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In the early 2000s, Australian and American amateur breeders began developing new varieties of tomatoes. The project was named Dwart, which means "Dwarf". For a decade and a half, amateurs from different countries have joined them. Russian breeders did not stand aside either.
When breeding new varieties of tomatoes of the Gnome series, the following tasks were set:
- The ability to grow tomatoes in limited conditions, and specifically - with a lack of free space.
- High productivity.
- Resistance to various diseases characteristic of the nightshade family.
All goals have been achieved. Moreover, in the process of breeding over a decade and a half, more than two dozen new varieties of tomatoes have been created. The whole series received the unusual name "Gnome". Work on the development of new varieties does not stop at this time.
General characteristics of the series
Despite the intriguing name, the plants of the “Gnome” tomato series are not at all stunted. The average height of representatives of various varieties varies from 45 cm to 130-140 cm, and the weight of the fruits is from 50 to 180 grams.
All varieties of tomatoes in the Dwart series have their own characteristics, but they are united by several characteristics, thanks to which they can be easily distinguished from other varietal plants:
- Tomatoes do not need pinching;
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Plants are compact and occupy a small area, which is a big plus for summer residents who have small areas;
- Early maturity. The fruits ripen in mid-July;
- It has one, very rarely two slightly branched stems. Tomato bushes are mostly standard;
- The foliage is wrinkled, emerald green;
- The stems are strong and thick;
- All varieties of "Gnomes" grow well even in thickened plantings and give an excellent harvest;
- Any varieties can be grown in tubs, on a balcony or loggia;
- Tomatoes are distinguished by high yields and strong immunity to almost all diseases;
- Almost all dwarf varieties belong to the large-fruited group.
Each subspecies differs not only in the mass of fruits, but also in shape, and, most importantly, in color. The color range of the "Gnome" series tomatoes is very diverse: from classic red and pink to unusual white, brown, green, purple. There are also the usual shades of yellow and orange, but there are also unique ones such as the striped "Gnomes".
The palatability of the fruit is highly appreciated. They have such a wide range of flavors - from sweet to spicy with a slight pungent aftertaste - that there is a desire to grow and appreciate each variety.
Dwarf series classification
The Dwart tomato series includes more than 20 different varieties, which are very difficult to understand the first time. Therefore, it became necessary to classify varieties. Each group includes plants whose fruits differ in color:
- Black-fruited;
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Green-fruited;
- Rosy;
- White-fruited;
- Yellow-fruited;
- Bicolors (that is, two-color);
- Orange-fruited.
The wide assortment of Gnome tomatoes proves that nothing is impossible for true amateur breeders.The painstaking work on the development of new varieties does not stop until now, and in the coming years new representatives of the Dwarf project will appear on the market.
Brief characteristics of some varieties
The variety of Gnome tomatoes is simply amazing. In this series, you can find large-fruited and small-fruited plants, with an early and medium-early ripening period, but they are united by one thing - unpretentious care. Tomatoes grow in small areas, and the planting scheme provides for planting 6-7 plants per 1 m².
According to the description and characteristics, "Gnomes" do not require pinning and garters. However, during fruiting, it is still worth paying attention to the bushes and, with an abundance of fruits, it is advisable to tie them up. Plants often fall to one side under the weight of the fruit.
The flavor characteristics of tomatoes are as varied as the range of dwarf varieties. Here are just some of the brightest and most popular varieties of the Dwarf tomato series.
Pink passion
This high-yielding tomato variety of the "Gnome" series is a determinant one. In greenhouses and greenhouses, bushes grow up to 1 meter in height, when grown in open space up to 50-60 cm. Plants have a standard thick stem and do not need to be formed. The leaves are large, wrinkled, similar to potato leaves.
They do not require pinching, they are resistant to late blight and other diseases of the nightshade. The variety is medium early, the fruits ripen 100-110 days after germination.
The fruits of the "Gnome Pink Passion" tomatoes are large, weighing up to 200-220 g. On the bush they form clusters, 3 - 5 fruits on each. The tomatoes are round, heart-shaped and have a bright pink-red hue, reminiscent of strawberries. The pulp is juicy and fleshy, with a small amount of seeds, has a rich sweet taste with a slight acidity and a pleasant aroma. The fruit contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals, including iron.
These tomatoes are versatile in use. They can be eaten fresh, used for baking and preparing second courses, pickled and salted. Fruits tolerate storage and transportation well, retaining their presentation and taste.
"Pink Passion" has all the advantages of the "Gnome" series tomatoes: compactness of the plant, high yield, excellent taste of fruits and resistance to diseases of tomatoes.
Like other high-yielding tomatoes, "Dwarf Pink Passion" is picky about soil fertility. With intensive fruiting, it needs regular watering. It responds perfectly to the application of mineral fertilizers. Good care and timely feeding provide a yield of up to 7-8 kg per 1 m².
Golden heart
It is possible to describe the variety of tomatoes "Gnome Golden Heart" as a dwarf - the plants reach only 50 - 80 cm in height. Determinant. Suitable for cultivation both in soil and under a film or in greenhouses.
The bushes are compact, slightly branched, with medium-sized wrinkled leaves. They need formation only at the initial stage of growth. Due to their small size, they can be grown not only in garden beds and greenhouses, but even in flower pots. Tomatoes "Golden Heart" are distinguished by high productivity and amicable ripening of fruits. Plants have a strong stem stem, but may need to be tied to a support with a large number of fruits.
This variety of tomatoes from the "Gnome" series refers to early ripening. Fruits are round-heart-shaped, weighing 100 - 180 g. They are tied on hands in 3 - 6 pieces, ripen approximately 90 - 95 days after germination of seedlings. Ripe fruits have a rich golden yellow color and a thin glossy skin, juicy dense pulp and a small amount of seeds.They are not prone to cracking, they retain an excellent presentation for a long time.
Tomatoes have a refreshing sweet and sour taste and delicate aroma. They are great for fresh food, for any kind of culinary use, as well as for freezing and preserving. They contain a lot of vitamin C and beta-carotene. The fruits tolerate storage and transportation well. Collected green, they ripen well in indoor conditions.
The disadvantages of Gnome Golden Heart tomatoes include sensitivity to the composition of the soil, a high need for regular watering and application of mineral fertilizers. However, this is fully compensated for by a bountiful harvest: with proper care of plants from 1 m², up to 6-7 kg of fruits can be harvested.
Thong
This is a mid-season tomato, quite tall, despite the name "Gnome". The height of the bush can reach 140 cm. It is recommended for growing outdoors.
It has wide leaves and fruits of a rounded, slightly flattened shape. It is interesting to watch the ripening of the fruits of the "String" tomato. At first, their color is dark olive with a purple tint, but as they ripen, the tomatoes acquire a pink-purple-olive color.
The average mass of tomatoes reaches 280-300 gr. The tomato pulp is dark cherry color, sweet, juicy and fleshy.
Tomato "Gnome String" does not require pinching, it is resistant to many diseases. Plants easily tolerate slight drops or increases in temperature, are not afraid of heat and drafts, and have a bountiful harvest. As for keeping quality and transportation, here, too, the quality of the tomato is at its best.
Tomatoes of the "Gnome" series can be used both fresh (salads, juices) and for preservation.
Striped anto
Tomato "Gnome Striped Anto" is a stocky bush with a height of 60 to 100 cm in height. Refers to medium early varieties, intended for cultivation in the open field.
As for the fruits, especially their color, then there is a place for the eye to roam. Incredibly beautiful fruits have gathered a gamut of colors: yellow, purple, olive, pink. When fully ripe, the fruits become brick-red with black stripes. The shape of the tomato is round.
The mass of one tomato ranges from 70 to 150 grams. 5-7 fruits ripen on the brush at the same time. Taste is excellent: juicy, fleshy, sweet, with a rich tomato flavor. The flesh is red in the section.
Tomato "Gnome Striped Anto" is the best among the whole series. Not picky in care, not susceptible to disease, adapts to any weather conditions, does not require pinching, and has a high yield. From a bush, subject to the rules of agricultural technology, you can collect up to 3-5 kg of tomatoes.
The tomato is stored for a long time without loss of taste and appearance. Easily transfers transportation.
The area of application is wide: it is good fresh, excellent for whole-fruit preservation, and also as an ingredient for winter harvesting. Thong tomatoes can be frozen and dried.
Purple heart
The original name of this tomato variety is Dwarf Purple Heart. The plant is classified as mid-season, determinant. Designed for growing in the ground or under film shelters.
The standard bush grows up to 0.5-0.8 meters in height, does not need regular pinching.
The fruits of the "Gnome Purple Heart" tomato are heart-shaped, at the stage of full ripening they have a purple-chocolate color, an average weight of 100-200 grams, fleshy and contain few seeds.
The yield of tomato reaches 2-3 kg from one bush, subject to the rules of agricultural technology.
Among the advantages, I would like to note that with a rather low growth, it gives rather large fruits.
Seeds are sown for seedlings 2 months before the intended planting in the ground. When transplanting to a permanent place, up to 6 plants can be placed on 1 m².
The fruits have a rich, tomato flavor, the pulp is dense. They are good both for fresh consumption and for making juices, mashed potatoes, pasta, ketchup.
Shadow-boxing
Tomato "Dwarf Shadow Fight" is a mid-season, semi-determinant. It is recommended to grow plants of this variety outdoors or under a film. It is resistant to the main diseases of tomatoes. Fruit ripening begins 110-120 days after germination.
The height of the bush is 0.8-1 m. The tomato requires a garter, especially during the fruiting period. Passionate only as needed. You need to form a bush in 2-3 stems.
Carpal fruiting. In one cluster, up to 4-6 fruits of a golden-orange color with bright crimson flashes ripen at the same time. There is a small blue or purple spot near the stalk. They have an elongated cream shape. Melon pulp.
Sowing seeds is carried out 2 months before planting in the ground. When replanting, you can place up to 5-6 plants on 1 m². Subject to the rules of agricultural technology, tomatoes from 1 m² can yield up to 15-18 kg.
I would like to add that exotic tomatoes of the "Dwarf Shadow Fight" variety look very unusual during the ripening period. The bushes look like a bright Christmas tree, hung with colorful toys.
According to the reviews of summer residents, tomatoes "Dwarf Shadow Fight" are very tasty and sweet, with a barely noticeable sourness. The fruits can be eaten fresh, as well as for canning.
A brief description of the variety and description of the fruits of tomatoes "Shadow Boxing" are presented in the video
Cheerful gnome
Tomatoes "Cheerful Gnome" are determinant, medium early, high-yielding varieties. Designed for open field cultivation. The bushes are low, no more than 0.4-0.5 m in height, require a garter to a support, do not need pinching.
Fruits are elongated, with a "spout", smooth and dense, the skin is thick, have a rich, bright red color in the phase of full ripening. Fruit weight 70-90 grams, do not crack during ripening. They have excellent taste, great for:
- conservation;
- fresh consumption;
- preparation of all kinds of blanks as an ingredient.
Seeds for seedlings are sown 55-65 days before transplanting into open ground. The recommended planting scheme is 5-6 plants per 1 m².
Big gnome
Tomatoes "Big Dwarf" - a new variety, bred by breeders recently. Therefore, reviews about him are few. Characteristics of the variety, photos of tomatoes are presented only by a meager description.
"Big gnome" refers to medium early, semi-determinant, high-yielding varieties. Tomatoes can be grown in greenhouses, greenhouses and open ground. Like all representatives of the “Gnome” tomato series, the plant is low, up to 1 m in height, which does not require special care and pinching. During the formation of the ovaries, it is advisable to tie the bush to the support.
The variety is highly resistant to diseases typical of tomatoes. Due to the early ripening period, it is not prone to phytophthora.
Fruits are flat-round, the color of tomatoes in the phase of full ripening is red-pink, weighing 250-300 g, the pulp is juicy, dense, fleshy. The seed content is low.
Scope of the Big Dwarf tomatoes:
- fresh consumption
- canning
- freezing and drying.
It is recommended to plant seeds 55-60 days before planting in the ground, the planting scheme is 4 tomatoes per 1 m².
Wild fred
Tomato variety "Gnome Wild Fred" is a mid-season, high-yielding, determinant crop. The bushes are low - up to 60 cm.The plant does not require special care, does not need pinching.
Fruits of "Wild Fred" are flat-rounded, have a brown color with a purple tint. The mass of tomatoes is 100-300 gr. The fruits are very aromatic and have a rich flavor. Scope: fresh, for preparing summer salads, juices, ketchups, sauces.
You need to plant seeds 2 months before planting in the ground, the recommended planting scheme is 4-5 plants per 1 m².
Ferokovkay
Tomato "Gnome Ferokovkay" is a determinant and belongs to mid-season, high-yielding varieties. When grown in greenhouse conditions, the height of the bushes reaches 1.2-1.4 m, in the open field - 0.6-0.8 m. Fruiting is carpal. In each hand, 3-6 fruits are formed.
Tomatoes are flat-round in shape. They belong to bicolors, in the phase of full maturation they have a wide variety of colors: pink, yellow, orange, red. All shades are intertwined both outside and inside the fruit.
The average weight of tomatoes reaches 250-350 grams. Juicy, fleshy fruits do not crack when overripe. The taste of tomatoes is classic sweet with sourness.
Gnome
Tomato "Gnome" is an early maturing (90-110 days from germination to the beginning of ripening), undersized, unpretentious crop for cultivation in open ground, greenhouses and under the film. You can grow tomatoes of this variety in pots (at least 8-10 liters in volume), tubs, buckets.
The bushes are low - only 50-60 cm, medium leafy, slightly branched, do not require pinching.
The fruits are round, at the stage of maturity they are bright red, the average weight of the fruits is 35-60 grams, they do not crack when ripe, they are distinguished by good keeping quality.
Tomatoes "Gnome" - a universal culture, as the field of application is wide enough. Fresh consumption, canning, for preparing second courses and savory pastries (as a component), for winter preparations, freezing, drying - these tomatoes can be used almost everywhere.
The yield of tomatoes "Gnome" can reach up to 5.5-7 kg per 1 m², subject to the recommendations for planting and care. It is recommended to sow seeds for seedlings 1.5-2 months before planting the plants in the ground. The optimal planting scheme is 5-6 plants per 1 m².
Rules for planting and growing a dwarf series
The cultivation technique of growing varieties of tomatoes of the "Gnome" series is almost no different from the cultivation of ordinary tomatoes.
Tomatoes can be grown using the seedless method only in the southern regions. In regions with a harsher climate, it is recommended to grow tomatoes in greenhouses or greenhouses, otherwise the fruits will not have time to ripen. When planting, it is important to consider the recommended planting pattern. Each variety has its own planting rates.
It is necessary to plant seeds for seedlings 2-2.5 months before the proposed transplantation of plants into the ground. At the initial stage of growth, it is important to provide the tomatoes with timely watering, good lighting and fertilizing with complex fertilizers. In the phase of well-formed 2-3 leaves, the seedlings should be dived.
If you are going to grow Gnome tomatoes in pots, the containers must be prepared in advance, 1.5-2 weeks before transplanting. A drainage layer of 1.5-2 cm is required. The soil must be fertile and loose - this is the main condition for obtaining a bountiful harvest.
Despite the fact that almost all tomatoes of the Dwarf series are cold-resistant, before taking containers with plants outside or before transplanting them into the ground, tomatoes must be hardened. For this, the container or boxes with seedlings are taken out into the street for an hour and a half. The "walk" time should be increased gradually. Tomatoes can be replanted after 7-10 days.
Most dwarf tomatoes do not need a garter, because they have rather thick and strong stems. But some varieties are distinguished by high yield and fruit size. In this case, to help the plant during the fruiting period, it is worth tying them to a support.
All varieties included in the "Gnome" series are distinguished by the absence of the formation of a large number of stepchildren. Therefore, tomatoes do not need pinching. The exception is those plants, the bushes of which must be formed into 2-3 stems during the period of active growth.
All tomatoes of the "Gnome" series are hygrophilous. But at the same time, do not forget that an excess of moisture can be the cause of diseases. To prevent this from happening, the lower leaves of undersized bushes must be removed.
After transplanting, provide the "Gnomes" with the simplest conditions: watering, weeding, loosening and feeding. Compliance with these simple rules is the key to a bountiful future harvest.
Conclusion
The Dwarf Tomato project is not that many years old. And during this period, more than twenty new varieties of tomatoes were bred and registered, which delight avid gardeners not only with a rich color range of fruits, but also with a high yield and excellent rich taste. For any summer resident, the “Gnome” tomato series is an endless opportunity for constant experimentation.
