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Cameron

I was wondering which produces the stronger tomato plant & biggest fruit, an F-2 or an F-5 or even a F-8? I had a grower ask me that & I couldn't really tell him. Does anyone here have that answer?

Thanks in advance,

Jane & Phil

4/11/2016 2:33:05 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Jane and Phil:
The farther out you go on the crosses the more stable the seed and the greater likelihood that what you end up growing looks like whatever the seed came from. At around F5 the seed should be pretty stable. By F8 really should be stable. Marv

4/13/2016 9:11:06 AM

Wixom MI.

i agree with marv on that the variety becomes more stable aftrer each generation F5 F8 etc... that being said, as growers we are always choosing the bigest and best fruits and seeds from each generation so technically the later generation F5 F8 etc... should be able to grow a bigger fruit ! again that being said, 5 growers can have the same seed and 4 growers may never grow over 4 lbs and then Dan MacCoy will grow the same seed to 8 lbs ! so just because dan grew a 8 pounder does that make his seeds better than the others ???

4/13/2016 10:12:10 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

A lot of growers were unable to duplicate Dan's feat using pretty much the same seeds. There is more to it than variety but if you are not growing a variety that has a chance at getting to really big, you most likely never will.

4/13/2016 4:11:17 PM

Corbin, KY

I think the F8 better because we have saved the largest tomatoes which came from the largest mega blooms. We need to continue to save seeds from the plants that produce the biggest and most mega blooms. Without big huge multi pistils blooms we dont get the giant tomatoes.

4/13/2016 9:04:18 PM

Cameron

Thanks guys. So really your saying an F1 or F2 can be a crap shoot, but could it show signs of hybrid vigour?

Just wondering what filial generation was Dan's mater grown from & what filial generation was Fabrice's big one grown from? Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Jane & Phil

4/14/2016 7:58:29 AM

Corbin, KY

8.41 MacCoy--4.57 MacCoy--5.07 Boudyo--5.41 Harp--5.58 Timm--3.9 Catapano-- 4.59 Lyon-- F1 Big Zac..

8.41 MacCoy was an F8

4/30/2016 10:24:04 AM