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Bemidji Minnesota

Hi all, I have some seedling started, from seeds from CP's I grew last year.

I grew them in close poximity to the Romas, and now I am considering the chance that there may have been a possible mixing of the two.

Hopefully not.

So far as I know, I would have to intentionaly cross them, and CPs are an heirloom that should be the same year after year.

However, I am not confident of that.

Am I wasting time and effort with these seedlings?

4/16/2008 2:56:55 AM

West By God Virginia

Tomatoes naturally cross pollinate (bees or other insects, wind etc.)on average 5% of the time or less. Chances are you're seedling will be Cherokee Purple.

4/16/2008 8:46:33 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

Glad to hear that.

5% or less chance of gettting Romarokee Purploids.

I can live with those odds.

That is good news.

And Hierlooms, far as I know, do not turn to other junk in the Gen2, the way F1 hybrids do Either.

I like to start my tomatos early, so that they have nice long stalks to trench bury for a good root base in early may.

4/16/2008 12:31:23 PM

Georgia

Doug knows his maters.....

4/16/2008 12:49:50 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Hey a roma purple would not be a bad outcome. Tastey and Meaty.

4/16/2008 1:52:18 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

try a couple seeds, you never know a purple roma may be awesome.

I have grown my own seed for yrs. and dad had a very tastey cross last yr.

4/16/2008 2:07:29 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

sooo, that is it then, even if I do get a Romarokee Purploids, they may make the worlds finest sketti sauce.

I know in one of the diaries a guy grew a mix of AG and pink bannana squash, accident with an "open". Ended up with a Giant bannana squash. Would be good for a lot of pies.

4/16/2008 7:02:51 PM

West By God Virginia

An heirloom or open pollinated (non hybrid)will produce very similar results year after year as long as they don't accidently cross with another variety. Hybrids are a whole different story. Saved seed from an F1 hybrid can produce numerous variables of the parent plants used in the initial F1 cross. Some folks dedicate year to trying to stabilize an F1 hybrid by selection. There are a few varieties out there now that are stabilized(dehybridized) versions of hybrid tomatoes.
You're right though if you do end up with a cross of Cherokee Purple X Roma or the reverse it might be the best sketti sauce mater ever. I'd call it Romakee Purple though! LOL

4/16/2008 10:43:54 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Unkle Dunkle...if I can cross a Purple Dog Creek x KY Beefsteak?...is there a possibility of a purple w/ yellow stripes type of tomato? Will using Dunkle's Tomato Fortifier increase my chances of success???? Peace, Wayne

4/18/2008 10:39:38 PM

California High Desert CinnamintStick@msn.com

I don't think Cherokee purple or Roma have a superior taste. Crossing them would not be the best choice to me. Have you tried Opalka? This is what http://www.tomatogrowers.com/processing.htm has to say about it.

This is one of the best paste tomatoes we know, primarily because it makes sauce so good and sweet that you wouldn't even have to add flavoring to it. Tomatoes are large, at least 5 inches long, and shaped like a banana pepper with a pronounced tip on the bottom. Plants have wispy-type foliage, but are vigorous and very productive. The fruit has very few seeds and is extremely meaty with a rich, sweet flavor. Although they make outstanding sauce, these tomatoes are good enough to eat fresh. Heirloom variety originally from Poland. Indeterminate. 75 days

5/5/2008 10:45:20 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

Well, my plants are over 8" tall now, and will be hitting the garden on 15th of May.

It will not likely be until late June or July until I know for sure what they are, but as had been said 95% chance they are regular puple cherokee.

The others are SuperSteak, BigZac, and Sweet 1,000,000s.
All F'1s so I will not be keeping their seeds.

5/6/2008 10:52:22 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Taste is a preference..at the farmers markets Cherokee Purple and Brandywine always sell out.

5/7/2008 1:43:38 PM