Topic: Self sown tomatoes

[Icyberjunkie]

While tidying up the lottie today I found a couple of tomato plants that must have self sown.  Are they worth keeping and growing on or do you have ot grow from F1 hybrid seeds or whetever these things are called?

[mark_h]

If it was my lottie, I would keep them in to see what happens.

Mark

[tim]

If you need them, grow them.

You will have to watch for signs of 'bush' or 'cordon', to decide on treatment. How? You may well ask!!

We get them every year, from the compost that includes tom plants.

[Merry Tiller]

I grew them on once, fruit wasn't that great so I haven't bothered since

[Icyberjunkie]

Tim,  I presume the bush or cordon means it either falls over if not caned or self stands!   Will give them a go and find out as I have some space and see what happens particularly as I didn't sow any not being sure if they'd grow outside very well....until everyone else's lottie suddenly sprouted lots of plants.  Poor fruit better than none Merrie methinks... 

 

[tim]

Can't see why self-sown should affect the fruit.

[kenkew]

F1's come from crossing more than one type, seed from these won't produce plants identical to the parent so isn't worth the gamble, but self sown seed is no different to saving your own seed and no reason for you not to have decent plants from them providing the seed isn't from F1 fruit. 

[tim]

At least junkie doesn't know what they're supposed to come true to!!

[philcooper]

.....do you have ot grow from F1 hybrid seeds......?

You certainly don't have to grow from F1. Some of the best flavoured tomatoes are open pollenated!

Phil

[sarahr]

Was watching a program on sewage works and guess what was growing merrily away in and amongst all the sewage ;D Not too sure I'd want to eat those tomatoes but I doubt there would have been anything wrong with them.

[Merry Tiller]

Can't see why self-sown should affect the fruit.

The fact is Tim, I grow 6 or 7 different varieties from seed in my greenhouse every year which are planted out on my allotment, they are, barring the odd occurrence of blight very good reliable croppers which taste great.

I once grew on a couple of self sown seedlings out of curiosity, to see if I'd found a wonderful tasting new type but it turned out to be a fairly insipid cherry tomato so I haven't bothered again.

Whilst there is no reason to suppose that a self sown seedling is going to be rubbish, there is also no reason to suppose that it will be good, I just prefer to put my efforts into growing a crop that I can be pretty sure will be worth all the effort.

Everybody is of course at some point as curious as I was, I'm just offering my experience, for what it's worth.  :'(

[Icyberjunkie]

And greatfully received that experience is Merry but you know the exuberance of youth and as men are never supposed to grow up...... ;)

I will drop a note in as and when I get any fruit!

[tim]

MT - yes indeed - but read my lips - or my quote - "if you need them".

[Merry Tiller]

Fair enough  ;D

[philcooper]

And greatfully received that experience is Merry but you know the exuberance of youth and as men are never supposed to grow up...... ;)

You are well on the way to receiving the Extreme Allotmenteer of the week award !!  ;)

Carry on going where others fear to tread - and please report back as you promised

Phil

[Charlotte Sometimes]

Was watching a program on sewage works and guess what was growing merrily away in and amongst all the sewage ;D Not too sure I'd want to eat those tomatoes but I doubt there would have been anything wrong with them.

I heard a similar tale from a friend in Crewe, whose local sewer burst and flooded all the back gardens in the street.  That year they had wonderful tomatoes!   :P ;D

[philcooper]

Tomato seed are remarkably resilient and passing through the human digestive tract only serves to remove the germination inhibiting material that surrounds it in the tomato.

cf elderberry seeds and birds!!

Phil

[Amazin]

cf elderberry seeds and birds!!

Yes, and car rooftops, dammit!