[simpson-allen]

I had great success growing plants from seeds taken from  a cherry tomato I grew a few years back. Unfortunately I've misplaced last years harvest so have had to buy some ready grown ones this year. Someone told me you cant do what I did if the plants are F1. Is this true? If so, will it just not germinate or is it that the plant won't produce any fruit? I was also thinking of doing the same with  a cucumber this year. Has anyone else successfuly grown from a self harvested seed before? Also, will it matter if the plants are female only?

[Annen]

I've got a bambino tomato plant, which I found out afterwards is an F1.  It has grown like a normal tomato so far, and has plenty of flowers, but no fruit as yet.  All the other varieties of toms in the greenhouse that are a similar size, have baby fruits on, so not looking too hopeful as yet.

[simpson-allen]

Just been sent details from a similar thread back in 2011 so got most of my answers now thanks, except to the question on cucumbers. So if anyone who can throw some light on that one I'd be grateful.

[DD.]

An F1 is bred from two specific parents. These parents individualy may have undesirable traits, but together produce good offspring.

If you grow the seed of that offspring, you may get a throw back to the poor traits of one or both of the parents.

[DD.]

Re the cucumber, if it's all female, chances are it won't have been pollinated unless an insect has wandered in with pollen from elsewhere.

Really speaking with greenhouse cucumbers, you don't want them to be pollinated.