Seed purity

gdaddybill · May 23, 2017

I'm becoming suspicious that some growers are producing plants from OP seed that is supposed to be hybrid. It could be the fault of their seed supplier and the grower doesn't even know it. I first became suspicious last year when I found a Viva Italia plant for sale even though I hadn't had any luck finding seed. This has been a good tasting processing type hybrid in the past but the shape was a bit off and the flavor was even more off. I've got two plants this year and they look the same-plus grainy and not much flavor. A Big Beef I bought and bumped up to get out early tastes good and it has the right shape but it doesn't have typical vigor.

I expect variability in heirlooms and amateur breeder varieties but I also suspect there is more bogus seed/transplants being circulated than we have come to expect. Have you had similar experiences?

May 23, 2017	#1
gdaddybill Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Burton, TX Posts: 294	Seed purity I'm becoming suspicious that some growers are producing plants from OP seed that is supposed to be hybrid. It could be the fault of their seed supplier and the grower doesn't even know it. I first became suspicious last year when I found a Viva Italia plant for sale even though I hadn't had any luck finding seed. This has been a good tasting processing type hybrid in the past but the shape was a bit off and the flavor was even more off. I've got two plants this year and they look the same-plus grainy and not much flavor. A Big Beef I bought and bumped up to get out early tastes good and it has the right shape but it doesn't have typical vigor. I expect variability in heirlooms and amateur breeder varieties but I also suspect there is more bogus seed/transplants being circulated than we have come to expect. Have you had similar experiences?