Shirley tomatoes are F1 and are a specific cross. The progeny will be F2 and can no longer be called Shirley. It will still be a tomato but with different characteristics.
Marmande are open pollinated and will come pretty much to type.
Always buy from Ebay. There's a few regular seed suppliers on there that sell mainly seeds and usually 99p for a small bag. Premier Seeds Direct are my regular supplier. They deliver quickly and have good range available. Haven't had any issues with them. Seeds always germinate.
3.99 is way overpriced for standard seeds. Ebay/Gumtree will give you the best price comparison and I am always on the lookout in the local discount stores which usually have a short window of shopping opportunity but a good selection at a very reasonable price. You could also look towards a Seeds/Cuttings swap website (Already discussed in these forums).
Buy my seeds at Melton mowbray market. They are last years or the year before seed packets and are ten packets for a pound never had any problems with germination or I save my own from all sorts of plants. Most packets are branded packets but always do well
Posts
I find Mr Fothergils seeds to be the cheapest of the big names, but Wilko seeds are really cheap and I've never once been disappointed with them.
I saved some seed from a nice cherry , real cherry sized tomato and beefsteak bought in a market in Greece and they came pretty true to type.
Worth a go I'd say.
Shirley tomatoes are F1 and are a specific cross. The progeny will be F2 and can no longer be called Shirley. It will still be a tomato but with different characteristics.
Marmande are open pollinated and will come pretty much to type.
W T Browns have a 99p offer on at the moment.
Always buy from Ebay. There's a few regular seed suppliers on there that sell mainly seeds and usually 99p for a small bag. Premier Seeds Direct are my regular supplier. They deliver quickly and have good range available. Haven't had any issues with them. Seeds always germinate.
Buy my seeds at Melton mowbray market. They are last years or the year before seed packets and are ten packets for a pound never had any problems with germination or I save my own from all sorts of plants. Most packets are branded packets but always do well
What about Wilkinsons, very cheap usually.