Tomato cuttings

Discussion in 'Propagation This Month' started by Larkshall, Mar 31, 2011.

  1. Larkshall

    Larkshall Gardener

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    Now is the time when garden centres start having Tomato plants in. If they have the variety you like, get your plants, allow one plant for around seven cuttings, grow them on, take out the side shoots and plant them in individual pots. These will fruit almost as soon as the original plants. I like "Shirley" but the seed are so expensive, plus the heating to grow them. I buy the plants, take cuttings and plant up the greenhouse. This way I get eight plants for £1.
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Used to always root a few side shoots in mid summer to give me a couple of younger plants a bit later in the season when the old ones were running out of steam.

      Good tip Larkshall.
       
    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

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      A very good way Larkshall. With my Losseto F1 hybrids costing £3.49 for 6 seeds, I might take a cutting off one of those later in the season & try to overwinter it.
       
    • Fidgetsmum

      Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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      As my daughter would say, 'every day's a school day', I've never thought of taking tomato cuttings but it seems obvious now it's been mentioned. How big do you allow the shoots to grow before picking them off and planting them - the usual 3" or so?
       
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      • Larkshall

        Larkshall Gardener

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        No, I have found that they will root easily at 3/4 to1 inch long.
         
      • Kristen

        Kristen Under gardener

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        Whilst I "couldn't possibly comment" there is always the option of saving the Garden Centre from having to remove side-shoots from the plants they have available, and "pruning" those side shoots yourself, on their behalf ...
         
      • Roy

        Roy Gardener

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        Can you over winter a tomato plant?
         
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        I think you probably could, but I cant see the benefits of doing it.

        I think winter growth would be very poor and weak.
         
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        • honeybunny

          honeybunny Head Gardener

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          it's never even crossed my mind to take cuttings from Tomato plants! :huh: why did i never think of that? :doh:
           
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          Chances are you would also over-winter a few pests and diseases as well. That's what's happened when I've over-wintered chilli plants, then in the spring they don't get away as fast as freshly sown seeds. I feel they are so easy to grow from seed there is little point giving them heat, light and space - you'd be better off over-wintering something more valuable.
           
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