Two types of flower on tomatoes?

SorchaBC · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:06 am Post subject: Two types of flower on tomatoes?

Emmm, this is probably a silly question, and I'm mortified to even ask, but do tomatoes normally have two types of flower? Only one type of tomato is flowering at the moment, the beef tomato, the cherry toms aren't so I can't compare...

They have little yellow flowers, that look like the kind I remember seeing as a child when various family members grew their own, but there's also a big, fat yellow flower, that's kinda green at the centre.

I feel like a right twit but I've never grown tomatoes before so I had to ask...

michael brenock · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject:

there is no such thing as a stupid question but there can be stupid answers, the flower blossoms in the picture look perfectly normal to me. Sometimes there are slight variations in flower colour and size and numbers between different varieties but they all perform the same function.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

mcgrueser · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:04 pm Post subject:

I have one the same Sorcha and i was actually just going to ask the group but you got there first! I have one similar where there is one massive yellow flower. I grew tomatoes last year for the first time and never saw something like it. I wonder..... i'll try post a pic tomorrow of it and see what people think too...

SorchaBC · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 2:11 pm Post subject:

Thanks Michael and McGrueser.

The photo I've posted is somewhat deceiving, the fully opened flowers are to the forefront so they look bigger, but it's the rounder, semi-open one thats the large flower in question. And I mean really huge.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with freak tomato plants McGrueser! Laughing

mcgrueser · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 3:11 pm Post subject:

Here are my weird flowers on my tomatoes like yours Sorcha. I think they are off Marmande tomato plants. Not sure if this makes it any clearer.

cathd · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 4:53 pm Post subject:

I just found a couple of these today as well!

michael brenock · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 6:18 pm Post subject:

the bigger type tomatoes like the beef do have bigger flowers and more than five petals, often multiples of five and the shape and size of the fruit is different to the normal Moneymaker type. All have to be pollinated by insect or shaking to be fertilised.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

SorchaBC · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:43 pm Post subject:

Since it's just a few random big flowers and other normal ones, am I to understand then that there'll be some larger tomatoes, and smaller ones, or will they all still be of the beef type?

As for shaking, with a German Shepherd and two cats it's more a case for trying NOT to have the plants shaken too much in this house! Laughing