Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Crop level - Tomatoes from cuttings

DrMacDrMac Posts: 23
in Fruit & veg
For the first time I have used the shoots I have taken off my tomato plants  an rooted them as cuttings. I am currently growing these outdoors and they are doing well and already have some small fruits on them. My plan is to use these to replace the main plants in the greenhouse as they deteriorate. thereby (hopefully) extending the season by introducing younger plants.
Has anyone tried this and if so, how successful was it?
«1

Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Tomatoes need heat to ripen so unless you are heating the greenhouse you might not see much benefit. As the season progresses nights get cooler and that stops ripening. Cuttings taken early usually catch up the main crop - the ones I took this year are the same size as the parents now.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I have a couple which are from the sideshoots, They're nowhere near the size of the main plants. The bigger one is undercover outside, as there's no room left in the growhouse, and the smaller one is in the kitchen.
    I'll have to bring both of them inside though, to get ripened fruit. They're both only producing some flowers now. 
    As @steephill says - without enough heat, they won't ripen as the season simply isn't long enough. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BenTheBeginnerBenTheBeginner Posts: 66
    Fairygirl said:
    I have a couple which are from the sideshoots, They're nowhere near the size of the main plants. The bigger one is undercover outside, as there's no room left in the growhouse, and the smaller one is in the kitchen.
    I'll have to bring both of them inside though, to get ripened fruit. They're both only producing some flowers now. 
    As @steephill says - without enough heat, they won't ripen as the season simply isn't long enough. 
    Hi Dr Mac, I do this every year to extend my season, im growing Cuor Di Beau tomatoes this year, and started with just 1 plant, now 5 plants, I wouldn't recommend it without the use of a greenhouse, but feel free to try, plant 1 and 2 have fruited, with 3 flowering, 4 budding, 5 budding, and 6 I only did yesterday 
  • DrMacDrMac Posts: 23
    If I remember, I'll post in late September to let you know how they managed!
    Thanks for the replies.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    I did it one year and just kept them growing in my bay window all winter, and used the leggy early spring off-shoots as my plants out in the garden that following year.  It was lovely the smell of tomato whenever we brushed up against the leaves.. with the deep snow outside.  It was so leggy I grew it like a vine up yarn attached to my curtain rods.. up and down and back again.  We even had two or three rather tasteless tomatoes fresh on Christmas Day.  It was a fun experiment.. but not something I have repeated since.  
    Utah, USA.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Do tomato branches ( or whatever they're called) lying on the ground take root?
    I have one or two that are inaccessible . They have fruited, but i can't get at them to see what's going on underneath.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    I would expect so.  Stick those things in a glass of water and you get roots 100% of the time - usually within a week or so.  If I had the space, I've always been tempted to just let an indeterminate get on with it.. sprawling out and branching how ever it likes.  Just to see if there is a difference in fruit production.
    Utah, USA.
  • DrMacDrMac Posts: 23
    I'm intrigued by B3 saying he/she can't get at the side shoots of her/his tomato plant to see if they have rooted (layered) themselves. Must be a big plant! (Photo?)
    As for the question, yes, any side branches will root when in contact with the ground. It (layering) is a technique used for taking cuttings, usually ones which are not so easy to root.
    Tomato plants seem to be very enthusiastic rooters  - I have had plants producing aerial roots.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Blue Onion said:
      It was lovely the smell of tomato whenever we brushed up against the leaves.. with the deep snow outside.  
    Isn't it funny how we can be different. I hate the smell of the foliage!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited August 2020
    It's sweet million. I'll get a photo
    Phone is right out of charge😯
    In London. Keen but lazy.
Sign In or Register to comment.