Have I sold 16 people a pig in a poke?

[PiggyPokkyFool]

Name changed as this is very outing.
The facts: Saw YouTube video about growing tomatoes from a slice of tomato, had some v tasty cherry ones from supermarket so planted 3 slices with low expectations. 3 weeks later, 54 seedlings, transferred to larger pots expecting to lose half, 52 survived - nearly all grew looking super healthy - had 49 tomato plants. Couldn't possibly use all so planted some, gave away some and had 28 tomato plants left. Got the bright idea of selling them on our local group for 50p each - sold all bar 3 which I offered some to my much older, much wiser chum and he said " Oh, no thanks as they are probably F1s so won't produce anything". Have I sold 16 people a pig in a poke? Never mind friends who think I am a great grower

F1 stands for first filial generation, and means that the plant is the first offspring of a hybridisation.
It will produce F2 plants ( second generation) which won’t necessarily be the same as their parents, but will be tomatoes.
I’ve done this loads, and have never had any rejects.

The main problem that I could foresee is that you wouldn't know if the resultant plants were determinate (bush/tumbling) or indeterminate (need to be grown as cordons)

I'm not experienced enough to know if there is a way of telling by looking at the plants.

They are thickening up nicely stem wise but no sign so far of flowers - I raced out to look as soon as we got back on Monday and really had my fingers crossed for at least one flower. I will keep you posted - I am assuming not bush but again ready to be surprised.
Less PiggyPokkyFool and more PggyPokkyFun

It's early yet. My tomato seeds (various) were sown between 9 April and the end of April. None are anywhere near flowering yet. I think the tallest is 6" - but as you say, thickening up nicely.

The Ailsa Craig that I was given (sown by friend in February/early March, but he has a heated propogator) on the other hand has 3 trusses of flowers already - one of which has already started to set (minus the one set flower that I snapped off when I was checking ).

well, just came on to read this . Have been growing tomatoes for a few years now - definitely going to give this a try !
I have only just got the first flower trusses on some of mine ( in a greenhouse) loads of time yet .

All very encouraging - no greenhouse here but London temperatures are favourable and they are in a sheltered place currently with maximum daily sun.
Keep bringing your encouragement and funny tales.
Getting excited about them again with all your positivity🍅

It's bloody perishing today in Glasgow Cold, miserable rain: not a day to go out. I did put my dahlias out of the greenhouse (don't have a cold frame) to garden off. Been doing it for 4+ days (putting them back at night). I think they're probably hardened off by now

Inspired by you piggy .

Woo hoo @EssentialHummus - together we will SUCK-SEED

i had to pull up about 20 stray tomato seeding growing in my bean patch (from composting old tomato plants!!)

good luck - interested to see the results.

im in the SW and have tiny green tomatoes at the moment, im hoping for bigger fruits over time...

Had my first ripe and ready to eat strawberries and raspberry(just 1 of them) today. I love this growing lark! Party on dudes

I was thinking of you when I was chopping tomatoes this evening. I have some lovely yellow ones I am desperate to do but I was wondering if it's too late to try?

Our bought seedling tomato has been outside for a month, is a massive beast and has lots of green tomatoes already.

Tell me it's okay so I can chuck one in a pot and hide it somewhere before DH tells me off about more plants

My dad does this - we had beautiful mini plum tomatoes in France. The offspring were massive but they were very productive and great for soups/sauces etc

@LazyLemur - go for it - chuck 4 in a pot and put it somewhere warm and hidden(!) - what have you got to lose?
@Polyjuice - I love these happy stories and I am so looking forward to see what we get -If anything- 🍅?🍓?🍎?🌽??

Okay you've convinced me. Will sneak one in while DH is out and hide it amongst my other seedlings. Ooh Poly, I wonder if my dainty yellow tomatoes will make massive babies? I love a MASSIVE tomato. Everyone else likes dinky ones.

I can practically taste them already .

Wow @EssentialHummus * - that was quick - mine took over a week.
@LazyLemur * MI6 has nothing on you.
@Polyjuice I don't care if they are big, small or like James's peach as long as I get something!

Well I bought them in a branch of Lidl in Crete for added efficacy . Let's see!

Gosh @BobTheDuvet that is a great effort - when did you start with the seeds?

F1 just means that because it's a hybrid, you can't be sure what tomatoes you will get - but they should get tomatoes F1 is "first generation". So you start with two strains of tomatoes with little variation within them, and cross breed them, so all the offspring have a set genes from one parent (A) and one from the other (B), and are relatively similar to each other. And they often have "hybrid vigour", it they may grow more strongly than either parent.

An F1 parent may donate to its offspring either all its A genes, or all its B genes, or any mixture of the two. So the second generation (F2) offspring will have much more variability, anything from similar to A to similar to B or anything in between. It's this variability which leads to the advice not to save seed from F1 hybrids.

My experience is that almost any tomato, home grown without an over-abundance of water, and ripened on the plant, tastes good. So your reputation should remain intact.

You are a month ahead of me @BobTheDuvet - I am looking forward to mine looking as good as yours in a few weeks.
@MereDintofPandiculation - glad to hear it! My children being shunned and my reputation in tatters haunted my dreams😂😁

This is fab - will try it next year!

Another small London garden here, and over the last few years some of my best / most prolific tomato plants have been the ones that self seeded from the dropped fruits of previous years. I frequently buy F1 varieties (although am trying out a few heritage ones this year too) and what’s been interesting is that my self seeded surprises have generally (not always) been tastier, hardier and had more fruit than the ones I’ve bought. So I’m looking forward to your update Piggy!