I would really like to save seed from my tomatoes (non hybrid) but am having a hard time putting 2 and 2 together from google searches on the subject. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Please go to the top of thius first page, click on the FAQ link and read the article about how to prevent cross poillination.

I think you'll find lots of answers there as well as lots of how to reading.

Yes, I know you asked other questions, some of them somewhat controversial, such as what is the definition of an heirloom, and there';s no one definition, but it looks like your primaty interest is saving seeds which is why I suggested the FAQ article first.

Carolyn

It depends on if and how far the stigma sticks out from the anther cone (see the illustration in the FAQs). The further it sticks out the more likely cross pollination will occur. Modern tomatoes tend to have shorter styles than older ones. It was not until 1965 that tomatoes with fully enclosed stigmas were developed (0% cross pollinating) [http://lamar.colostate.edu/~samcox/Tomato.html] so I suppose many if not most of the heirlooms have exposed stigmas. Currant tomatoes have not been selected for shorter styles/hidden stigmas as much so they will have a higher probablity of catching pollen from another plant.

I suppose that it really down't matter how far the stigma sticks out as long as it is exposed. A crawling bug covered in pollen from another tomato plant is going to contact it in any case.