Arghhhhh.....labeling on seed packets!!

[Black Krim]

Among my packets of tomatos are two varieties that have me stumped.

1. Rutgers--- labeled as Indeterminate on the packaging by XX seed company, but in a seed company catalog published by YY seed company Rutgers is a Determinate. Which is right?

2. Better Boy-- XX package labeling lists as determinate 8 oz tomato, but another company lists as Indeterminate with size much larger 10-14 oz. Which is right?

[WVTomatoMan]

Originally Posted by Black Krim

Among my packets of tomatos are two varieties that have me stumped.

1. Rutgers--- labeled as Indeterminate on the packaging by XX seed company, but in a seed company catalog published by YY seed company Rutgers is a Determinate. Which is right?

2. Better Boy-- XX package labeling lists as determinate 8 oz tomato, but another company lists as Indeterminate with size much larger 10-14 oz. Which is right?

1. There are two versions of Rutgers. One is indeterminate and the other determinate with the determinate version being the most well known (and accepted).

2. I only know of the Better Boy F1 hybrid which is an indeterminate 10-14 oz tomato.

Hope this helps.

Randy

[AlittleSalt]

Yes Better Boy is INDET. Interesting -

The Better Boy variety of tomato has been in existence for more than 50 years and is a Guinness[1] record holder for amount of fruit produced from a single plant. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Boy

[jtjmartin]

For those who do not want to follow the link to the world record . . .

"Guinness record holder—342 lbs. of fruit from one plant!" Wow!

[Black Krim]

OK, me bad. Memory was wonky on the Better Boy.

It is BEST BOY that is in dispute. The best boy from two different vendors. two different fruit sizes, one labeled Indeterminate, the second Determinate. At least they agree on the color of the fruit!!

[PhilaGardener]

Originally Posted by Black Krim

It is BEST BOY that is in dispute. The best boy from two different vendors. two different fruit sizes, one labeled Indeterminate, the second Determinate. At least they agree on the color of the fruit!!

As in Red?

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Black Krim

OK, me bad. Memory was wonky on the Better Boy.

It is BEST BOY that is in dispute. The best boy from two different vendors. two different fruit sizes, one labeled Indeterminate, the second Determinate. At least they agree on the color of the fruit!!

Here's a Google link with those places selling Best Boy F1.

https://www.google.com/search?q=best...&bih=790&dpr=1

Why don't you do some comparisons with those places selling seeds for it.

Carolyn

[Black Krim]

LOL looks like a side by side grow out will decide!!!

Did a bit more fact finding---

Livingston and Burpee, on line, describe Best Boy F1 as a compact plant producing 8 oz fruit that is Determinate. ( it is a red or pink, I didn't stop long enough to verify more than that.)

Last week I did FINALLY track down Better BOy seed. Ferry-Morse describes it as " Vigorous Indeterminate plants produce an abundance of extra large fruits, some weighing 1 1/2 pounds, praised for their delicious meaty flavor. Deep red, smooth,firm fruits. Mutiple disease tolerance to VFN, ASC, and ST" " 70-75 DTM"

The Harts Seed pkg describes their BEST BOY as " Matures in 70 days from setting out strans plants" Strong Indeterminate Plant Habit " Height 5 ft" " Strong Indeterminate Plants are a strong and very vigorous grower that will out- yield regular varieties. Bet Boy produces fruits up to a pound or more, all season long. WIth a tolerance to Viertcillium, Fusarium Wilt, and Nematodes, large tomatos are produced in abundance on strong indeterminate vines. "


I suspect Harts has mixed up the two varieties. The description leads me to think Better Boy NOT Best Boy. Of course there is no way to know if the pkg contains Better Boy or Best Boy. Which is incorrect, the description or the variety name?

Only a grow out will solve the mystery.

My son just started a package of the Hart Seed labled Best BOy for a Boy Scout project. He only wants Indeterminate for the Community Garden to maximize the growing space until Oct 1/ frost. Looks like I need to tell him the bad news and enable him to get other seeds asap.

[Black Krim]

Originally Posted by PhilaGardener

As in Red?

yup!!

[Black Krim]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Here's a Google link with those places selling Best Boy F1.

https://www.google.com/search?q=best...&bih=790&dpr=1

Why don't you do some comparisons with those places selling seeds for it.

Carolyn

Totally TOmatos ( vendor) lists Best Boy as INDETERMINATE ..... LOL

[Black Krim]

Basic question----is there an obvious difference between indeterminate growth and determinate growth in a young tomato plant???

For the first time in my frugal life I am thinking of tossing all the seedlings.......

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Black Krim

Basic question----is there an obvious difference between indeterminate growth and determinate growth in a young tomato plant???

For the first time in my frugal life I am thinking of tossing all the seedlings.......

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...k1.Yg7y97K7FV8

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+...&bih=788&dpr=1

And then there's semidet, etc. No,not obvious until a plant has several side branches as you can see from both of the above links.

Carolyn

[slugworth]

determinant grow roots faster so I would do a grip and rip and compare roots.