Volunteer Tomato Plants?

[mary]

I notice that a number of tomato plants are growing on their own from which I assume is last years crop. Would it be worthwhile cultivating them or would they tend to be lower producers?

Thanks

Tom

[FarmerDill]

They usually produce as well or better than store bought plants. BUT they may not be what you want. The most abundant volunteers will be cherry tomatoes. If you only grew regular tomatoes than the volunteers will be similar. Even the hybrids don't usually segregate much in the second generation.

[Spud Demon]

[e-mail] (FarmerDill) writes in article dated 11 Jun 2004 18:00:27 GMT:

You must have missed harvesting some tomatoes. If it was simply due to laziness or inattention, you're definitely OK. If it was due to bugs, this generation may be less bug-hardy.

FarmerDill has a good point about hybrids. If you were growing hybrids last year, your crop this year could be more varied.

-- spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net The above may not (yet) represent the opinions of my employer.

[simy1]

That may be true in SC, but here in Michigan they are usually ready to fruit in october, even the Stupice volunteers which are ultra-early. so, no cigar in cooler climates.