Crowdbreeding Approach to New Open Pollinated Tomatoes: The Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project

Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm

This colorful, info-packed workshop will tell the ongoing story of a unique, collaborative breeding project that began as an idea between two gardening friends in 2005. Combining the short stature of determinate varieties (such as Taxi and Southern Night) and the gradual, season long fruiting of indeterminate varieties (such as Cherokee Purple and Brandywine), dwarf growing tomatoes - a distinct genetic type known since the mid 1800s but never fully developed until now - fulfill an important niche for great tasting, interesting looking tomatoes that can be grown in smaller containers on patios, decks and driveways, thus expanding tomato joy to space-challenged gardeners everywhere. Craig LeHoullier will talk about how he and his team produced the 133 (and counting) new, stable varieties, covering some interesting and basic tomato genetics and processes that could lead to your own tomato breeding project. Be sure to bring all of your questions. Presenter: Craig LeHoullier Host: Jeanine Scheffert