cross pollination

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nervjiggy North Little Rock, AR Mar 18, 2010

Is it possible for better boy and roma tomato plants to cross pollinate?

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melody Benton, KY(Zone 7a) Mar 18, 2010

Yes, they can.

All tomatoes are capable of cross-pollination. The pollen is insect borne and any insect that visits the flowers of both varieties can be responsible for the cross. It is too heavy to be wind-borne, so you can't get a cross that way.

Better Boy is hybrid, so seeds saved from it will not result in Better Boys next year anyway. Hybrid seeds will not come true. Depending on the variety of romas, you can have either hybrids or Open Pollinated. Roma is simply a type of tomato, although there are several roma types with 'roma' in the name.

Now, if your tomatoes happen to cross this year, you'll see absolutely no evidence of this in this years fruit. Your Better Boys will still look and taste exactly like Better Boys and so will your romas. The cross is in your seeds and will not be evident until you plant the seeds from this year's harvest.

Just let me know if you have further questions. I'll be more than happy to answer them.

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