smaller than one gallon but a little larger than a 6" pot. And yes, the plants are looking good though they've lost some bottom leaves due to lack of fertilizer and maybe dryness but have filled in nicely from breaks. These micros are very dense with many leaves that sometimes hide the fruit.

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HL2601
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#15

Post: # 15931Unread post HL2601
Thu Apr 02, 2020 8:24 pm

I agree with your tasting note-ANY homegrown micro brings far more joy than a supermarket tomato. Growing micros in the winter is a good way to stay sane and to serve petite capreses as a delicacy, Your plants are beautiful! Think about joining Sean and Dan's micro project over at Tomatotalk. It is fun!

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Growing Coastal
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#16

Post: # 16633Unread post Growing Coastal
Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:02 am

The number of tomatoes is impressive for such little plants. I had enough to top a pizza with fresh slices this week.

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AKgardener
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Re: Two Winter Micro Dwarfs

#17

Post: # 20736Unread post AKgardener
Mon May 25, 2020 6:49 pm

glad to see Im not the only one who grows micro's I grow then in the winter I have so many varity's as soon and as the new one's germinate I will post pictures. Im staring the curly kaley right now my husbands favorite is the vilmas.. I have so far 37 varitys of mirco drawfs they are fun to grow..

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