Two different Bloody Butchers?

Marko · July 23, 2010

Last year I grew Bloody Butcher for the first time. It was the first tomato to flower and first to ripen. Flavor was extraordinary. BUT: it didn't look like a Bloody Butcher, fruits were larger and meatier and skin had golden speckles. Here's te photo, golden speckles are clearly visible:

I saved the seeds and sow them immediately to see if it was a cross. I planted two plants and got the same meaty fruit with golden speckles . Even the taste was the same, something not to be expected at tomatoes ripening in early november.

This year I purchased BB seeds from another vendor and planted one new BB and one from my saved seeds. Plants were identical, first ripe fruit at the same time. The new BB turned to be true to type, extremely productive with good taste. But my old BB was disappointment, the shape was like last year, but no golden speckling and VERY tough skin, average taste.
I'm 100% sure that my saved seeds are not crossed (and my last year trial proves that) so I guess that I'm dealing with a variety that is not genetically stable.
Have any of you had similar experiences with BB?

July 23, 2010	#1
Marko Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Slovenia, Europe zone 7b Posts: 300	Two different Bloody Butchers? Last year I grew Bloody Butcher for the first time. It was the first tomato to flower and first to ripen. Flavor was extraordinary. BUT: it didn't look like a Bloody Butcher, fruits were larger and meatier and skin had golden speckles. Here's te photo, golden speckles are clearly visible: I saved the seeds and sow them immediately to see if it was a cross. I planted two plants and got the same meaty fruit with golden speckles . Even the taste was the same, something not to be expected at tomatoes ripening in early november. This year I purchased BB seeds from another vendor and planted one new BB and one from my saved seeds. Plants were identical, first ripe fruit at the same time. The new BB turned to be true to type, extremely productive with good taste. But my old BB was disappointment, the shape was like last year, but no golden speckling and VERY tough skin, average taste. I'm 100% sure that my saved seeds are not crossed (and my last year trial proves that) so I guess that I'm dealing with a variety that is not genetically stable. Have any of you had similar experiences with BB?