Ground JewelTM and Ground DewTM Are Two New Tomato Inbred Lines for Growers in the Northern and Short-season Locations

Ground Jewel^TM and Ground Dew^TM are two new dwarf tomato cultivars with determinate growth habits. Fruit production is relatively high for the mature size of the plant where the fresh fruit accounts for on average 87% for Ground Jewel^TM and 84% for Ground Dew^TM of the total plant weight at harvest. Both cultivars are the result of an initial cross between Zac-Heart^TM and MicroTom in 2008. Successive generations were selected for high fruit yield, short time to maturity, dwarf plant structure, and stable phenotype. Plants from these two cultivars can be spaced one foot on center from each other and still achieve maximal yield. Ground Jewel^TM and Ground Dew^TM are attractive varieties for both commercial producers and home gardeners, especially those residing in regions with short growing seasons. Ground Jewel^TM and Ground Dew^TM are the first two cultivar releases from the University of Minnesota Tomato Breeding Program. The main goals of this program are breeding cold hardy short season tomato varieties that appeal both to commercial growers and home gardeners residing in colder climates with short growing seasons.