This dark pink cherry tomato was developed in 1969 by Canadian breeders to be both flavourful and disease resistant. Indeed, Mini-Rose is both. In terms of genetics, its ancestry includes a wild tomato (Solanum pimpinellifolium) and built in disease resistance (Verticillium wilt and late blight). Here is a paragraph from the 1970 Canadian Journal of Plant Science introducing Mini-Rose:
Mini-Rose was selected from the cross, Summerland 58-19 X Ottawa 30. Summerland 58-19 is a breeding line carrying the Ve gene for resistance to Verticillium wilt, V. dahliae Kleb. Ottawa 30 was derived from a Mexican small-fruited line, USDA PI 198674, reselected through several generations for resistance to late blight, Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) DBy. Mini-Rose has been tested in eastern Ontario and in the Montreal area as Ottawa 85.
Mini-Rose also tastes great, having a good sweetness, with a bit of tang. It is a low, sprawling plant (2 feet high x 2 feet wide), so it does well in a container.
How to Plant: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed 5mm (¼ inch) deep. Keep moist. When true leaves appear, transplant to a larger container if needed. Transplant outside after the danger of frost has passed/later spring.
