Selecting seeds from a catalog involves understanding abbreviations that are used. These differ with the crop and are explained in good seed catalogs.

For example, here is an explanation of the abbreviations used to describe a tomato cultivar. For this example, the tomato ‘Quick Pick’ (F1) VFFNTA (I) 60 days will be used.

Quick Pick’ = the cultivar name (F1) = the plant is a first-generation hybrid V = resistant to Verticillium wilt FF = resistant to both strains of Fusarium wilt N = resistant to nematodes T = resistant to tobacco mosaic virus A = resistant to Alternaria or crown wilt (I) = an INDETERMINATE or vining growth pattern as opposed to a DETERMINATE or bush habit.

Sixty days indicates that this cultivar typically requires 60 days after transplanting to produce a crop. This is an approximate period that is influenced by local weather conditions.

Other abbreviations that indicate disease-resistant qualities may include the following:

L = resistant to leaf spot or Septoria St = resistant to Stemphylium or grey leaf spot