Growing Tomatoes 2011. Week 33.

by Sally on November 14, 2011

These tomato flowers can be found on one of the few plants to survive blight.This picture was taken on 12th November! I’m not sure what to say about that – other than – tomato blossom in November? Whatever next?!

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Scyrene November 14, 2011 at 10:19 pm

It seems like, the ones that made it through blight are invincible – there are two or three in my greenhouse that look as healthy now as any did in June and July – flowering away, despite temperatures that have been below 2ºC. Clearly, they’re hardier than we’re led to believe!

Scyrene November 14, 2011 at 10:20 pm

(A thought occurs, while I’m here: if you observe the plants that survive the blight, and save the seeds from any remaining fruit of theirs, you could quite quickly develop a resistant strain, don’t you think?)

Sally November 21, 2011 at 8:08 pm

I like the idea of invincible Toms! They do seem to be just that though – each week I think I am going to say … and that’s all folks… but no – there they are – still the delicate yellow flowers holding out for a summer that will never come ( it doesn’t cause me to fret quite as much as the recent photos of all those fluffly balls of ducklings which have mistakenly hatched but it seems unfair that one part of nature – the weather – should be confusing and deceiving another part).
Interesting idea on blight resistant tomatoes – it’s got me thinking about how they do develop the new varieties like Losetto – which are blight resistant. I think I might know someone to ask – so if I can find out I will let you know!

Scyrene November 22, 2011 at 12:59 am

That’ll be interesting! I imagine there are two ways; one is the old one of choosing seed from the best plants, year after year, maybe crossing them, and the other is probably identifying the genes or whatever that provide resistance, and crossing or splicing them in… Anyhow, I’m always a bit sceptical when I read the words “blight resistant variety”, but I’m a bit prone to cynicism… ;)

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