Quick Summary of Dwarf Babylon’s Glow
- 🌿 Plant Habit: DWARF (Tree-type/Determinate). A sturdy, compact plant with thick stems and dark green rugose (wrinkled) foliage typical of the Dwarf Tomato Project. Height varies greatly by growing conditions: from 60-70 cm (24-28 inches) in pots to over 1.5 m (5 ft) when planted in a greenhouse bed.
- 🌍 Origin: A stunning creation by breeder Blane Horton (Mississippi, USA). It is a highly celebrated release in the dwarf tomato community.
- 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Medium-sized (100-180g / 3.5-6 oz), oval/heart-shaped to plum-shaped fruits. The exterior is a striking ochre/bronze with dark green/brown stripes. Inside, the flesh is glowing bronze-orange (hence the name). They have a very unusual, creamy, almost buttery texture and excellent shelf life.
- 👅 Flavor: Complex, rich, and sweet-tart with a spicy/smoky undertone. It is frequently compared to the famous Dwarf Uluru Ochre, though most growers feel Uluru is slightly sweeter while Babylon’s Glow has its own unique earthy profile.
- ⏳ Maturity & Yield: Mid-to-late season. In cooler/shorter climates, it requires early sowing. Extremely productive, even when grown in relatively small containers (2.5 – 3 gallons).
Babylon’s Glow Dwarf
Another incomparable creation by the experienced breeder Blane Horton (Mississippi, USA)! A compact dwarf, a small plant with dark green rugose foliage.
It was grown in a small pot of about 9 liters (2.5 gallons), which stood at the entrance to the greenhouse all season long. Even on the finest days, I tried not to disturb it or drag the pot outside. Despite the limited soil volume, it felt relatively fine. In the heat, it was watered both morning and evening, although the soil surface was always mulched. I planted 2 plants in this pot and pruned each to 2 stems right from the start. I tried not to remove leaves until the end of the season, only taking off a few at the very bottom…
I couldn’t wait for the fruits to ripen, because from the beginning I expected it to be something unusually amazing! And once again, this breeder did not disappoint with his creation!
The fruits ripened in early August. The tomatoes are mostly small, oval-heart shaped, ochre-colored with dark stripes on the top, and bronze-orange flesh. When sliced, it looks like an orange glow inside the fruit (hence the variety’s name)! A very unusual, creamy texture of the flesh with a sufficient amount of sweetness. Surprised and delighted me!!!
Plant height was roughly 70 cm (28 inches).
Edited December 6, 2018 by Drosera
Not only did I like the variety, but the armyworms (tomato fruitworms) loved it too—they devoured almost all the fruits!
Dwarf Babylon’s Glow. One of the best varieties from the Dwarf project that I’ve grown so far.
It grew in the greenhouse near the entrance on the middle bed. I did not prune it; the bush was vigorous, reaching up to 1 meter (3.3 ft), productive, with typical dwarf foliage—wide and rugose. It prefers a well-lit spot (the more sun, the better) and good support to hold the heavy harvest. By the end of the season, the bush was barely holding on with two stakes.
The fruits are very beautiful, striped plum-shaped, ochre-colored when fully ripe. Average weight around 100g (3.5 oz), up to 180g (6.3 oz). The flesh is buttery, orange-brown, very tasty! A rich, complex flavor, sweet and tart—the only variety of this ochre color that comes close in taste to the famous Uluru Ochre (also from the Dwarf project).
Edited September 23, 2020 by Svetikk
This dwarf really made me happy—with its beauty, taste, and yield!
Copied from my 2020 report.
Not the tallest dwarf, about the same size as its sibling—Uluru Ochre. But the taste… The taste didn’t grab me. Uluru is sweeter and generally tastier. But overall, it’s a handsome tomato… It really does glow, yes.
The yield is excellent, but in taste, it falls behind Uluru Ochre, specifically it’s less sweet. Despite all this, I liked the variety. Good shelf life. Great for both salads and canning/processing.
And this picture is for those who write about the height of dwarfs (clarifying—in a greenhouse, they obviously grow taller).
Babylon’s Glow on October 3, 2020. Taller than me. Meaning it’s definitely over 1.5 meters (5 ft).
Yes, Babylon’s Glow is similar in color and flesh texture to Uluru Ochre. I also agree with Olga that Uluru is sweeter, although both varieties have a spicy/smoky note, so their sweetness and flavor differ from traditional varieties. But overall, yes, it’s a good dwarf, productive, and has excellent shelf life.
As for height, mine grew in a 12-liter (3-gallon) pot and was about 60-70 cm (24-28 inches) tall, definitely no higher. The bush is strong, neat, didn’t push too many suckers, and has very beautiful fruits.
I also confirmed that Babylon’s Glow, while being truly spectacular in appearance, lags behind Uluru Ochre in taste. And the modest Loxton Lass growing right next to it turned out to be extraordinarily delicious.
Good afternoon! I’m trying this variety for the first time this season. I just don’t know where to plant it: in the open ground or try it in a container. I have a 60-liter (16-gallon) construction tub. Can anyone advise which is better?
Quote by Elena1970:
I just don’t know where to plant it: in the open ground…
I grew it 2 years ago, and it was the latest of all my tomatoes (first ripe ones in late August)…. My dacha is near Rybinsk, and late blight usually hits in mid-August. I think in open ground you won’t even have time to enjoy the taste of this beautiful dwarf.
Quote by Sveta4476:
I think in open ground you won’t even have time to enjoy the taste of this beautiful dwarf.
Thank you! I got burned like that with the Shadow Boxing variety, so this year I sowed the Dwarfs on February 3, 2022. I’ll see what comes of it. My Babylon’s Glow had poor germination: only 2 out of 12 seeds sprouted. That’s enough for me, but still!!!
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