A question: Last year, while weeding my burning bush, I found a tomato plant growing in the mulch. This was 50 or more yards from my garden - I guess a bird dropped the seed there. This became the most prolific tomato plant I have ever grown. In the last month alone, I got over 2 gallons of ripe, and 2 gallons of green tomatoes from it. They just grew on the ground, and the tomatoes had no pests, rot - perfectly healthy. I named it "Volunteer Tomato", and saved a bunch of seeds for this year. Is it safe to assume that since it grew from seed last year, that it will do so again, and grow similar tomatoes given similar conditions? I guess I'm really asking if these seeds can be assumed to be non-hybrid, open pollinated. I already know that it is indeterminate, due to size and length of production.
I think you can safely assume that your tomato is open pollinated. I am *so* glad you saved the seed! Did your mulch come from your compost? It might be that it's a seed that survived the composting. I have had that happen.
‘Volunteer Tomato’ Neat name for a Tennessee Tomato.
The answer to your question - a definite - maybe.
If it grew from a hybrid seed, it has a 50% chance of being a hybrid and a 25% chance of the true parent A and 25% chance of the true parent B that made up the hybrid.
The way to tell is going to be to observe the plants you start from those seeds. If they turn out true to the volunteer plant, they should be open pollinated.
Hope that helps...
Is it safe to assume that since it grew from seed last year, that it will do so again, and grow similar tomatoes given similar conditions? I guess I’m really asking if these seeds can be assumed to be non-hybrid, open pollinated. I already know that it is indeterminate, due to size and length of production. <<<
I can only give a granny answer and others may have one based on science.
First, try a few of the seeds and see what happens, start them indoors so you will have a head start and can maybe make a second planting, if it starts producing early.
My granny thought, is that it could be a hybrid of its own making and the saved seeds may not be good, but then it could be an old variety and it will be good.
You will not know, until you try them out.
Just be sure to plant other varieties, so you will have a crop.
Unless the bird stole it right out of the packet it is open pollinated and should come up true.
Where do you get the Heirloom seeds? I am new to gardening this year, but want to make sure I can use seeds for the next year’s crop.