Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Tomato seeds

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Tomato seeds

    Grow tomatoes .. (4 cordon plants) in my greenhouse and have found that 'Shirley' seem to do well, have good flavour.
    Can I just take the seeds out of one of the fruits ... let them dry off, and then use these next year and create my own plants ?

    Always bought plants - thought I could grow my own from seed.



    Anybody have any other 'really' tasty tomato variety ? would be willing to try.
    Last edited by Argonaut; 19-08-2016, 03:56 PM.

  • #2
    You can - except that Shirley is an F1 hybrid which means that the variety doesn't run true. You might get something very close to a Shirley, but it's not guaranteed.

    There are lots of tomatoes that are open pollinated and from which you could save seed easily - this is a very handy thread that you might like to read through: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...5-a_86401.html

    Personally I like Blush, Berkeley Tie-Dye, Sweet Aperitif, Purple Ukraine and Red Zebra most so far. Plus Crimson Crush, but that 's another F1.
    http://mudandgluts.com - growing fruit and veg in suburbia

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by sparrow100 View Post
      You can - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...5-a_86401.html

      Personally I like Blush, Berkeley Tie-Dye, Sweet Aperitif, Purple Ukraine and Red Zebra most so far. Plus Crimson Crush, but that 's another F1.
      OK no point in me saving seeds.
      I tried a chocolate variety this year - disappointing flavour.

      I'll take a read of that link.

      Comment


      • #4
        Adding a further Q .... all my Tom's ripen together... so now mid-August very few left.
        Is there a sensible way to stretch season?

        Planting later ? ... Been driven by availability of plants in garden centre.

        Comment


        • #5
          I grow different size plants/toms to spread the season and start the seeds off at different times.
          For example, start small fruited bush plants in January, bigger ones in Feb and start the cordons and beefsteaks in March - that's the theory anyway. Then take armpit cuttings in May/June and pot them up for later crops.

          Comment


          • #6
            Lots of seed swapping going on Argonaut which you could join after a few more posts. What variety are your chocolate toms? You may beable to save some of those and swap.

            Comment


            • #7
              I sow tom seeds 3 weeks apart so the oldest and youngest are about 12 weeks apart, we have some that are still expanding over the inner roof of the greenhouse, one small plum type has now produced 14 trusses and I now have to duck under them to get into the greenhouse..

              Comment


              • #8
                OK .. I had followed advice to limit to 6 trusses, to make sure those that do grow ripen - is this no longer thought correct?
                I had that advice from my Father originally ... and the gardening books tend to give similar suggestion.

                If ideas have moved on .. keen to know.
                Last edited by Argonaut; 20-08-2016, 02:48 PM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Argonaut View Post
                  OK .. I had followed advice to limit to 6 trusses, to make sure those that do grow ripen - is this no longer thought correct?
                  Interesting question. Me, I "stop" mine at the beginning of August above the last bunch of flowers, however many trusses they have formed. My aim is to get to winter just as the very last fruits begin to change colour so that I can then pick them to ripen indoors.

                  I wonder what others do!
                  My gardening blog: In Spades, last update 30th April 2018.
                  Chrysanthemum notes page here.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Many people do towards the end of summer, to speed up ripening of the trusses that have already set.
                    I just leave mine to get on with it, if Autumn is kind I still have a few toms ripening in November.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I don't stop mine either - I go for as many trusses as possible

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I'm another one who doesn't stop their toms.
                        Location....East Midlands.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          6 trusses for a shirley sounds right,depends how big the tomatoes are,my moneymaker used to only have time to produce 5 or 6 trusses,14 trusses must be a cherry variety. I've nipped the tops off most of mine now,most have a truss of flowers at the top,so they'l grow throughout September & hopefully we'll have some sun for them to ripen. Indeterminate plants bear fruit throughout the season & determinate varieties produce all the fruit within a couple of weeks. It's nice to have a few different varieties.
                          Location : Essex

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I take the tips off mine when they hit the apex of the greenhouse, which is 5-8 trusses, depending on the variety. It gives me tomatoes into October/November if I can keep the humidity under control.
                            http://mudandgluts.com - growing fruit and veg in suburbia

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              gh ones I take the tops out so the plants don't get too big and outdoor ones I take the tops out as and when I feel the need, but often leave them to get on with it.

                              Comment

                              Latest Topics

                              Collapse

                              Recent Blog Posts

                              Collapse
                              Working...
                              X