Dirty Girl Tomatoes Are The #1 Dry Farming Variety With Longkeeping Potential!
The Dirty Girl tomato variety is rare in Canada and is grown using dry farming methods. This tomato was developed by Joe Schirmer in Santa Cruz County, California. Schirmer discovered the variety among volunteer plants in a field that had previously been planted with Early Girl tomatoes. He spent approximately 13 years selectively breeding these tomatoes to excel in low-water environments.
The fruit are typically small and round, weighing between 2 to 3 ounces. They have a smooth deep red skin and are known for their rich sweet flavour complemented by a slight acidity. This makes them an excellent for fresh eating, salads, and salsas. The dry farming technique intensifies their flavour! It is incredible how amazing they taste!
I grew these from seed straight into the soil and never watered them once. Due to the heat waves and drought we had in BC, I was not sure they would survive. However, they grew very abundantly and shocked me with their growth and amazing taste!
The dry farming also allows them to yield about 33% more fruit than many other varieties. I did not expect that they would produce so many fruits, yet they did!!
Dry farming encourages the development of deep root systems, enabling the plants to access moisture stored deeper in the soil. This significantly reduces the need for irrigation, leading to more robust growth and superior quality tomatoes. Dirty Girl tomatoes have become a favourite among farmers and gardeners who prioritize effective water use or do not have irrigation or sufficient water to grow crops.
Planted in 2024 on May 18 directly in the garden. I was lucky to acquire these seeds from Dirty Girl Produce in the US.
I discovered a few of these fruit in January and they were still in amazing condition. I am realizing that they are a great storage variety also!
Growing Dry-Farmed Dirty Girl Tomatoes
Dry farming is a method of growing tomatoes using only the moisture stored in the soil, with no irrigation once plants are established. This technique encourages deep root growth and produces fruit with concentrated flavour, firmer texture, and improved keeping quality.
Dry-farmed tomatoes can be started from seed or transplants. Seeds are typically started indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost, then hardened off and planted outdoors once soil temperatures reach at least 15°C (60°F). While direct seeding is possible in some climates, transplanting is more reliable for consistent establishment.
Plant into soil that has retained winter or early-spring moisture. Do not till or disturb the soil unnecessarily, as this releases stored moisture. Dig only the hole needed for planting and set seedlings deeply to encourage strong, downward root growth.
Water only during establishment. Once the plant is rooted and growing steadily, irrigation is stopped entirely. This forces the plant to send roots deep into the soil in search of moisture, which is the foundation of dry farming.
Avoid heavy feeding or rich amendments. Excess nutrients promote shallow roots and leafy growth rather than fruit production. Light surface mulch may be used to reduce evaporation, but soil should not be kept overly moist.
Plants may appear stressed early on, but this is normal. As roots deepen, growth stabilizes and fruit develops slowly with concentrated flavour. Dry-farmed tomatoes are typically smaller, firmer, and more flavour-dense than irrigated tomatoes.
Harvest when fully ripe for best texture and taste.
These Dirty Girl seeds are available directly from Garden Faerie Botanicals in the heart of British Columbia, Canada. The collection features heirloom and heritage seeds that are personally cultivated organically without the use of any chemicals. Emphasizing historical, rare, non-GMO seeds, this selection preserves biodiversity through open-pollination, and representing the widest selection of storage tomato seeds available in Canada.
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