Roadside buy

[growingkasbar]

Being the random person that i am, while driving along a country road with my mum today we saw a stand selling tomatoe plants for 50p. So of course i got out and brought 3 plants, then swung by the local nursery and got a grow bag. Now they are at the bottom of the garden. Does anyone know how i find out what type of tomatoe i am growing?

[womble]

If you wait till you get a fruit I can tell you if it's a cherry or a plum, or a beefstake, or a normal sized tomato. If that's any good

Trouble is, most tomato plants tend to look like each other. But then they probably think we all look the same as well.

[Sweepster]

Or drive back and ask

[growingkasbar]

Thanks. They are still a bit small only about 6 inch tall so i will have a long wait for the toms to appear i think. still, patience is a virtue

[00264167]

probably worth asking before it gets too far down the line incase theyve grown it from an f1 hybrid seed

[Paulottie]

probably worth asking before it gets too far down the line incase theyve grown it from an f1 hybrid seed

Your point being?

You can often guess from the quantity of flowers per truss the likely size of your resultant fruit....less flowers bigger fruit.

Most beefstakes tend to throw a double flower first...looks like a little french marigold (this should be removed).

Some varieties are grown as 'cordons'...supported with cane or string and all sideshoots removed (get very unmanageable if not)...others(mainly beefsteaks) as bushes let em get on with it (I normally would steak it out side anyway). If in doubt treat as a cordon.

Don't worry about indoor/ outdoor types...as it doesn't sound like you have a greenhouse...but try and protect them at night to start with. (consistancy of water and temp is everything with tomato culture. Outside you get less fruit with tougher skins but much better flavour.

[growingkasbar]

I do have a greenhouse but its not very big, only a mini one. i have absolutly no room left in it. Its full of veggies!! i am growing them outside in a grow bag three plants all in a line. If it doesnt matter then i will just wait to see the fruit and flowers.

[00264167]

Your point being?

i meant incase theyve grown an f2 plant from the seed of an f1 tomato theyve eaten rather than from a seed packet. probably worth finding out if its not too much hassle.
my parents suspect the rubbish plants they got from a church fate last year might have been a f2 plant.

[growingkasbar]

i still dont understand why it matters if its an F1 or F2? Am i just being thick?

[teakdesk]

i still dont understand why it matters if its an F1 or F2?

In simple terms.....

An F1 plant is a first cross from two different varieties.

The seed from those fruits may be either
- one of the parents
- the other parent
- a copy of the F1 cross (ie this is what is wanted)
- a cross with another plant in the greenhouse
- some other strange things can happen

You take a chance with seed from an F1.


PS F2 is a second cross of an F1, F3 is crossed with F2 etc....


PPS if you grow say Gardeners Delight and Beefsteak tomatoes in your greenhouse they could naturally cross-pollinate - the fruit from each plant will be normal (ie one plant small cherry type; the other a large fruit) but the seed inside them could produce very unwanted results!!!!

[Nicos]

whatever it is- you could do with finding out if it's a bush variety- which shouldn't be pinched out!!!


Part of the fun of gardening is waiting to find out!!!

Just make sure next time you ask!!!

..and at that price- if you think they're a reliable type- treat yourself to 3 more!!!

good luck!

[Minty]

Or you could totally chill out and consider it a bit of a mystery.
Remember Jack sold his best cow for three beans and look what happened there !!.
Really though "look forward to not knowing" it`s great win or lose.
Minty xx