Bundaberg Rumball Tomato

Tried to do a mini grow trial in Colorado for 24 dwarf tomato varieties. BR was a very early flowering variety, only being beat out by Mochas Cherry and tied with Galan's Yellow. This tomato was very productive and produced a lot of large cherry tomatoes, even despite being hit hard by disease this year. The plants fell over, so this variety needed staking, which sort of defeats part of the appeal of a dwarf tomato to me. Taste was good overall, but I noticed that while this plant was productive and had lots of fruits throughout the season, I just didn't eat them. So clearly not my favorite. One of 3 varieties that had some blossom end rot. Some may say blossom end rot is just a nutrient deficiency of calcium, but this is only partly true, it is also a failing of genetics and a good root system since the other 21/24 plants in the trial had the same soil conditions and did not have blossom end rot. I would not grow this variety again, but it may be a good variety for someone else. This variety made it in the top 14/24 in my trial. My wife found it had a mushy texture and did not like it.

I chose this variety mostly because of the name. I have ancestors with the name Bunda, and rumball? I had to try it. So glad I did! Very sturdy plants, lots of tomatoes, did well in my Earthboxes at 7500 altitude. But the flavor! So sweet, and then with acid on topwhoever thought up the name rumball had it just right! I will be saving and sharing this seed, for sure!

I was looking forward to these because of the compact nature of the plant yet fruit that was larger than one once. The color was interesting as well. I grew these initially in my house under lights. I started in an Aerogarden, through the germination until two sets of true leaves, and then moved to a soilless medium with Promix, Tomato Tone and a little bone meal and rock phosphate at the base of the hole. I also added worm castings to the mix. The look and taste of these is unmatched by any of the other 20 varieties planted. Of course, I ordered more seed.

This small dark tomato is very prolific and keeps bearing until frost. Sweet, rich flavor.

I just counted the different types of tomatoes I planted and the total is twenty-six with a total of 72 plants growing. Obviously I'll be sharing with all my friends and family. These 'Bundaberg Rumball' tomatoes were some of the first to ripen and I definitely didn't plant enough of them. Everyone grabs these as soon as I pick them because they melt in your mouth and have a sweet, rich, mouthwatering flavor. We love them! They're doing well in the ground and in containers.