Contaminated seed compost?

[Potstubsdustbins]

If you look at the pic of Cuor di Bue I posted there are similarities, but leaf form does change from early to true leaves.

[george356]

Yes Potsy, I can see the similarities, but my plants are already up to their third leaf pair, not counting the seed leaves, and they still have the same form all the way up. Can you remember, did yours change later than 3 pairs?

BTW thanks to all who have posted comments - if they aren't tomatoes we are on a voyage of discovery

[Potstubsdustbins]

To be honest I can't remember, like you say a 'voyage of discovery' for you.

[Martin H]

I think I have had a batch of seed compost which has been contaminated with unknown seeds.

I sowed what I thought were seeds of tomato "Cuor di Bue" and this is what has come up

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Now, I have never grown this variety before, but they don't look like, or smell like, any tomatoes I have ever seen. Has anyone grown this variety before and can confirm that they are, indeed, "Cuor di Bue" - I may add that it is not just one seedling, I have a tray of 1 dozen seedlings just like these

George

George, I don't think they are tomatoes. I think they could be Hellebore seedlings. Are you sure you haven't sown any of those and got the labelling mixed up?

[george356]

Now that is interesting, Martin. I have Googled Hellebore seedlings and plants, and they do indeed look remarkably alike. Problem is, I have never had any hellebore seeds , so what has happened there is anyones guess. However, I think you have it spot on.

I have 2 of them in a growbag, I think I will have them out and replace with a couple of peppers or chillies.

[sally fran]

yes, the seeds definitely looked like tomato seeds.

But hellebore seeds don't look like tomato seeds - you couldn't mix them up...

[george356]

But hellebore seeds don't look like tomato seeds - you couldn't mix them up...

Yep, that's what I thought. Today, out of pure curiosity I visited a garden centre to actually look at some Hellebores - they look and feel totally different to what I have. Their leaves and stems are smooth, the ones on my seedlings are rough and hairy, just like a tomato plant. The mystery deepens

[Nicos]

I had thought of peony...but their seeds are very different too!

[george356]

I am going to do a controlled test - I still have some of the original seeds left, I will sift some compost and sow one in a small pot and see what comes up - that way I can either blame the compost, the seed or me for mixing them up with something else.

I really don't know how I could have mixed them up though, I have a rigid method - one seed per 2" pot, each one labelled separately, so if I have mis-labelled them I must have been having a really bad day

[WilliamD]

This is what a Cuore di Bue plant looks like before flowering (courtesy of a blogger in Italy).

[lottie dolly]

have just been a goglin,have a look on davesgarden.com,show's several pics of them,your are different,maybe flowers,they look to good a plants to be weeds,I like others are now awaiting in the,what are they quew,

[george356]

This is what a Cuore di Bue plant looks like before flowering (courtesy of a blogger in Italy).

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Thanks for posting that, William (and thanks to the Italian blogger for providing the pic)

It's now obvious that what I have are definitely NOT Cuor di Bue - now the race is on to identify just exactly WHAT they are!

[Nicos]

I'd phone several of your nearest garden centres to see when their head gardeners ( ???maybe most experienced? ) are next in...and hoik it round a few of them to see what they think the plants could be!

It'd be interesting to see what they suggest!

[george356]

I'd phone several of your nearest garden centres to see when their head gardeners ( ???maybe most experienced? ) are next in...and hoik it round a few of them to see what they think the plants could be!

It'd be interesting to see what they suggest!

I have done just that today, Nicos. Left a plant and my contact details. They will get their top man to have a look at it and email me their best guess. One suggestion while I was there was that it might be some sort of cucurbit, based on the tiny spurs on the back of the leaves and on the leaf stems.

[Chippy Minton]

So not a tomtato, tomtater, tomtattie, whatever, it's a cummater, or a tomcumber? Tomatoes and cucumbers on the same plant would be good, or a cross, ideal for a Pimms