Winter Micro Tomatoes

[GoDawgs]

Yesterday I got the three newest micro tomatoes potted up and started some garlic bulbils in a window box.



The new micros now join the other three under the lights for the duration. Both sets consist of one each of Red Robin, Jochalos and Pinocchio Orange. The three older ones (front row) were started from seed 8/22 and are already setting fruit. The younger ones were seeded Sep 18 and already two have flowers. I'm trying to time the starts so that as the older ones finish bearing. the younger ones are starting to produce with the aim of having cherry tomatoes throughout the winter. I'm not sure when I'll start the next three. Can't have more plants than I have lights for! Got to get the growing intervals right, at least for these three varieties. The next three might be a different combo.



Pinocchio Orange at 38 days from seeding:

[MissS]

That sounds like a wonderful winter project for sure. I am going to try some indoor micros this year for the first time. I had better get some seed started because it looks like I am way behind...

[rdback]

That sounds like a wonderful winter project for sure. I am going to try some indoor micros this year for the first time. I had better get some seed started because it looks like I am way behind...

Ditto lol

[HL2601]

I love growing Micros all Winter. Good for you for staggering appropriately! I usually do 2 waves. One Nov 1 and 1 Feb 1. Good luck!

[GoDawgs]

I love growing Micros all Winter. Good for you for staggering appropriately! I usually do 2 waves. One Nov 1 and 1 Feb 1. Good luck!

Are those the dates you start your plants? And what kind of production overlap is there? I know that varies depending on varieties used but I'm just trying to get a general handle on staggered starts.

[HL2601]

@GoDawgs Yes that's when I start them. This year I also did some at the end of August so they are just budding. Since I am doing grow outs, my goal is to get to the next generations sooner rather than always having lots of fruit. I do have fruit a lot tho

[wykvlvr]

I love growing Micros all Winter. Good for you for staggering appropriately! I usually do 2 waves. One Nov 1 and 1 Feb 1. Good luck!

Grin I like those start dates. It also means I am not as behind as I thought. Wry grin I do have what I am growing selected but still need to dig out my lights, etc so I can get started.

[AKgardener]

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Glad I’m not the only one growing micros this winter haha I only have micro toms started so far

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I love my light and shelf set up my husband got for me

[MissS]

Glad I’m not the only one growing micros this winter haha I only have micro toms started so far. I love my light and shelf set up my husband got for me

You have a very nice husband. Lucky you!

[AKgardener]

@MissS thank you he is definitely a treasure considering he is letting me grow 2 big plants in the house this winter but not without a goodie for him haha men always negotiating

[GoDawgs]

@AKgardener , those are some nice healthy plants. They like that light you have. What variety are they?

An update on the micros here.

They're coming right along. The three older plants are on the front row. L to R: Red Robin, Pinocchio Orange and Jochalos (a yellow):



We're about to pick the first two tomatoes, one off each of those smaller smaller plants. The Red Robin is a lot bigger but taking its sweet time putting on fruit. I think next time I'll choose something smaller for that third spot in the lineup.

[AKgardener]

@GoDawgs they are micro toms I have so many varieties but these fit under the lights just right! I would try the baby variety as well I really like the taiste of the vilmas

[zeuspaul]

What size pot should I use? I have some Red Robin seeds. Is 2 gallon adequate? or do I need more?

[GoDawgs]

I can't really say what size pot that is that the Red Robin is in.Maybe a one and a half gallon? But last spring I put the Red Robin on the porch in a 2 gallon nursery pot and it seemed to do fine. A #1 was too small and a #3 too big.

[mama_lor]

The prudac line of micros is very suitable for winter, imo much better taste and production in such lack of sun than the classics like Red Robin.

[GoDawgs]

The prudac line of micros is very suitable for winter, imo much better taste and production in such lack of sun than the classics like Red Robin.

@mama_lor, got some variety names I can look at?

[HL2601]

@mama_lor The Prudac line? Do tell!

[mama_lor]

I thought they would be more known. They're hybrids, prudac.com. Heartbreakers Vita is commonly available as seed over here and sometimes Valery if you're lucky, also often sold as micro tomatoes with ripe fruit in pots in the late spring. They have a so called heart shape (aka pointy), and more resemble a grape tomato in texture and taste (the new small grape tomatoes with dimples that I assume are the available in every store), which is not quite the classic taste.

[GoDawgs]

Thanks for that link. I've never heard of them. That's funny about the four Ponchi F1 varieties, names Do, Re, Mi and Fa. I did a search and it looks like Territorial has one of the Heartbreaker series (Dora). Unfortunately they want $5.95 for ten seeds plus $7.95 shipping so I think I'll pass.

[zeuspaul]

With standard tomatoes starting in a small pot and then planting up can affect the root structure. With micros should I use the same procedure or plant directly in the final pot?