Medwyn Williams
Hello. I'm Medwyn Williams – eleven times Gold medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show, Past Chairman of the Royal Horticultural Society Fruit Vegetable and Herb Committee and President of the National Vegetable Society.
Cedrico F1 Tomato
I had some disappointing news yesterday when I ordered more seed of Cedrico Tomato, I was informed by the breeder that it was no longer available and all their seed stocks had been exhausted. Even if there was any left it would be in poor condition. This means that I have now only sufficient seed left to satisfy those orders that I have taken in for Cedrico plants. So please be wary if anyone else offers you Cedrico as there definitely aren’t any available.
To those customers who are still waiting for Cedrico seed I will have to offer the Zenith which, in my mind, is every bit as good as Cedrico. For next year we may well do as we did with Goldstar, sell some rooted cuttings which we will have to nurture throughout the winter months and sell them as rooted cuttings in packs of Five.
I am however constantly on the lookout for new varieties and all tomato breeders are aware of the criteria I’m looking for. In many respects, talking to a breeder yesterday, most of the big boys are pulling the plug on all varieties if the don’t sell in their millions. This could be a worry to us as we look at our show vegetables with a different outlook to those of the commercial world such as supermarkets etc. They tend to dictate the trends and are currently looking to buy flat bottomed tomatoes as their easier to stack and you get more into a box! Time will tell where this will lead.
8 thoughts on “Cedrico F1 Tomato”
Disappointing news indeed Medwyn but no doubt after a few years other varieties will fill the gap. I was lucky enough to win at Westminster last October with Cedrico and find it very easy to grow to a high standard. I always seemed to struggle with Gold Star. Not sure if I can be bothered to keep cuttings ticking over during Winter but may now have to consider it in light of this news. Whilst a few growers other than yourself have extolled its virtues to me I’m afraid I’ve yet to see a plate of Zenith come close to Cedrico but I am open to being convinced.
My eye was recently taken by a tomato called Orkado (in the T&M catalogue I think) which looked as if it had the potential to be a good show tom. No doubt the catalogue photo will bear no relation to what grows as usual, but I’m growing a few plants just for the hell of it.
Happy New Year Simon, or is it!! It certainly is disappointing regarding Cedrico but as you say new varieties will certainly come through in the future, I already have my finger on the pulse.
Yes, bad news indeed on Cedrico. I assume that the Cedrico variety was not grown commercially or would I be mistaken about that? It would be interesting to know which tomato varietes are grown commericailly on a big scale and which are produced for the amateur gardening market.
PS Sowed my Vento a few days back , 220 have germinated which out of the stated 200 seeds content seems reasonable!
Don’t go admitting thinks like that John….Medwyn will be backcharging you!
No, I don’t reckon he would do that, but he might only put 180 seeds in next years packet though.
That sounds like a good idea John!
medwyn ive got eight packets of cedrico is it possible to store them so they can be used in future .someone told me its possible to take seeds from f1 tomatoes as long as they are not cross pollinated with any other tomatoes grown in the greenhouse what are your thoughts on this.
Apologies for the delay in replying. You can keep the seed of tomatoes for at least a couple of years in the fridge. Interestingly however Ron Macfarlane has stored two packets on my old ‘Buffalo’ onion that used to win everywhere on the show benches over ten years ago. He placed two packets inside a polythene bag and sucked all the air out before sealing it and putting it inside another poly bag. The seed was then placed in the freezer compartment and kept there for ten years. Ron sowed the seed this year and had nearly 70% germination. Quite amazing and well worth trying particularly where a variety is coming to an end.