tomato propagation

Hi,

A while back, there were some questions about propagating tomato
plants. So, I thought I would try this. I took cuttings (new growth
from the top part of the plant) from three of my tomato plants. The
plants were Bush Celebrity (D), cherry (I), and roma(D) I performed
three different experiments on each plant:

1) Dipped plants in root hormone, placed in plastic cups with potting
soil, put on top for refrigerator and watered every other day for two
weeks. Put plants in garden and watered every other day. Plants
showed stress from being outdoors. They wilted and died in about two
weeks.

2) Dipped plants in root hormone, placed in plant containers with
potting soil, placed outside on garden table in shade (some filtered
light). Made sure the soil was very moist (watered every day and
sometimes twice a day) for two weeks (probably should have been longer
- three to four weeks).. Placed plants in garden and watered everyday.
Plants showed some stress but survived. Flowers and small tomatoes are
on two of the plants (Can't remember which ones).

3) Took plant cuttings, put them in a vase, and filled with water.
Made sure water was filled to the top. Had to add water everyday. Two
weeks later, roots formed. Planted plants in plant containers and
placed outside on garden table in shade (some filtered light) for two
weeks. Planted plants in garden. Very little signs of stress. Some
flowers and tomatoes are on plants.

To conclude, you can propagate any type of tomato plant - determinate
or indeterminate; it takes about four weeks before the plant is strong
enough to place in the garden, and the cuttings need lots of water.

Hope this answers some questions.

Bill

My tomatoes succombed a while back to wilt and/or to my "Mystery
Killer", but I noticed that some of them are putting out new green
shoots at the top. Has anyone ever rooted cuttings in pots over the
winter? I was thinking of seeing if I could get tomatoes by planting
a few in pots in the house. Or from seeds. Then I could just plant
them in the garden in the Spring, already with tomatoes, flowers,
etc., on them. Just trying to get some fresh garden tomatos before
the killer gets them.
The Mystery Killer even got most of my fig tree this year... first
time.
Thanks.
Kira

On 8 Sep 2004 06:17:17 -0700, (Bill) wrote:

Hi,

A while back, there were some questions about propagating tomato
plants. So, I thought I would try this. I took cuttings (new growth
from the top part of the plant) from three of my tomato plants. The
plants were Bush Celebrity (D), cherry (I), and roma(D) I performed
three different experiments on each plant:

1) Dipped plants in root hormone, placed in plastic cups with potting
soil, put on top for refrigerator and watered every other day for two
weeks. Put plants in garden and watered every other day. Plants
showed stress from being outdoors. They wilted and died in about two
weeks.

2) Dipped plants in root hormone, placed in plant containers with
potting soil, placed outside on garden table in shade (some filtered
light). Made sure the soil was very moist (watered every day and
sometimes twice a day) for two weeks (probably should have been longer
- three to four weeks).. Placed plants in garden and watered everyday.
Plants showed some stress but survived. Flowers and small tomatoes are
on two of the plants (Can't remember which ones).

3) Took plant cuttings, put them in a vase, and filled with water.
Made sure water was filled to the top. Had to add water everyday. Two
weeks later, roots formed. Planted plants in plant containers and
placed outside on garden table in shade (some filtered light) for two
weeks. Planted plants in garden. Very little signs of stress. Some
flowers and tomatoes are on plants.

To conclude, you can propagate any type of tomato plant - determinate
or indeterminate; it takes about four weeks before the plant is strong
enough to place in the garden, and the cuttings need lots of water.

Hope this answers some questions.

Bill