Topic: Gardeners Delight toms - seed saving

[Teej]

I know it's a bit early to think about seed saving but I just want to check before I arrange my greenhouse!
I'm growing 4 GD toms & I also have an Alicante.  If I want to save the GD seeds from the fruit for next year will I have to put the Alicante outside instead of in the greenhouse?
Thanks v much.

[tonybloke]

no you won't
 they will come true to type ;)

[saddad]

The only toms that will cross (relatively easily) are wild types like yellow currant or potato leaf types... so don't grow them in the same greenhouse or poly.  :)

[beckydore]

Does that mean you should grow a minimum of each variety to get good pollination??

[saddad]

No need, the flowers are "botanically perfect" : have male and female parts and self fertilise usually befor the flower opens so just one plant will do the business, if it hasn't worked you get a tomato without seeds... like rocking horse droppings...  :)

[shirlton]

Saddad can you save the seed of F1 shirley if thats all you have in the GH?

[saddad]

You can, they will grow, but your next generation plants are unlikely to be anywhere near as good as the originals.  :-X

[shirlton]

 So what you are saying that its not really worth the trouble.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Not unless you're planning a serious breeding program. I'm sure it would be possible to breed, say, an open pollinated supersweet corn, but only an amateur would be likely to try.

[Digeroo]

You can get an open pollinated sweet corn from Real Seeds hoping to give saving the seeds of it a try. 

[RobinOfTheHood]

You can get an open pollinated sweet corn from Real Seeds hoping to give saving the seeds of it a try. 

I've got a packet of both varieties from them, can't remember their names (Ashford?), but there's an instruction sheet in each bag that you get  - whatever type of seed - and the ones in the sweetcorn say that you need at least 200 plants to get good enough seed to save.

Sorta negates the point of buying from them a little for me.   :-\


PS Double Standard and Ashworth, just looked.

[Digeroo]

Oh dear only got 56 seeds and growing those in batches.  Also there will be other varieties blowing in the wind

[Teej]

That's great - thanks folks.  Will give the seed saving a try this year.  Should get a good crop seeing as we're supposed to be having a long, hot summer according to the "experts"! ;)

[Robert_Brenchley]

You can get an open pollinated sweet corn from Real Seeds hoping to give saving the seeds of it a try. 

Yes, but it's a traditional variety, not a supersweet or anything like that! If someone owas prepared to devote a plot to corn for a number of years, they could potentially do it.