Dave's Garden - Gardening Community
HomeMy ToolsCommunitiesGuides and InformationProducts and SourcesAbout Dave's Garden

Beginner Gardening Questions: Tomato Cross Pollination (I swear it's happening)

Advanced Search
      Welcome!  
    You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!

    Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.

      Login  
    If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.

    Username:

    Password:


    Communities > Forums > Beginner Gardening Questions
    Forum: Beginner Gardening QuestionsReplies: 8, Views: 97
    AuthorContent
    onecoolcad
    Gilroy, CA (Zone 9b)

    August 27, 2011 12:07 PM

    Post #8779797

    I bought from Home Depot, 2 tomatoe plants. 1 Brandywine and 1 Rainbow.

    I planted them fairly close to each other (4ft).

    As I have patiently been waiting to harvest the Brandywine's, I tested for firmness and found out that the brandywines have taken on the exact characteristics as the Rainbows only larger!

    The fruit was getting softer, but not red... I sliced one and this is what I found...

    FYI... Sweet and Delicisious!!!!

    Thumbnail by onecoolcad
    Click the image for an enlarged view.

    NatureLover1950
    Vicksburg, MS (Zone 8a)

    August 27, 2011 12:49 PM

    Post #8779840

    Is it possible that one of the tomato plants had the wrong ID tag stuck in it? That happens a LOT at HD and other big box stores. I've brought home plenty of things from such stores, planted them and watched them grow only to discover that the plant isn't at all what the tag said. It can be difficult to tell one tomato plant from another before they put on tomatoes. Cross pollination shouldn't be a factor until you plant seeds saved from this year for next year's crop.

    themoonhowl

    themoonhowl
    Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)

    August 27, 2011 3:09 PM

    Post #8780015

    I agree with Naturelover, you would not have cross pollination of this year's fruit.
    Horseshoe
    Efland, NC (Zone 7a)

    August 27, 2011 9:00 PM

    Post #8780475

    onecoolcad, which variety of "Brandywine" did it say on the tag? There is a Yellow Brandywine, in addition to a Red Brandywine, Brandywine (which is pink) and several others.

    If you purchased a Brandywine (fruit will be pink) or the Yellow Brandywine the foliage will be potato leaf. Red Brandywine will show regular leaf.

    And yep, as Nature Lover said above, those box stores and other garden centers can easily mix tags.

    Shoe
    onecoolcad
    Gilroy, CA (Zone 9b)

    August 28, 2011 3:07 PM

    Post #8781645

    so, I am guessing that the Brandywine veriety that I have is a Yellow, base on the fact that the fruit starts to over ripen as it gets a redish tinge starting from the bottom of the tomato, and if not picked before, the fruit starts to get mushy
    Horseshoe
    Efland, NC (Zone 7a)

    August 28, 2011 3:30 PM

    Post #8781687

    Not necessarily. Look at the leaves, do they look like leaves on a potato? That would help. And does the fruit go from green then turn yellow? Or does it go from green to the reddish tint, then yellow?

    As far as the "over ripening" Yellow Brandywine will turn to a more golden color (beyond "yellow") but won't show any signs of red.
    Shoe (ever curious)
    onecoolcad
    Gilroy, CA (Zone 9b)

    August 28, 2011 9:53 PM

    Post #8782281

    Here is the Picture.. and they go from green to yellow

    Thumbnail by onecoolcad
    Click the image for an enlarged view.

    Farmerdill
    Augusta, GA (Zone 8a)


    August 29, 2011 2:13 PM

    Post #8783486

    Concur that it is not cross pollination. There is a lot of varience in "heirloom seed" so it depends on where the plant vendor obtained seed. The photo is a yellow beefsteak type tomato, but does not show the potato leaf charcteristic of the yellow brandy wines. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/60481/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54791/ Big Rainbow is a bicolor and while it varys in shape, it should show a lot more red. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/60423/
    Horseshoe
    Efland, NC (Zone 7a)

    August 29, 2011 3:25 PM

    Post #8783589

    Ditto...I don't see any potato leaf shape either. Who knows what you have there, OCCad.

    If it were me I'd pick them and eat them before letting them get over ripe. You might have a keeper there, eh? Pick them yellow but before they blush on the blossom end.

    Shoe

    You cannot post until you register and login.


    Other Beginner Gardening Questions Threads you might be interested in:

    SubjectThread StarterRepliesLast Post
    Cyclanthus bipartitus 'Gigant' bepah 3 Jun 11, 2010 9:05 AM
    Welcome to the Beginner Gardening Questions forum! dave 52 Aug 26, 2010 12:26 PM
    canna rhizomes help Allison_FL 20 Jan 16, 2013 6:55 PM
    Where to locate my garden - light issues Martell 18 Apr 19, 2010 2:17 PM
    Baby Oak Tree Seedtosser1 13 Jun 4, 2009 5:13 PM


    We recommend Firefox
    Overwhelmed? There's a lot to see here. Try starting at our homepage.

    [ Home | About | Advertise | Mission | Featured Companies | Submit an Article | Terms of Use | Tour | Rules | Privacy Policy | Contact Us ]

    Back to the top

    Copyright © 2000-2013 Dave's Garden, an Internet Brands company. All Rights Reserved.
     

    Hope for America