Advice sought on tomatoes please

[pugs]

Hi all,

I have more tomato varieties to grow than I have room. I have some I need to save seed from and some I want to grow and see if I like them or not.

Which should I do:

Focus on the ones I really need to grow out (old seed) and then fill in with a plant or two of as many of the others as I have room for?

Grow enough of each tomato to save seed from them all?

I've read about bagging flowers to prevent cross pollination. I also have some room in some neighbor's yards to grow some in isolation. But don't you need to save seed from 6 - 10 plants of each to really keep the genetic variability?

Thanks for the advice and for listening to me. Please don't hold anything back. I want to hear it all.

Pugs

[sammyqc]

jmo--grow what you want, bag the blossoms, and save the seeds. Tomatoes have pretty good long term viability, how old are your seeds? They should be good for 5-8 years, just in regular storage. If you freeze them, then they'll last even longer.
I don't thing you need to grow that many plants, but someone else will probably chime in with more info.

[Alan]

I would probably try to grow the old seed out first for posteritys sake, however if you have room to spare at a neighbors house then why not have your cake and eat it too? Perhaps you neighbors might show some interest in preserving genetic diversity, particularly if it means they might be getting some free tomatoes.

The genetic varitability issue is one of those that's still pretty debated amongs circles of seed savers, but amongst "Appalachian" families we have a saying for what is commonly known as a genetic bottleneck (when seed is saved from too few plants), we say "The seed has ran out" I would at least try to grow 3 or so of each variety if possible, but this is just one persons opinion.

You can bag blossoms, or you can seperate by distance. To be honest with you, from my experience, with the exception of Potato Leaf plants and currant types, with four feet between rows and four feet between plants I have seen very little crossing take place in my tomato crops. Maybe on the order of 5% crossing or so. Of course thats not all bad because you might come up with a real winner on down the road from one of those crosses.

I hope this helps. If you have anymore questions thats what we are here for friend!

[americangardener]

Pugs,

I'd suggest three plants of each variety too... more if you can find the room. Alan's right about the crossing.. there usually is a very small percentage among the regular leaf types. Of course it varies according to the stamen lengths. The potato leafs I think cross much more readily.

If you need something to bag your blossoms, i think the Organza bags work quite well. That's what i use. I buy em by the hundred count packages from ebay for anywheres from 6-10 bucks a package. And i try to get the larger size 4X6 inch ones, just so i have that little bit of extra room in there. The smaller size would work, just you have to remove em alot sooner than i do. You could probably find them at just about any dollar store with 3-4 per package for a buck. Since you may not want as many as i use.

Hope that helps

Dave

[pugs]

Thanks everyone. I'll try to grow at least three of each of the older ones. Some of the seed is 15 years old, so I don't think it will grow, but I'm going to try. Most of them are ones I can still find, but I'd just like to grow the seed I have. Kinda stupid I know.

I'll have to do a search on Organza bags, I've never heard of them.

Pugs

[grungy]

Pugs,
With older seed, try putting in damp coffee filters slipped into a baggy and kept warm. I find that is often helps germinate older seed. By the way if you like, pm and tell me what varieties you have that are that old. Might have some younger seed for you and we can arrange something.
Cheers,
Val / grungy

[pugs]

Val,

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that. If I don't get any germination, I'll PM with the ones that are old.

Thanks for the kind offer.

Pugs

[sammyqc]

You can use old nylon stockings to bag the blossoms too. I would do it, if you absolutely want to keep that variety pure, otherwise, as the others have said, you have to decide if it's worth the bother. If you trade a lot, or give away seeds, most people would appreciate the extra step to keep the seeds pure. If it's just for you, then you could have some interesting crosses happening, and at least, you would be able to determine if it is what it's supposed to be, kwim?

And those old seeds might surprise you!

[paquebot]

You have a lot of varieties, not much space, but lots of desire. Reach into your hip pocket to find how you can grow 75 varieties in one year and maintain 12-15 feet distance. Last year, rented 11 18x25 plots in the community gardens. Between that and about a dozen at home, still came up short on ground for the last 15. They went out on a farm 12½ miles away where I could maintain reasonable isolation. Also have several neighbors where I can plant several varieties in return for sharing the fruit. If you don't want to mess around with bagging blossoms, that's what you have to do. Look around for ground that isn't being used and arrange to use it.

Martin

[sammyqc]

Community gardens are a great idea! And neighbors, friends, relatives, anyone who may have a little spot you could beg, borrow or steal space from.

[pugs]

Thanks for the ideas Martin. I'm working on finding the spaces.

Pugs

[kctomato]

I wouldnt freeze seeds. Probably wont have the means to do it correctly.

Instead place them in a jar that seals well with some dessicant. ONLY remove them when you know you are going to use them because the change in temp may cause them to start taking up moisture. Moisture is usually what degrades them. (they can be too dry too).

[pugs]

kctomato,

I'm sure you're right. I want to experiment though. I'll try this fall with something I have a lot of and not all of it.

Pugs