New discovery

**tomatoaddict** · October 5, 2008

This is an interesting find/story.
I have never grown a white variety of tomato until this year. Not a cherry nor a regular variety.
Every year for the past 3 years, I have had a volunteer tomato pop up in the same spot that isn't even remotely close to my garden. As a matter of fact, it's in the rose beds in the front of my house, right next to my Princess Diana Rose Bush. Every year I let it go to see what it is and it's a white cherry.
I always found that strange considering that I didn't grow white varieties and it was at least an acre away from my garden and in the rose beds.
So........... This year I tasted one. It was wonderful!!!!!
I've decided that since this random tomato has tried so hard for 3 years to get my attention and I couldn't comprehend where it possibly could have originated, I would save the seed. So, I therefore have christened it: St. Fiacre cherry
In honor of the Patron Saint of gardeners. Also since it seemed to have super-naturally occurred out of nowhere. I should have more seed in a week or so. If anyone is interested, let me know.

robin303 · October 5, 2008

What a strange find you got there Terry.

**carolyn137** · October 5, 2008

Terry, you say "a" volunteer plant keeps reappearing but in "our" zone 5 area wouldn't it be more likely that dropped fruits would have led to many volunteers in that one area b/c no vegetative tomato plant that I know of can winter over in our area? Do you see multiple volunteers and have you ever grown out any of them as in more than one?

No mystery to me how it possibly got there; birds would be my first perps followed by some 4 footed critters.

How far do you live and garden from others who do the same as regards growing tomatoes?

**tomatoaddict** · October 5, 2008

Hi Carolyn,
Well, the part that is strange is that it is a white. This is my first year growing any whites and the volunteer has been growing for 3 years. Also, I live in a very rural area. All the houses are acres apart and no one within a 12 acre radius of me grows tomatoes. Maybe even further.
My guess is because the rose beds are very heavily mulched,this seed is able to over-winter. Does that sound plausible? It's definitely the same tomato every year. As far as how it got there, I haven't a clue. I'll try to take some pics and post them.

brog · October 5, 2008

I`d like 7-8 seeds, sounds like it wants to be grown any where, even in Ga.
Thanks and GOD BLESS
Bill

**tomatoaddict** · October 5, 2008

I'll send you some out Bill as soon as they are dry.

Tormato · October 7, 2008

Terry,

You say tomato, I say tomahto.

You say Fiacre, I say Fiachra.

My guess is that birds done it. Ever since I planted all kinds of berries, there are new berry plants coming up all around here.

Does that volunteer taste better than all of those OP Sungolds you trialed?

Gary

P.S. It couldn't have been a two footed perp, as I'm much too far away.

maryinoregon · October 7, 2008

Terry, I'm game to try a white cherry. When you're ready, let me know.

October 5, 2008	#1
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	New discovery This is an interesting find/story. I have never grown a white variety of tomato until this year. Not a cherry nor a regular variety. Every year for the past 3 years, I have had a volunteer tomato pop up in the same spot that isn't even remotely close to my garden. As a matter of fact, it's in the rose beds in the front of my house, right next to my Princess Diana Rose Bush. Every year I let it go to see what it is and it's a white cherry. I always found that strange considering that I didn't grow white varieties and it was at least an acre away from my garden and in the rose beds. So........... This year I tasted one. It was wonderful!!!!! I've decided that since this random tomato has tried so hard for 3 years to get my attention and I couldn't comprehend where it possibly could have originated, I would save the seed. So, I therefore have christened it: St. Fiacre cherry In honor of the Patron Saint of gardeners. Also since it seemed to have super-naturally occurred out of nowhere. I should have more seed in a week or so. If anyone is interested, let me know. __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

October 5, 2008	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Terry, you say "a" volunteer plant keeps reappearing but in "our" zone 5 area wouldn't it be more likely that dropped fruits would have led to many volunteers in that one area b/c no vegetative tomato plant that I know of can winter over in our area? Do you see multiple volunteers and have you ever grown out any of them as in more than one? No mystery to me how it possibly got there; birds would be my first perps followed by some 4 footed critters. How far do you live and garden from others who do the same as regards growing tomatoes? __________________ Carolyn

October 5, 2008	#4
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	Hi Carolyn, Well, the part that is strange is that it is a white. This is my first year growing any whites and the volunteer has been growing for 3 years. Also, I live in a very rural area. All the houses are acres apart and no one within a 12 acre radius of me grows tomatoes. Maybe even further. My guess is because the rose beds are very heavily mulched,this seed is able to over-winter. Does that sound plausible? It's definitely the same tomato every year. As far as how it got there, I haven't a clue. I'll try to take some pics and post them. __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

October 5, 2008	#5
brog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lilburn GA Posts: 278	new discovery I`d like 7-8 seeds, sounds like it wants to be grown any where, even in Ga. Thanks and GOD BLESS Bill __________________ Bill

October 5, 2008	#6
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	I'll send you some out Bill as soon as they are dry. __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

October 5, 2008	#2
robin303 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin, TX Zone 8b Posts: 531	What a strange find you got there Terry.

October 7, 2008	#7
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	Terry, You say tomato, I say tomahto. You say Fiacre, I say Fiachra. My guess is that birds done it. Ever since I planted all kinds of berries, there are new berry plants coming up all around here. Does that volunteer taste better than all of those OP Sungolds you trialed? Gary P.S. It couldn't have been a two footed perp, as I'm much too far away.

October 7, 2008	#8
maryinoregon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 361	Terry, I'm game to try a white cherry. When you're ready, let me know.