Hello,

I received seed labeled Red Lithium in the MMMM and it's growing beautifully and is one of the most productive plants in my garden. However, the first one I pulled was heart-shaped. I realize it might be a cross because it's neighbor is Rebel Starfighter Prime. So, this morning I went to look, to make sure I'd pulled it from the correct plant and hadn't just gotten mixed up. I confirmed it was from the plant Red Lithium and, it looks like I have lots of heart shaped fruit on that plant. Anyone growing this one? Should it be a heart or no?

It appears to be environmental, although others have written about Lithium Sunset throwing hearts. You can read more by Googling "Tomatoville Lithium Sunset".

Linda

I can't remember if I sent Red Lithium in to the MMMM or not so not sure if they are from me or someone else, but that is what mine looked like last year. I had gotten seeds from Marsha ([mention]Ginger2778[/mention]) in her very generous 2020 seed offer. She had recommended it to me as a good one to try and she was right.

It was productive and what you are showing was the shape/color I got last year. It is different than Lithium Sunset and I'm not really sure of the full background. I suspect it could still be unstable so I'd be curious if Marsha has some pictures of what she has grown. It was a great tasting tomato and I'm growing 2 plants this year. One is growing tomatoes like the ones in your picture and one looks more like a more solid colored beefsteak or maybe more of a very blunt heart, but I can't tell color of it for sure yet since none from that plant have ripened yet. I've eaten a couple of the striped heart ones so far this season that were great tasting like I remembered, and can't wait to see what the other plant produces when they're ripe.

Mine were blunt hearts if heart at all. Super productive great tasting pink striped fruits. I found this and named it, seeds were originally from a bag labeled Lithium Sunset, which is a striped bicolor. Fred Hempel (breeder of LS)was surprised to see red flesh, and we decided together to name it Red Lithium. I believe it to be stable, it has always grown same for me year after year. Probably the most productive tomato I have grown. And delicious!

Last year my tomato buddy was given the task to grow both lithium Sunset and Red Lithium for comparison. I never got to taste them for a number of reasons. This year I am growing the Red Lithium and amazed at how many flowers and tomatoes it is setting. I noticed today that some look heart shaped and was surprised so this is a timely thread. They are really small yet so we’ll see. Mine were from Marsha and I’m really looking forward to tasting them! Will be a while till that happens.

Beautiful looking tomato!

This is a great tasting tomato. Productive too! I think everyone should try it .

Linda

Pokemato wrote: ↑Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:03 am Hello,

I received seed labeled Red Lithium in the MMMM and it's growing beautifully and is one of the most productive plants in my garden. However, the first one I pulled was heart-shaped. I realize it might be a cross because it's neighbor is Rebel Starfighter Prime. So, this morning I went to look, to make sure I'd pulled it from the correct plant and hadn't just gotten mixed up. I confirmed it was from the plant Red Lithium and, it looks like I have lots of heart shaped fruit on that plant. Anyone growing this one? Should it be a heart or no?

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Mine are stable, but yours might be from a growout that got crossed last season. Mine weren't donated to the MMMM, so someone got seeds from me, grew it, then donated their saved seeds.

Red Lithium was one of five varieties of seeds Marsha sent me in January of this year.
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Steve

Ah so you all are getting heart shapes? Maybe I had cross! Mine had mild heart shaping, but only in some. Or it might elongate in the heat, I grow while we are cooling down, not in the heat. This is interesting.
Steve Ok, was the seed sent in January of 2020? I didn't do a seed offer this year.

Ok, so I read this thread yesterday, and was pretty sure my plant got killed by my dog or the crazy heat wave. So today, I was looking at the tomatoes I stuck in the raised beds in the side of the house and found these tomatoes. I knew there was a Rainbow Jazz Heart in that bed, figured it was this plant. Followed the plant to the tag, Red Lithium.

I was extremely hot for a while, 3 days above 110, it cooled down, but it cooled down to the high 90s/low 100s.

[mention]Ginger2778[/mention] PM sent.

Yep, undeniably a heart. Maybe it's not stable.

Mine are now bigger and have the same heart shape as those above. I gave a plant to my sister-in-law and hers are also heart shaped. Believe they were from 2020 offer from Marsha. Sent to me as a “must have”! Since I love hearts can’t complain especially if they taste as good as the blunt ones. Can heat really cause such a difference? We have been hot and humid with short periods of cooling down.

Gardadore wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:22 am Mine are now bigger and have the same heart shape as those above. I gave a plant to my sister-in-law and hers are also heart shaped. Believe they were from 2020 offer from Marsha. Sent to me as a “must have”! Since I love hearts can’t complain especially if they taste as good as the blunt ones. Can heat really cause such a difference? We have been hot and humid with short periods of cooling down.

Heat wouldn't cause this very pointed true heart shape. Looks like a cross happened a while back.

Marsha,
Do you think you have seeds left from your original blunt ones that would continue to produce them? It would be a shame for you to lose the variety you discovered!

Gardadore wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:38 am Marsha,
Do you think you have seeds left from your original blunt ones that would continue to produce them? It would be a shame for you to lose the variety you discovered!

I'll look!

Dawn wrote: ↑Mon Jul 12, 2021 5:11 pm IMG_20210712_145124521~2.jpg
IMG_20210712_145128047~2.jpgIMG_20210712_145135245~2.jpg

Ok, so I read this thread yesterday, and was pretty sure my plant got killed by my dog or the crazy heat wave. So today, I was looking at the tomatoes I stuck in the raised beds in the side of the house and found these tomatoes. I knew there was a Rainbow Jazz Heart in that bed, figured it was this plant. Followed the plant to the tag, Red Lithium.

I was extremely hot for a while, 3 days above 110, it cooled down, but it cooled down to the high 90s/low 100s.

Are you saving plenty of seeds from your extra elongated variation?

Probably, but only if they taste good

Tormato wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 3:05 pm
Are you saving plenty of seeds from your extra elongated variation?

We have first blush. Don't be alarmed by the size, it got hot early and violently this year, everything has been struggling. Stump of the World ripened at the same size (and was delicious).