Why Heirloom Tomato Seeds Sometimes Produce Unexpected Hybrids

Genetics at Work in the Tomato Patch

A gardener saved seeds from a 'Cherokee Purple' tomato; one plant produced fruit with huge leaves, shallow oval shape, brilliant ruby color, and sweeter flavor. This is a natural hybrid: an insect likely carried pollen from a different tomato variety nearby. Heirlooms usually come true from seed, but cross-pollination occasionally creates new combinations—just like human siblings inheriting different traits from the same parents.

Resources for Heirloom Tomatoes

• Totally Tomatoes (www.totallytomato.com) – hundreds of varieties
• South Carolina Foundation Seed Association – dozens of heirloom vegetables