Are you saying that all or even most of the fruit on the plant were this way? Or only a few?

It is fairly common to see it happen with a fruit that was either poorly pollinated due to environmental conditions at the time of pollination or with one that develops from fused blooms (most likely). But multiple fruit on the same plant would seem to indicate a genetic issue with that particular plant.

Dave

All of the tomatoes on only one plant grew this way.

That's interesting, Schneibs. Can you post a photo of the whole plant?

I'd love to see!

Sure. I'll be back on Monday and will take some then and will post.

You're welcome Steve. Not a bad idea. They taste good.

I was joking and told someone that one of them was shaped like the Pope. I called it a Popula tomato.

Not much life left in the plant, but this is what's left right now (10/1/2015)

What does the inside look like when cut in half? Is the bottom protuberance like a separate chambered tomato with juvenile seeds? When they are ripened for picking is the bottom section as ripe as the main body of the tomato? Curious

Schneibs, those are so unusual. I wonder what caused it! I am curious also as to how they ripen and what one looks like when cut in half.

Jennie

It ripens as one tomato and the seeds continue in the same patterned chamber in both halves. Both halves are thick walled like Roma tomatoes and are very meaty. They taste similar to Roma tomatoes. Both haves taste the same. The rest of the seeds from this packet grew normal shaped tomatoes. The seed packet was labeled San marzano tomatoes. I don't remember whose seeds they were, possibly Bonnie plant. This was the only plant that had tomatoes of this shape, but every one of the tomatoes on it looked like this.

I am not sure how this happened. I am saving seeds to see what happens next year.

When the remaining tomatoes ripen, I will cut them open and post pictures. They are great for making sauce.

Strange indeed...there's a pepper called a peter pepper, maybe this one can be called tallywhacker tomato. ;)

Lol. I have seen the Peter pepper. I had thought about ordering the seeds to grow them.

you should email the company that made the seeds and see what they think lol..

I wish I could remember which company it was Stevie.

Can anyone tell me how to save the seeds from the remaining tomatoes.? I used the fermentation method with Campari tomatoes that I sowed in the ground right away and that worked very well. I've never saved seeds for use the following Spring and I want to be sure to do it correctly with these tomatoes.

Scrape the seeds into a small cup, add a bit of water and let it sit for 2-3 days. When the scum forms on the top, that's a good sign to do the final cleanup on those seeds. I plop them into a small strainer and under running water, rub the seeds to get rid of any traces of membrane. Put the seeds onto paper towel to dry and then scrape onto a piece of parchment paper to do the final drying. Some people store the seeds in envelopes but I just make the envelope out of the parchment paper (label with year/variety and staple it closed).

Thanks. That's pretty much the method I used to get Campari tomato seeds. I didn't know I could use the same method for storing them, but it makes sense. Thanks Donna.

I thought you would all like seeing this one that didn't develop very well on the bottom half.

Trying to ripen the rest inside. Once ripened, I'll cut them open and post a picture of the inside.

The top just pops off without having to slice it. This is what the two halves look like when separated

With all of the seeds so far, they all wanna' flow out with the water that I rinse them with, after the scum has formed and the seeds have separated. When I used this method before, I let any of the seeds that wanted to to just flow out go their way and only kept the ones that stayed in the cup. I figured those loose seeds were probably not good anyway.

Can anyone tell me if these seeds are worth saving?

Are these seeds from totally ripe tomatoes? I would pour them into a small sieve and rub any remaining membranes off with my fingers...rinse and plunk onto a piece of paper towel. Some seeds are more substantial than others and it would be worth a shot to save a few even if you don't think they may be viable. You could try to germinate one or two before putting them away for next season. The important consideration is whether they are a good tasting tomato, worth the effort of seed saving.

Okay, I will try that. Thanks. They have an extraordinary taste when cooked. These are a paste variety tomato. The shape is so unique that I would like to try and raise more next year.

This one definitely matured at two separate rates.