Marmande tomatoes

[Sanjo]

Probably a very silly question but I have only ever grown tiny toms so don't know what to expect with the Marmade.
I know a few grapes are growing them so hope one of you can enlighten me. I have the plants in a cool greenhouse and they are about 10" tall, bushy looking and healthy. BUT - they started off with one flower and that looks like a dandelion flower (multi petalled)(it isn't - that much I do know) and they each now have what I feel are more "normal" looking tomato flowers. Is this right? The dandelion ones are much bigger than the newer flowers.
Should I be picking this bigger flower off. If it was just one plant I would assume that there might be something wrong, but all four are the same.
I originaly thought when I saw the flower that hey, they are bigger tomatoes than I normally grow so will produce a bigger flower and it's not that odd. But, now I have these other normal looking flowers so I am at a loss.
Advice gratefully received. Sanjo

[Hilary B]

Sorry. I've grown them a couple of times, but never had different flowers.....

[Sanjo]

Thanks for reply Hilary. Don't know what to do now. Since all four plants have them I think I had better leave them and see what happens. Sanjo

[Sanjo]

Me again Hilary, suddenly thought to do a search and Pootle asked the same question last year. It apears that they can do the dandelion thing. Whew!! Thought I was going barmy there for a minute. Thanks for answering anyway. I should have thought to do the search BEFORE I posted. Sanjo

[starloc]

Mine do have much bigger flowers than things like gardeners delight with closer together petals, the plants are massive as well and need some serious size canes or other support as when they fruit the fruit is a great weight, i got 2cm wie 8 foot canes from ebay for them

[RedThorn]

Sanjo mine have the same type of flower that you are talking about so you're not going barmy. I'm just watching and seeing what it does. The flower has been open for nearly 2 weeks now and am curious to see if it sets or what it does... the rest of the flowers on the truss are normal all be it bigger that some of the other varieties I'm growing

[rana]

The large terminal flower thing with Marmande happened to me some years back. It also seemed to slow the upward growth of the plant and formation of new trusses. I complained to T&M, who supplied the seed and they said this can happen with Marmande and they kindly sent me another packet of seed.

Additionally with this variety you can get massive tomatos - as big as cooking apples.

[HayleyB]

Yep and they are very meaty and yummy with not too much seed, I grew them last year and as a result have about 30 plants to pot on this year

[Sanjo]

Thanks everyone, I feel much better now. I have been gardening for most of my (nearly) 40 years of married bliss!! but still don't know what I'm doing half the time. No - on second thoughts it isn't that. It's you lot.
If I hadn't joined this site then I wouldn't be trying all these new things and affording my OH much amusement with my smugness when I come back from the veg patch with a handful of leaves and radishes for my lunch.
So - thanks again everyone. Your reassurances much appreciated.