Organic Dwarf Rosella Crimson Tomato Seeds

Dwarf Rosella Crimson Tomato is a pink beefsteak tomato with an excellent, well-balanced flavor! Productive plants with 4–8 oz fruits ripen early to mid-season. These delicious tomatoes are great for slicing! This dwarf, determinate tomato variety grows 36–48″ tall.

What is a dwarf tomato? The term “dwarf” refers to the height and size of the plant, not the size of its fruit. Dwarf tomatoes can be grown in all sizes, shapes, colors, and flavors. These plants are great for containers, making them an excellent choice for small space growers and tomato lovers who want to squeeze in as many plants as possible during the growing season! Why not try them all? In addition to Rosella Crimson, you can find all our dwarf tomato seed varieties here.

Planting Rosella Crimson Dwarf Tomato by Zones

Zones 9–10

• Tomatoes grow well in the extended warm season of Zones 9 and 10. Conditions for growing tomatoes are ideal during the warm months of March through October. However, often you can grow tomatoes year-round. This process is called perennialization. It happens when a typically annual plant grows year-round in mild weather.
• Although you can grow tomatoes year-round in Zones 9 and 10, their productivity will greatly dimension once temperatures cool and the days are shorter. As the grower, you should decide to pull your tomato plants if they stop producing at a healthy rate, are diseased, or if you need the space for more seasonal vegetables. In Zones 9 and 10, you can start tomatoes from seed as early as February as long as they are protected from the cold. Do not let your seedlings get root bound in their containers. All seeds of the Solanaceae family enjoy warm temperatures to germinate. Using a heat mat can greatly increase the germination rate and speed.

Zones 2–8

• Sow seeds in starter pots using a seedling heat mat 5–6 weeks before the last frost. Transplant out after the danger of frost is gone. Use row cover if the weather is unpredictable. These determinate tomatoes grow on stocky, non-vining plants.

Planting Dwarf Tomato Seeds

• Tomato seeds are easy to start with a few key bits of knowledge. Tomatoes germinate very slowly in cold soil. If starting your seeds early in the season, we recommend using a heat mat to ensure the soil is warm enough for quick germination. Soil temperature should be 75–90°F.
• When planting in starter pots (recommended), plant seeds into thoroughly moist high-quality seed starting soil. Place seeds on top of the soil and cover with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.  
• If you plan to direct sow (not recommended), follow the same instructions for starter pots or plug trays. 
• Be sure to fertilize regularly with an organic liquid fertilizer, such as fish emulsion, once the seedlings have germinated and have the first set of true leaves. We highly recommend using compost tea to help jump-start your tomatoes. We use Great Big Tomatoes; it’s our secret to happy, thriving tomatoes.
• Seedlings can be planted into the garden when they are 7–8 weeks old or 5–6″ tall and stocky. Tomatoes are unique because you can plant them deeply in the ground. This is recommended because the tiny white hairs on the tomato plant become roots. Plant your starts down into the soil until only 3–4″ of the top leaves show. Tomatoes thrive in full sun.

Growing and Trellising Rosella Crimson Dwarf Tomato

• Dwarf tomatoes are more compact in size and do not “vine” like other cousins. They are much neater, easier to contain, and the best option for container tomatoes. When they become loaded with fruit, they can require some tying up to prevent stems from breaking due to fruit load. We recommend a simple method of weaving like the Florida weave. You can read about trellising options here. Dwarf tomatoes are not a good option for our low and lean method. Because these plants are so small and compact, they are the few tomatoes that work with a tomato cage. 
• A granular organic fertilizer like our Darn Good Fertilizer should be added to the planting area, especially if your garden has poor nutrient content or you are growing in a new raised bed. 
• If you are planting tomatoes in containers, make sure your container is at least 20″ deep. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture. Mulch heavily on the top layer of soil in the pot to keep the soil from drying out or heating up too much. 
• We recommend that you grow dwarf and determinate or bush varieties of tomatoes in pots as they are easier to manage.

Harvesting Dwarf Tomatoes  

• Tomatoes are best harvested at peak ripeness. This is typically when fruits have turned their appropriate color and have a slight give. 

Southern California Pro-tips

• In areas of Zones 9 and 10, tomatoes can be grown year-round but may decrease drastically in production. 
• Mulch heavily around your tomato plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much. 
• During our hottest months of August, September, and October, plants can suffer from the heat. Using shade cloth can help protect plants from extreme heat. Deep watering will vastly improve your harvest and allow you to grow during the year’s hottest months. We produce these dwarf tomatoes in the hot and dry climate of Ramona, California. Regular and deep watering makes production possible and increases yields. Water at the ground level to prevent foliar diseases. 
• In July and August, keep an eye out for the tomato hornworm. This beautiful and slightly scary-looking large caterpillar can devour huge parts of your plant. You can find them by following their poop trails. Handpick them off and toss them in a bucket of soapy water.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Dwarf tomatoes look amazing when they are interplanted with flowers. We plant an array of flowers on our farm, but our Dwarf Red Coneflower is especially beautiful.

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics! Use high-quality soil like our Premium Seed Starting Mix when starting seeds.
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube channel!
• Having pest issues? Check out in-depth information for pests that can be an issue to tomatoes at the UC Integrated Pest Management website.

Need to prune your dwarf tomatoes? Always use sharp, clean clippers, like our Corona Pruners, for the best results.

Our gourmet sea salts bring out the best flavors in your organic produce. Fleur de Sel Gourmet Sea Salt is our go-to on the farm for tomato tastings. It elevates the flavor, brings out the tannins that make tomatoes unique, and adds an amazing “crunchy” texture. Gourmet Sea Salts make great gifts, too! Try them all and let us know which one is your favorite!

• Fleur de Sel Gourmet Sea Salt
  • Use as a culinary finishing salt to transform everyday dishes into the extraordinary.
• Smoked Bacon Gourmet Sea Salt
  • A mouthwatering blend of sea salt and smoked bacon.
• Chardonnay Oak Smoked Gourmet Sea Salt
  • Smoke-dried in aged oak wine barrels; it makes a great finishing salt!