Sturt Desert Pea Tomato

Sturt Desert Pea

70 days, dwarf — The vigorous, rugose, regular leaf plants of ‘Sturt Desert Pea’ produce excellent yields of smooth, oblate, four to eight ounce, red fruit that have a pleasant, well-balanced flavor.

This “Dwarf Tomato Project” variety was selected and named by Patrina Nuske Small from the project’s “Plentiful family.” Involved in its stabilization were Patrina, Craig LeHoullier, Stuart Pollack, Susan Dzejachok, Rich Hawksworth, Lisa Moore and Bill Minkey.

When asked about the name, Patrina told us that it was chosen in honor of Charles Sturt. He was, “. . . a 19th century British explorer who led expeditions into the inhospitable desert interiors of Australia looking for rivers or an inland ‘sea’. An intensely red shiny legume flower was named ‘Sturt Desert Pea’ in recognition of his work.” Introduced for the 2016 gardening season. Each packet contains approximately 20 seeds.