I am getting back into gardening after a long hiatus, and I was never an
expert at it in the first place.

I have three varieties of tomatoes down in a small garden. I read in
William Woys Weaver's book on heirloom vegetables that Brandywines should
be isolated from other varieties by at least 50 feet, in other that they
"breed true."

They are not that far, not even close. I am wondering if I can expect
whatever I find on the Brandywine plants to be crosses with the other
varieties in the garden. I have Rutgers and some cherry tomatoes. The
cherries look as if they'll set flowers and produce first.

Does anybody know what will happen in this situation?

"Joe Williamson" wrote in message
news
I am getting back into gardening after a long hiatus, and I was never an
expert at it in the first place.

I have three varieties of tomatoes down in a small garden. I read in
William Woys Weaver's book on heirloom vegetables that Brandywines should
be isolated from other varieties by at least 50 feet, in other that they
"breed true."

They are not that far, not even close. I am wondering if I can expect
whatever I find on the Brandywine plants to be crosses with the other
varieties in the garden. I have Rutgers and some cherry tomatoes. The
cherries look as if they'll set flowers and produce first.

Does anybody know what will happen in this situation?

I grow Brandywine tomatoes mixed in among 12 other varieties in my garden
and all grow and produce just fine.

Regards,
Bill

On Sun, 30 May 2004 18:01:59 -0400, Joe Williamson
wrote:

I have three varieties of tomatoes down in a small garden. I read in
William Woys Weaver's book on heirloom vegetables that Brandywines should
be isolated from other varieties by at least 50 feet, in other that they
"breed true."

That's only if you're collecting seed for next year. You can
still be reasonably sure of collecting pure seed by covering a
set of flowers before they start blooming with a fine mesh, like
panty hose, until the fruit has set. Then be sure to harvest
those tomatoes for seed.

Most tomatoes are self pollinating, anyway, but just to be
absolutely sure...

Penelope

--
"Maybe you'd like to ask the Wizard for a heart."
"ElissaAnn"

"Joe Williamson" wrote in message
news
I am getting back into gardening after a long hiatus, and I was never
an
expert at it in the first place.

I have three varieties of tomatoes down in a small garden. I read in
William Woys Weaver's book on heirloom vegetables that Brandywines
should
be isolated from other varieties by at least 50 feet, in other that
they
"breed true."

They are not that far, not even close. I am wondering if I can expect
whatever I find on the Brandywine plants to be crosses with the other
varieties in the garden. I have Rutgers and some cherry tomatoes.
The
cherries look as if they'll set flowers and produce first.

Does anybody know what will happen in this situation?

This year, nothing will happen. That is, you won't notice anything.
All of the tomatoes will set fruit normally.

Next year, if you decide to save seeds and plant them, you'll get some
Brandywines, and you will get some Brandywine mixes. If you can
reliably tell the difference between the pure Brandywine vines and the
mixes, just save seed from the pure vines. Next year, you will have
some pure vines and some mixes.

On the other hand, if you have a small garden, saving seeds won't save
you much money. It will be nice as a hobby, and you can actually
develop your own sub-variety that is perfectly suited to the conditions
of your garden, but you won't save more than a buck or two.


Ray

Bill Litchfield wrote:

"Joe Williamson" wrote in message
news
I am getting back into gardening after a long hiatus, and I was never an
expert at it in the first place.

I have three varieties of tomatoes down in a small garden. I read in
William Woys Weaver's book on heirloom vegetables that Brandywines should
be isolated from other varieties by at least 50 feet, in other that they
"breed true."

They are not that far, not even close. I am wondering if I can expect
whatever I find on the Brandywine plants to be crosses with the other
varieties in the garden. I have Rutgers and some cherry tomatoes. The
cherries look as if they'll set flowers and produce first.

Does anybody know what will happen in this situation?


I grow Brandywine tomatoes mixed in among 12 other varieties in my garden
and all grow and produce just fine.

Regards,
Bill



Oh good! Joe's post had me worried. My Brandywines are mixed in with 4
other varieties.

I have three varieties of tomatoes down in a small garden. I read in
William Woys Weaver's book on heirloom vegetables that Brandywines should
be isolated from other varieties by at least 50 feet, in other that they
"breed true."


That is true of any plant where you wish to save seed. But only the plants from
that seed will affected. If you wish to save seed from any open pollinated
tomato and wish to be sure that the next generation will be true then isolation
is desirable, Tomatoes are self fertile so many seed savers with small gardens
just bag the flowers to keep alien pollen from getting in. A bit of labor but
it works fine.

On Sun, 30 May 2004 18:01:59 -0400, Joe Williamson
wrote:

I am getting back into gardening after a long hiatus, and I was never an
expert at it in the first place.

I have three varieties of tomatoes down in a small garden. I read in
William Woys Weaver's book on heirloom vegetables that Brandywines should
be isolated from other varieties by at least 50 feet, in other that they
"breed true."

They are not that far, not even close. I am wondering if I can expect
whatever I find on the Brandywine plants to be crosses with the other
varieties in the garden. I have Rutgers and some cherry tomatoes. The
cherries look as if they'll set flowers and produce first.

Does anybody know what will happen in this situation?

My tomatoes are not isolated in our garden. I save seeds from
hierlooms and they almost always come true the next year.
DaveH

On Sun, 30 May 2004 18:01:59 -0400, Joe Williamson
wrote:

Brandywine is a potato-leaved L.pimpinellifolium. will
cross with other types of tomatoes with protruding styles.
Other protruding style types are L.lycopersicum a currant
type and L.lycopersicum beefstake type.
Most modern varieties will not cross with one onother due to
their retracted styles. Seed savers should therefore have
no problem with cross polination when growing one currant or
one potato-leaved variety and any number of varieties with
styles that are covered by their anther tubes.
THis comes from page 156 of Suzanne Ashworths book Seed To
Seed.

I have been growing brandywine for years and have not had
any problems with it crossing so far [knock on wood]



I have three varieties of tomatoes down in a small garden. I read in
William Woys Weaver's book on heirloom vegetables that Brandywines should
be isolated from other varieties by at least 50 feet, in other that they
"breed true."



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On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 13:44:28 -0500, kenny
wrote:
Sorry bad reading from the book at the time I wrote this I
am al wrong,
Brandywine is L.Lycopersicum and the other type is the
currant type L.Pimpinellifolium.
THe book said double flowered beefstake will also out breed
with there two.
I got the book this year and it has been a real eye opener
for seed saving to me.


Brandywine is a potato-leaved L.pimpinellifolium. will
cross with other types of tomatoes with protruding styles.
Other protruding style types are L.lycopersicum a currant
type and L.lycopersicum beefstake type.
Most modern varieties will not cross with one onother due to
their retracted styles. Seed savers should therefore have
no problem with cross polination when growing one currant or
one potato-leaved variety and any number of varieties with
styles that are covered by their anther tubes.
THis comes from page 156 of Suzanne Ashworths book Seed To
Seed.

I have been growing brandywine for years and have not had
any problems with it crossing so far [knock on wood]



I have three varieties of tomatoes down in a small garden. I read in
William Woys Weaver's book on heirloom vegetables that Brandywines should
be isolated from other varieties by at least 50 feet, in other that they
"breed true."



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