Megabloom

[NYTomatoNewbie]

If you harvest seeds from a megabloom tomato, are the offspring more likely to produce larger non-mega bloom tomatoes, more megabloom tomatoes, or does the megabloom have no effect on the seed?

[JRinPA]

By megabloom, I assume you mean multiple blossoms fused together?

I think no effect.

I don't think it would matter if you took seeds from a megabloom tomato, or a month later took seeds from a tomato from the same plant with a single bloom.

But, I could be wrong and would like to see what others say.

[MissS]

In theory harvesting mega-blooms has no influence on producing plants prone to producing mega blooms. However, if you look at the plants that the major competition tomato growers use, then this theory is proven untrue. A true competition tomato plant will produce mega-blooms on almost every single truss. So my guess is that it will not change the odds of a mega-bloom in the first or second generation of saving seeds from them, but over time, yes, you are selecting for plants that produce mega-blooms so that is what will come to be from it. As for producing larger non-mega blooms, you would need to be selecting from plants that produce the largest fruits. Not all mega-blooms produce large fruit. Most times when selecting the largest fruit, they are the product of a mega-bloom.

[NYTomatoNewbie]

Great answer, thank you!

[Paulf]

Along with this good question does geographical location dictate the appearance of megeblooms? Does this occur more in the south or west or do megablooms happen evrywhere no matter the region? In my garden I have never had a plant with a megabloom. Are some varieties more apt to produce megablooms?

[MissS]

Along with this good question does geographical location dictate the appearance of megeblooms? Does this occur more in the south or west or do megablooms happen evrywhere no matter the region? In my garden I have never had a plant with a megabloom. Are some varieties more apt to produce megablooms?

Some say that it can be physiological and that cool spring temperatures help to stimulate the formation of faciated blossoms.

[JRinPA]

Almost always limited to first trusses here, the green plant is growing fast, days and nights are still cool. The hybrids don't do it nearly as much. Cuostralee and the big slicers do it most for me. And for me the last several years, it has been single/double stems. So, heavily pruned.

Though I do remember "big uglies" on SuperSteak hybrid and Brandywines, both in cages.

By the 2nd/3rd truss it is usually sorted out. I figure the energy is more in balance? And then on later trusses there are more flowers that just don't get pollinated at all and turn brown. By then it is hot.