It is normally classed as a determinate rather than a dwarf as the "dwarf" classification has very specific requirements in height, internode length, and production life and SFT exceeds them. But it is an attractive tomato and IMO a better than average taste for such an early variety. Unfortunately in southern, sunny climates the foliage doesn't do a good job of preventing sun scald on the fruit.

Dave

Now that you mention it, what is the height and production life of SFT?

I grew it a few years ago and I thought it was a pretty, compact, acidic spitter! YMMV.

Linda

Wife agrees with you on the taste Linda. :) She is a sweet pink tomato fan.

As to size, reports vary from 2.5 to 4.5 feet depending on climate and growing conditions of course. Production, at least for me, was classical determinate type (flush and then done) but in cooler climes you might get a second flush.

Dave

PS: "tree type" refers to the manner of growth - stout central stalk/stem, usually self-supporting, slow upward growth. Many, but not all of the tree-type varieties are also Rugose leafed.

Thanks for the comments, folks !

About Taste : I personally like slightly tangy taste better than bland. I had no problem w/ SFT taste.

About Size/Height:

Depends on where it is planted. Last time I planted it in a 4-5 gallon and it was under 3ft . If you give it a bigger root space, it can grow maybe bigger.

Even if you do not like the fruit taste, you'll love its ornamental feature. All you need is a 4 to 6 gallon container. I will plant mine in fabric bag.

Sey

I grew one in the ground, and it still didn't surpass 2 1/2 ft, though it was bushy as all get out and extremely productive. I can't imagine it ever getting to 4 1/2 feet. It doesn't seem to want a strong central stem, but just puts out lots of suckers and branches in a low mound. The ones I grew in hanging pots were much skimpier with tomatoes and less branching.

ddsack, .. Mine was in pot. It was very bushy too.

The one I have now are about 10" tall and growing buds under light.

But no lateral branches yet.

Sey

How productive can a 2.5 foot tomato plant be? I am asking in all sincerity since I have never grown a dwarf.

Well, SFT is not a true dwarf as defined by rugose leaves and thickened branches. But it certainly is a very short plant, shorter than many that are defined as dwarfs. Another very similar low growing bushy plant with RL and good productivity is Sophie's Choice.

These are some very old pictures of the plant I grew in the ground. (Have a laugh on me at my pin feed printer paper which I made into a measuring tape for some much taller tomatoes.) You can see the plant barely makes it to 2 ft.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/MizTortuga/Garden%20related/SFTplant.jpg

Here is a photo of what I picked off the plant the day I took the photo. The foliage is so dense many were under cover. The taste of the first few were spitters, so I sort of forgot about it, but later tomatoes were much better and ok if you like a bit of acidity.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/MizTortuga/Garden%20related/silveryfir3.jpg

Well, sorry the pics didn't show up, but the links are ok. For some reason I don't get a preview button anymore, and don't have time to re-edit right now. I don't post often enough here to remember their link usage.

Thanks Sey for recommending this one. I think it's gorgeous looking. I think the different leaves texture possibly attract less tomato pests.

Yes, SFT has beautiful foliage

Closer look

UPDATE:

my SFT plants , shown above now growing buds. I might pinch them off before planting. Not decided yet. I migh leave a few to see what happens. Probably they will be the first to get me ripe tomatoes.

Sey

Dusting Off:

Two days ago I planted out my 2 SFT. One of them has a pea size fruit and blooming. So my first ripe tomato will be off of SFT.And that should set a record in my garden.

I will take pictures tomorrow.

Sey

What date is your current record? Not counting grapes or cherries.

NC..., my record is July 10 for large tomatoes and June 25 for cherry.

Sey

Update :

One of my SFT has its first tomato. Actually it set while still inside. But it has more buds.

Sey

Congrats.

Being Russian, probably SFT does not mind cooler weather.

They are growing nicely and more buds are getting ready. The single fruit on one of them is saladette size now and getting bigger slowly but surely.

By this coming Saturday we will be getting pretty nice warm and mostly sunny weather that should give some vigor to the maters.

Ok, SFT fans, report on yours. I will take new pics morrow.

Sey

Update 4-29-15 : SFT

Our SFT are doing well. We have little tomatoes and more buds. I like the unique fern-like leaves.

Looks very nice.

The only lonely tomato on one of mine is growing bigger. Maybe it is about base ball size. And there are lots of flowers just setting.

This is a beautiful plant and sure produces tomatoes too.

Sey

Here is a picture of one that I took today.

Sey

First Fruit : 6/8/16

I picked the first ripe tomato from one of my SFT plants.

I started from seeds early Feb and planted out around mid April.

The fruit that I got is from a flower that was still inside. I just tested my first use of electric tooth brush on it and it took.

Due cold weather it took more than usual for it to grow. but it did grow, finally.

So this make it a 55 days from plant out.

And this is the plant

Congrats! We have at least one that is starting to ripen. It's the one furthest to the left in the photo above, and it's a nice size, too.

Here it is! We did get some deer damage to our plants last week, but you can see there are still a lot of tomatoes pending here.

We are starting to get a lot of ripening.

From left: sun sugar cherry, stupice, and silvery fir tree.

That is nice gs..

Mine are like flowering plants , with zillions of flowers. . And setting fruits .

Sey

Thanks. It is almost too pretty to eat, but we will!

I seem to becoming a seed hoarder. I first visited this forum because I had compost volunteers, and now I'm ordering a new variety weekly. Too hot here to plant now, but I can and will in Fall and early Spring. I guess I'll have to get this one. BTW, I am loving my grocery store volunteers. Nothing has ripened yet, but fewer trips to the store is a good thing.

Suzi, Silvery Fir Tree is determinant, so it does not get very tall, but ours got nice and bushy until the deer ate some of it, which fortunately did not affect our plant. We got our seedlings from a neighbor who has an urban farm and sells at one of the farmers markets. This is probably the 4th or 5th one we've harvested, but it was such a perfect shape. You can see this large cluster above and there is another one higher.

We're definitely going to either save the seeds and/or else try to start a seedling for fall. We grew a few cherry tomatoes last year, but DH has gotten very interested and motivated this year to expand the garden. It is a far better hobby than him wanting a motorcycle, LOL.

Not sure where you are located, but we have friends in the Palm Desert area and enjoyed our visit over New Year's.

That is good to know about the seed saving. Thanks.

Here is a picture of my SFT, taken today.

It is very healthy and bushy with lots of flowers and some small tomatoes.

6/26/16

This is another SFT in the front , with Indigo Apple and Indigo Rose in the back.

They look like flowering plants w/ so many flowers. And the fruits are setting too.

Sey

I am having a bad year in terms of plants setting and growing fruits. Even the varieties bred for PNW are not doing much.

But at least I have SFTs that are well ahead of the gang. Both plants in 4 gallon pot are doing great ; flowering like crazy and setting despite a very cooler than average June extending into July.

Tomorrow I will take couple of shots to post here.

Sey

July 5 - Update

My SFT plants are doing extremely best against over 25 varieties this season. Here are couple of pictures:

and a close up

There are much more fruits inside the foliage that the camera could capture.

Sey

Looking good! We have never grown them before, and we'll certainly like to again. We've been eating them on a regular basis.

gsc.., That is good to know that you have been already harvesting. Sure in NC/SC that is expected.

BTW: Next year I might move to a NC/SC border area in Columbus county, NC. Same zone as you are at: 8a.

Sey

PS: I have a picture of SFT in 2014 that has tomatoes as big as base ball size on it.

That first SFT tomato pictured above was our largest. The rest have been smaller.

Yeah, lots of people harvesting here. I am in the Charlotte metro area.

Now just wish we'd have as much success with our green peppers!

SFT ... Amazing.

One of them has close to 30 maters already and keeps setting more. The other one has about 15 or so.

They are in 4 gallon pots. I should've given them bigger containers. They deserve it.Next year I will grow half a dozen of them and will ZAP a lot of other dets and dwarfs.

Sey

Yesterday I was trying to tie/support my SFT plants. Wow, they both are loaded with tomatoes any size from just setting to golf ball and bigger. This is while my other 25+ varietie are just getting into action.

Here are couple of pictures:

second plant

The camera's eye cannot see most of the tomatoes as they are inside the foliage.

Sey

Yours look great, Sey. Our SFT eaves got accidentally thinned due to the deer, but we still have more blooms potentially.

If we grow determinant types again, we will definitely put them together in the same bed. The other ones need much bigger spacing. Our Italian Heirloom is gigantic both in height and breadth. The sun sugar cherry are about 9' tall.

We have a couple of blossoms still left but overall we have picked everything else. How do you recommend we save the seeds? I found the saving seeds FAQ but if you have any other suggestions, that would be great.

http://faq.gardenweb.com/discussions/2766582/how-to-save-tomato-seeds

Saving seeds is easy. I do it by fermenting. Just cut one or two tomatoes in half and squeeze the seeds, gel and juice in a small coup or glass. If there isn't enough juice add some from another fresh tomato. Stir it a bit and cover the top with paper towel with a rubber band around it so that no fruit flies will get in.

Leave it on the counter (No direct sun) for about 5 days until you see some white goo on top.

Then pour it into a tall glass, add some tap water, stir it and pour out the solids and what floats. Continue this few times. You will see that the good seeds will sink right away with no more solids. Then rinse it and spread the seeds on a paper plate so the seeds are well spread singly. Dry it in the room temperature for a week or longer such that the seeds feel dry to the touch. Then put the seeds in a container , close the cap. Keep it in a cool place.

That is all there is to it.

Sey