Quick question about tomato identification

[superfly78]

Hi,
Apologies if this is a dumb question but I am new to growing my own veg. A friend gave me a packet of seeds from Suttons that contained 11 diff varieties of tomatoes, they have all germinated and i now have 20 seedlings which I will struggle to fit in my garden amongst everything else I'm growing. Is there anyway to identify different varieties before they start fruiting so I can give away duplicates? I'm guessing not but thought I would ask anyway, I think I will have to resign myself to a tomato jungle this year!

[Thelma Sanders]

There isn't a way to tell them apart

[Florence Fennel]

There are no dumb questions superfly and welcome to the Vine. In fact someone else asked this same question on another thread. the only way you will be able to tell is when the tomatoes fruit and are fully ripe. Why not give them away labelled "Houcantell"

[rustylady]

Did the packet state what varieties were included in the mix?

[JoeDaStudd]

Fingers crossed most of them are the same colour fruit.
We planted 4 coloured varieties last year green, yellow, orange and red which got mixed up.
Made for a tomato style Russian roulette for the first few fruits from eat plant.

This year I'm still doing a few different colours, but this time they are all marked up.

[superfly78]

Thanks everyone!

@rustylady, yes on the packet it says there is:
Bloody Butcher
Christmas Grape
Golden Cherry
Tanaki
Yellow Debut
Garden Peach
Red Zebra
Snowberry
Sultana
Tangella
Tigerilla

@Florence Fennel They all sound and look quite interesting so i'm scared that i might give away all of one of the varieties without knowing and I don't get to enjoy it, very selfish haha.

[veggiechicken]

Welcome superfly
I think Potty is growing this selection too. He may have some idea of which are which from the growth habit............or he may not!!
Keep your fingers crossed that he comes along soon.

[rustylady]

Bloody Butcher - Cordon - potato leaf variety
Christmas Grape - Cordon
Golden Cherry - Cordon
Tanaki ?
Yellow Debut - Cordon
Garden Peach - Cordon
Red Zebra - Cordon
Snowberry - Cordon
Sultana - Cordon
Tangella - Cordon
Tigerella - Cordon

So the good news is that you don't have to worry about some of them being bush varieties, the bad news is that only one of them (Bloody Butcher) is likely to be identifiable by the leaves.

I guess you'll just have to keep them all

[superfly78]

Bloody Butcher - Cordon - potato leaf variety
Christmas Grape - Cordon
Golden Cherry - Cordon
Tanaki ?
Yellow Debut - Cordon
Garden Peach - Cordon
Red Zebra - Cordon
Snowberry - Cordon
Sultana - Cordon
Tangella - Cordon
Tigerella - Cordon

So the good news is that you don't have to worry about some of them being bush varieties, the bad news is that only one of them (Bloody Butcher) is likely to be identifiable by the leaves.

I guess you'll just have to keep them all

Thanks!! Guess I'll be eating lots of salad and making lots of chutney this year!! Think I might invest in a tomato recipe book haha.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sorry can't help I am afraid mine are no where near advanced enough.

It was a good free offer from Suttons but I too was suprised when they all arrived in one packet.

Still it give us something to look forward to Tomato Suprise.

Potty

[Florence Fennel]

You can never have enough tomatoes Superfly and you'll not need a book, there are loads of ideas on here. Enjoy.

[Paulieb]

I'm growing these and hoping to save seeds from any that I like. I only had 15 seedlings from the pack so some will be missing. Its good in a way that they're all cordons cos then you know how best to grow them. Unfortunately that means it'll be probably July before we know which is which. Fortunately they vary enough so as to be able to distinguish easily between types once they've fruited.

Just need to find space for them all now!!

[Paulieb]

How did everyone get on with this packet of seeds?

I managed to get all of mine to fruit, but as I've been busy haven't tried to ID most of them.

However, one I did try was very nice so I've saved seed. But trying to ID it is slightly more difficult. Through elimination it must be Tanaki, but can I find a picture on google of what its supposed to look like????

It a cherry SIZED tomato, but with the shape of a beefsteak?!? Excellent texture and excellent flavour IMO. Should have plenty for the seed circle!!