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Growing Tomatoes

Save seed from Red Robin?

13 years ago

I usually start all my toms from seed every year, so rarely have to ask this question. Cruising the local greenhouse yesterday, I have to admit to a bit of vanity; there was a little tomato start sitting there with my name on it... literally. ;) The gals who were working couldn't tell me if Red Robin was OP or not, so I looked it up online. I'm finding both sites that say it's a hybrid and sites that say it's an heirloom. Can anyone tell me which it is for certain? Whether it's OP or not will help me place it in the garden. Thanks in advance!

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Comments (6)

digdirt2
13 years ago
There was a recent discussion about this on another cannot-be-named-here forum so I can't link to it but the consensus in that discussion was that the true RR (6" tall dwarf plant with red fruit) is a hybrid. But that there are other varieties out there using the same name that may be OP plants that may or may not have been stabilized from the original RR. Those plants apparently get 12-18" tall and the fruit is more orange than red.

About all you can do is grow it out and see what happens to know for sure but the info sources I trust all call it hybrid.

Dave
macky77
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks so much, Dave! I'll give it some separation just in case and watch for those characteristics this summer as it grows to determine which type I have. :)
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Let me give you a living example: Couple of months ago I bought some green SHISHITO peppers from Asian Market I made two jars of pickles and set aside some that were fully green and couple of them had a hint of red. I kept them on the counter And saved seeds from those that turned fully red first(the best ones). The rest was left there. They too eventually turned red. I did a test: I took seeds from one of the last ones that turned red and planted. Within 7 days they all germinated(in paper towel). Then I planted them in 3.5" pots . Now they are growing and have 6 leaves each. Now my problem is how to keep them growing indoor til April. LOL. I have saved seeds in similar fashion from Serrano, Gypsy, Cubanelle, Chilaca, and few others. The worst weak case was the SHISHITO that I just explained. So, my advice is that just keep the pods(the most mature ones) on the counter until they turn red and acually as long as they do not rot. Then save seeds from those. JMO.
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Whooooohooooo! The Robin landed and it is a real fatty. I have my seeds ready to put in and will try to make this a quick turn around. Sue, the DC will be 0306 3030 0000 6669 4123 and I will have it scanned at the counter. I will do my darndest to get it back to the post office this afternoon and have it winging its way to AZ. Thanks for a wonderful Robin and Happy Gardening to Everyone! Brenda
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bigdaddyj
13 years ago
I have never seen Red Robin as listed as either F1 Hybrid or only 6 inches tall. The real RR grows 10 to 14 inches tall and about as wide. I have saved seed and it has always bred true. Definitely NOT a hybrid.
bigdaddyj
13 years ago
I originally got my RR seeds from TGS. They say 8 to 12 inches tall. Mine grow about 14 inches tall and 16 inches wide in a sunny window. Maybe outdoors they would stay a little shorter. They are an excellent variety to grow in a sunny window to have tomatoes all year round...

http://www.tomatogrowers.com/small.htm
soilent_green
13 years ago
I have been growing Red Robin from saved seed for six years now. The original seed was purchased mail order. I have been expecting it to fail every year but it continues to maintain the same growth habits and fruit production. I have such increasing demand for it from friends and family that I started 100 plants this year.

A great container tomato and a heavy producer that produces orangish-red cherry tomatoes of what I consider to be mediocre flavor (the fruit looks and tastes the same as from the plants that were grown from the original seed). But kids love growing and caring for the plants and love to pick "their" tomatoes and eat them, so that makes it a valuable tomato variety as far as I am concerned.

I have been cramming seven plants into 6 gallon pots and that makes a wonderful little tomato shrub. This method also makes it easy to add a little support when the fruits start to set and size up.

This year I am going to plant them in some half-barrel planters for at the local elderly care center. Many of the residents there used to garden and I think they will enjoy watching "their" tomatoes grow as well.

-Tom
lee_71
13 years ago
I'm with Bigdaddy on this one.
The one I have is a red cherry that grows about 12" tall and
is definitely OP.

Makes for a great Christmas present too!

Lee

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