I have wild tomato seed...

[Random User]

... has anyone here (likely the west coast of Canada or PNW) ever tried to cross a wild tomato with a cherry tomato?

 

[GailC]

No but I grew wild type tomatoes once, nasty things not worth the space.
Grow some and taste before hybridizing, you just might change your mind.
Really want to learn about crossing tomatoes, check out tomatoville

 

[Random User]

I grew them last year. They are small purple fruit that tastes like cantaloupe. I have to speculate that there are many different varieties, and thats why I specified Canadian West Coast or PNW as I know this is where the seeds came from. I cross peppers, so I have some experience in this field... if it can be done, there is no telling what would come out of F-2 seed.

The basis of my question (if you refer to peppers) is that not all species will cross or have viable seed (as seen in the link to the chart below), and, given that there must be a number of wild species on the West Coast alone, I thought that I might trip across more information than I can seem to find on an Internet search... and, no matter what the outcome of the attempts in the past, it might give me a small leg up on the choice of cultivar I should seek out as a suitable cross.

http://www.thechileman.org/guide_crossing_peppers.php

 

[GailC]

That's interesting, do you have the scientific name? I'm curious to learn about what you have. Mine were Solanum pimpinellifolium.

I don't hybridize but I do occasionally grow out new varieties for other people. This year I have micromini multiflora. They should only get 12" tall with many fruits, designed to grow inside for winter.

 

[Random User]

No, I don't have a scientific name, thats all part of my "catch-all" post... other than having grown them and being told by the person who gave them to me that they are wild tomatoes, I don't know much.

These plants grow about a foot high (and round), they are nicely vegetated, with many many little white flowers. I was sparing water last year to the point where these plants (and a few others) lost most of their leaves... then one drink of water and they were back in full veg again. They are very drought tolerant.

Like I said, many small round purple fruit 3/16" (about) that taste like cantaloupe... as well, they didn't "string out" like typical tomatoes, they are set on individual stems, similar to peppers.

Anyway, I just found them interesting, and far down my list of "must-do-s" for this growing season.

 

[AlainK]

do you have the scientific name? I'm curious to learn about what you have.

So am I : all the species of "tomato-looking" solanacea I know from the northern hemisphere are toxic, or even poisonous, like Belladona which was one of the favorite in the witches's cauldrons along with Mandragore, Datura, and a couple of other things...

Er... before trying any hybridized species in your pizza, watch : "Into the Wild"



Or contact your local shaman before.

 

[milehigh_7]

You'll want to make sure it is not another species of solanacea... you could wind up as worm dirt.

 

[GailC]

You'll want to make sure it is not another species of solanacea... you could wind up as worm dirt.

I have to agree. No way I would eat a tomato relative without knowing what it is, too many toxic species in the family.

I know some people eat nighshade berries, no way in hell I'd ever try that.

 

[Random User]

Bbuuuuuurrrrrrrrpppp!

 

[GailC]

Well, if you suddenly disappear from the site we'll know why...

 

[Random User]

You worry too much... I mixed a couple dozen of them in with my grand baby's strained peas before I tried 'em... she thought they were yummy!