[Kristen]

Yes, but you'd be working for nothing, hence I couldn't possibly condone it

[beesrus]

Well, thanks for that information Kristen, very helpful.. I never really thought of the cutting thing from an F1 that would grow true that same year, and quick enough to produce fruit. Never gave it a thought.
 
Should work quite well with an early purchased Floridity F1 plant for 99p when I see one, as such varieties have a long fruiting period, almost through to December in a good year.

[Growster...]

Armpit cuttings are so new to me, I've never really got as far as watching one grow, although I did get one away last year, and far too late...

Naaaah, I think I'll just stick to what I know, and not get too bothered about too many new-fangled ideas, rather like all the old boys I used to meet down on the Patch all those years ago, and grew huge, lusty vegetables!

Old fashioned - me?

[Anton]

Hullo fellow gardeners (Happy New Year to you all).

I read about those crimson crush tomatoes that are supposedly 100% blight-resistant. They are avaiable for order right now. I looked on the site (Sutton seeds) I think that are selling them as plant  "plugs" (I know what they mean but I had never had of them term before). Apparently, they only send "plug"  by post to addresses within the UK. Never mind, I thought I can buy they seeds. Another blank. They will not be available until the autumn.
So my question is if I get my sister in England to order the "plugs" and send them out to me here in Belgium are they likely to survive the journey (they would take a week to reach me, I imagine)?

Failing that, has anybody heard anything about Tomato Seeds - F1 Lizzano, which BangorUniversity claimed were the most blight-resistant species hitherto?  Moreover, what does F1 mean?

Anton

[JayG]

It's anyone's guess whether they would survive the journey, especially as you don't know yet how warm the weather will be, and exactly how long they might take to arrive - if your sister is willing you could get her to at least water them and possibly improve the packaging if necessary.

Don't know anything about Lizzano, but like all F1's they will be the first generation of seeds from 2 very carefully selected parents, and as such have to be considered a one-off (i.e. not suitable for seed-saving the following year because they will produce plants with different characteristics which are impossible to predict in advance.)

[moose]

Perhaps need to check you are allowed to import plants.

[Kristen]

Perhaps need to check you are allowed to import plants.

Should not be a problem within EU (with some exceptions, such as Ash due to Ash-die-back disease)

like all F1's they will be the first generation of seeds from 2 very carefully selected parents, and as such have to be considered a one-off (i.e. not suitable for seed-saving the following year because they will produce plants with different characteristics which are impossible to predict in advance.)

I think the issue here is that Suttons are selling plants this year, and have said they will market seed from this Autumn - so no seed available this Spring.  presumably to recoup some of their development cost, or because seed supply is small and can get more added-value by growing them as plants.

[JayG]

like all F1's they will be the first generation of seeds from 2 very carefully selected parents, and as such have to be considered a one-off (i.e. not suitable for seed-saving the following year because they will produce plants with different characteristics which are impossible to predict in advance.)

I think the issue here is that Suttons are selling plants this year, and have said they will market seed from this Autumn - so no seed available this Spring.  presumably to recoup some of their development cost, or because seed supply is small and can get more added-value by growing them as plants.

Kristen: The above quote was referring to the Lazzano seeds (until you edited it out! ) rather than Sutton's Crimson Crush - we probably won't know whether they are F1 seeds or not until they go on sale, although I wouldn't bet against them being just that! 

[Kristen]

The above quote was referring to the Lazzano seeds (until you edited it out! ) rather than Sutton's Crimson Crush

So I see now I've re-read your original being dyslexic I'm inclined to make that sort of mistake, sorry about that

[JayG]

No worries Kristen - I'm perfectly capable of making mistakes like that without being dyslexic!