Anyone growing Royal Hillbilly? (Trying to ID uncrossed seedling)

jcmorse33 · March 22, 2009

Is anyone out there growing Royal Hillbilly this year? I got some RH seed in a trade but now that the seedlings are getting larger its clear that at least one of the two I've potted up is a cross or a stray seed.

If someone who's growing Royal Hillbilly themselves could do a comparison with my seedling's leaves and point me to which of the two is correct (if either) I'd appreciate it!

--Justin

Vince · March 23, 2009

Never grew this one before. However, unless RHB is potato leaf I don't know how you can tell one of those seedlings is crossed. It is not uncommon, for me, to observe slight variations in the early leaves of like varieties. The one on the right has one leaf that is a little less broad than the other, but other than that I don't see much of a difference. Both look like normal RL seedlings, maybe I am missing something?

**carolyn137** · March 23, 2009

Royal Hillbilly is RL.

This variety was discovered and named by Darrell Merrell in a patch of Hillbilly plants as described below.

I tried to link to the website of his daughter Lisa, who took over selling plants when Darrell passed away from cancer two years ago, but her website no longer shows a picture of it or the original description of it from when Darrell released it in 1997.

There is a full description and picture at TGS who listed it for 2009. The picture was provided to Linda at TGS by Lisa Merrell.

Below is a blurb I did find from years ago that also tells where it came from.

*********
First on my "gotta grow" list is "Royal Hillbilly", an open pollinated
variety that Derrell Merrell "The Tomato Man" in Tulsa, Oklahoma has spent
the past several years stabilizing from a selection of "Hillbilly" given to
him from a Oklahoma seedsaver who received the seed from an Ohio grower. A
beefsteak (10 oz-1 lb), "Royal Hillbilly" is reddish/pink shading to violet
has a thin, tender skin, uniform shape, and wonderfully complex
tangy/smooth taste.

First on my "gotta grow" list is "Royal Hillbilly", an open pollinated
variety that Derrell Merrell "The Tomato Man" in Tulsa, Oklahoma has spent
the past several years stabilizing from a selection of "Hillbilly" given to
him from a Oklahoma seedsaver who received the seed from an Ohio grower. A
beefsteak (10 oz-1 lb), "Royal Hillbilly" is reddish/pink shading to violet
has a thin, tender skin, uniform shape, and wonderfully complex
tangy/smooth taste.

jcmorse33 · March 23, 2009

Thanks for the replys. I just have a strong suspicion that I have a crossed seed or stray seed of another variety since all of my seedlings at this stage that I know the purity of are almost identical. At least far more similar in leaf shape than these two plants are.

Maybe I am wrong. But given my limited garden space I would much rather grow a variety that I know for sure what it is than something where I don't.

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · March 23, 2009

I would have to agree with Vince I do not see enough variation to think that it would be crossed or a stray seed but if you were worried about that then I would go with the one on the left.

Craig

travis · March 23, 2009

Why the one on the left?

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · March 23, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis

Why the one on the left?

Just a coin flip, I guess my earlier post was contridictory I should not have have said "if you are worried plant the one on the left" and just said "I would plant the one on the left".

Craig

ContainerTed · March 23, 2009

JC, I've got three Royal Hillbilly plants in various stages and the one closest to the maturity of yours looks just like yours. And like the others have stated here, I don't see a significant difference between the two in the picture.

Ted

jcmorse33 · March 24, 2009

Well, I've only got room for one of these. So I guess I'll wait and maybe post another picture before I plant out if the leaves differentiate any further as the plants grow

To all those who responded, I appreciate the input and feedback.

Ted, if you happen to have digital pictures of your RHB seedlings I'd love to have a reference to compare with. If not its no biggie.

--Justin

ContainerTed · March 24, 2009

Sure, here's my primary plant for my 2009 garden.

jcmorse33 · March 25, 2009

Thanks, Ted. I appreciate it.

March 23, 2009	#2
Vince Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 942	Never grew this one before. However, unless RHB is potato leaf I don't know how you can tell one of those seedlings is crossed. It is not uncommon, for me, to observe slight variations in the early leaves of like varieties. The one on the right has one leaf that is a little less broad than the other, but other than that I don't see much of a difference. Both look like normal RL seedlings, maybe I am missing something? __________________ Vince

March 23, 2009	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Royal Hillbilly is RL. This variety was discovered and named by Darrell Merrell in a patch of Hillbilly plants as described below. I tried to link to the website of his daughter Lisa, who took over selling plants when Darrell passed away from cancer two years ago, but her website no longer shows a picture of it or the original description of it from when Darrell released it in 1997. There is a full description and picture at TGS who listed it for 2009. The picture was provided to Linda at TGS by Lisa Merrell. Below is a blurb I did find from years ago that also tells where it came from. ********* First on my "gotta grow" list is "Royal Hillbilly", an open pollinated variety that Derrell Merrell "The Tomato Man" in Tulsa, Oklahoma has spent the past several years stabilizing from a selection of "Hillbilly" given to him from a Oklahoma seedsaver who received the seed from an Ohio grower. A beefsteak (10 oz-1 lb), "Royal Hillbilly" is reddish/pink shading to violet has a thin, tender skin, uniform shape, and wonderfully complex tangy/smooth taste. First on my "gotta grow" list is "Royal Hillbilly", an open pollinated variety that Derrell Merrell "The Tomato Man" in Tulsa, Oklahoma has spent the past several years stabilizing from a selection of "Hillbilly" given to him from a Oklahoma seedsaver who received the seed from an Ohio grower. A beefsteak (10 oz-1 lb), "Royal Hillbilly" is reddish/pink shading to violet has a thin, tender skin, uniform shape, and wonderfully complex tangy/smooth taste. __________________ Carolyn

March 23, 2009	#8
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	JC, I've got three Royal Hillbilly plants in various stages and the one closest to the maturity of yours looks just like yours. And like the others have stated here, I don't see a significant difference between the two in the picture. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

March 23, 2009	#4
jcmorse33 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 242	Thanks for the replys. I just have a strong suspicion that I have a crossed seed or stray seed of another variety since all of my seedlings at this stage that I know the purity of are almost identical. At least far more similar in leaf shape than these two plants are. Maybe I am wrong. But given my limited garden space I would much rather grow a variety that I know for sure what it is than something where I don't.

March 23, 2009	#5
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	I would have to agree with Vince I do not see enough variation to think that it would be crossed or a stray seed but if you were worried about that then I would go with the one on the left. Craig

March 23, 2009	#6
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	Why the one on the left?

March 24, 2009	#9
jcmorse33 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 242	Well, I've only got room for one of these. So I guess I'll wait and maybe post another picture before I plant out if the leaves differentiate any further as the plants grow To all those who responded, I appreciate the input and feedback. Ted, if you happen to have digital pictures of your RHB seedlings I'd love to have a reference to compare with. If not its no biggie. --Justin

March 25, 2009	#11
jcmorse33 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 242	Thanks, Ted. I appreciate it.