Are store bought seeds for hybrid tomato always F1?

lonehawk · January 24, 2022

Hey guys,

New grower here just starting out and looking to pick up some seeds. For hybrid varieties (e.g. Sun Sugar), are seeds purchased from reputable sellers (like Tomato Growers Supply) always F1? I don't see confirmation of that in the item description for most sellers.

Hope it's not a redundant question.

TIA

Pappi · February 2, 2022

Welcome to the site. Yes, Hybrid means it's going to be an (F1). So it won't be an open pollinated variety you can save seed from. If you are looking for some recommendations let us know what sort of tomatoes you like.

Pappi

VirginiaClay · February 2, 2022

For the larger sellers like Tomato Growers, Johnny's, Burpee, Park Seed, Gurney's, etc., yes, you can be confident that what they are selling is F1 hybrid seed. At Tomato Grower's specifically, they put "hybrid" in the product name to indicate that it's F1, and you will get F1 seed for those varieties.

At some of the reputable smaller tomato seed sellers specializing in heirlooms/OP, you need to read the descriptions carefully, all the way to the end. They're not trying to deceive anyone, but some do sell dehybridized (fully or partially) versions of popular hybrids, so you need to check. For example, Knapp's sells a number of popular hybrids (Celebrity, for example) that are their own saved seeds, and they state that clearly at the bottom of the description. Delectation of Tomatoes has some also, but again, they tell you that in the description. If it's their own saved seed, it won't be exactly the same as the hybrid, though it might be close.

Oliver · February 2, 2022

One thing I recommend is also doing a quick search here on Tomatoville for a variety you are interested in (like Cherokee Purple for instance), otherwise Tatiana's Tomatobase or even Dave's Garden will have some information on specific varieties. Another option is to start a thread about it. If you can find a tomato there are probably at least a few people here who can tell you about it.

January 24, 2022	#1
lonehawk Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: California Posts: 2	Are store bought seeds for hybrid tomato always F1? Hey guys, New grower here just starting out and looking to pick up some seeds. For hybrid varieties (e.g. Sun Sugar), are seeds purchased from reputable sellers (like Tomato Growers Supply) always F1? I don't see confirmation of that in the item description for most sellers. Hope it's not a redundant question. TIA

February 2, 2022	#2
Pappi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Pineland Posts: 126	Welcome to the site. Yes, Hybrid means it's going to be an (F1). So it won't be an open pollinated variety you can save seed from. If you are looking for some recommendations let us know what sort of tomatoes you like. Pappi

February 2, 2022	#3
VirginiaClay Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 139	For the larger sellers like Tomato Growers, Johnny's, Burpee, Park Seed, Gurney's, etc., yes, you can be confident that what they are selling is F1 hybrid seed. At Tomato Grower's specifically, they put "hybrid" in the product name to indicate that it's F1, and you will get F1 seed for those varieties. At some of the reputable smaller tomato seed sellers specializing in heirlooms/OP, you need to read the descriptions carefully, all the way to the end. They're not trying to deceive anyone, but some do sell dehybridized (fully or partially) versions of popular hybrids, so you need to check. For example, Knapp's sells a number of popular hybrids (Celebrity, for example) that are their own saved seeds, and they state that clearly at the bottom of the description. Delectation of Tomatoes has some also, but again, they tell you that in the description. If it's their own saved seed, it won't be exactly the same as the hybrid, though it might be close.

February 2, 2022	#4
Oliver Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Monroe, South Dakota Posts: 50	One thing I recommend is also doing a quick search here on Tomatoville for a variety you are interested in (like Cherokee Purple for instance), otherwise Tatiana's Tomatobase or even Dave's Garden will have some information on specific varieties. Another option is to start a thread about it. If you can find a tomato there are probably at least a few people here who can tell you about it.