Introduction

Volunteer tomato plants refer to tomato plants that have self-seeded and grown without deliberate plantings. They can occur in gardens or anywhere in the landscape. These plants may be a pleasant surprise or an unwelcome intrusion depending on the gardener’s intentions. However, it is important to identify the volunteer tomato plants to decide whether or not to keep them or remove them, especially when you have already planned to grow certain varieties of tomato plants.

Visual Identification

The easiest way to identify volunteer tomato plants is to look for the distinct characteristics of a tomato plant. Tomato plant leaves and stems have a distinct feature, and they change according to the type of tomato plant. Some of the common features that can help the gardener identify a volunteer tomato plant include:

The hairy stem that may have small spines or bristles.

The leaves are compound, with a distinct central leaflet and smaller leaflets on its sides.

Tomato plants often have yellow flowers and subtle tomato-scented leaves.

Check for Fruit Production

The most reliable way to identify a volunteer tomato plant is by looking for fruit production. Tomato fruits usually have a distinctive flavor, color, and texture that make them relatively easy to recognize. If you notice suspicious-looking tomato plants, allow them to flower and fruit to see if they produce the correct fruit that you wanted to grow. Keep in mind that some volunteer tomato plants may not produce the exact tomato plant you expect. However, they are still edible and delicious, so it's up to your choice whether you keep them or remove them.

Genetic Testing

If you are unsure of the identity of a volunteer tomato plant, and you want a more accurate identification to determine if it’s safe to consume, genetic testing is an option. You can send a small sample of the plant to a laboratory that offers DNA testing services. The laboratory will conduct a DNA test and provide you with the results, so you can be sure of the tomato plant's identity. However, the process can be costly, and not many gardeners will go to that extent to identify a volunteer tomato plant.

Conclusion

Identifying volunteer tomato plants can be a crucial process for a gardener to determine whether to keep them or not. Visual identification, checking for fruit production, and genetic testing are a few of the ways to identify these plants. Once identified, the gardener can choose to keep or remove the volunteer plants according to their preferences. If you enjoy surprises, keep the volunteer tomato plants; they may be a new variety that tastes even better than the planned ones. In contrast, if the plant does not meet your needs, remove it to allow the planned plant to thrive.