Tomatoes ... did you know,

[Lady Willow]

.... that instead of rubbing out the side shoots of your plants, you can let them grow to about 10cm then cut them off, stick 'em in a pot of compost and hey presto - a free tomato plant.

I've got loads on the go. Free plants, love it!

[hedgewitch]

Really?!
I never knew that. Admittedly I've never tried but I'm going to from now on.

[Lady Willow]

yeah, go for it

They'll look a bit limp for a day or two, make sure you keep the compost very moist ... within a few days they'll have perked right up.

[andyt]

D'you know, Aradia, that is abrilliant idea.I'd never given it athought.(yet,when i think about it so bloody obvious). I'm gonna give that a go!!

[hedgewitch]

yet,when i think about it so bloody obvious

It is really isn't it....sometimes we can't see the wood through the trees!

[Wombat]

We use Grosse Lisse, a variety where you don't ned to remove the side shoots

Nev

[moogie]

Seeing the scary amount of sideshoots I am removing from my plants I could fill a football field with new plants!

I will give it a try.

[Lady Willow]

Just remember not to let too many grow on per plant (it only has so much energy after all).

I'd leave a max of two (or three if you're really desparate for plants) per plant.

If you would all like to donate 20p per free plant you get to my Chocolate Fund then that would be fine. Apply to me for details.

[AXJ]

The method works well, and is very popular for anual herbs as well.

sweetjezu... I have so many tomato plants right now the forthcoming harvest is scary, I love tomatoes, and they can be so expensive... never the less... time to defrost the freezer me thinks LoL

[ina]

I did know that - but since I always have far too many plants anyway, and nowhere to put them - what the heck would I do with even more of them?


Does anybody want some Gardener's Delight plants??? (OK, can't send them - pick up only! )

And yes, I know I should sow more - but there were only a few old seeds left in the packet, so I chucked them all in...

[AXJ]

Just remember not to let too many grow on per plant (it only has so much energy after all).

Surely the side shoots photosythasize and therefore provide their own energy? I keep hearing this with other plants, remove the shade leaves etc... no surely not, these things are like the solar panels on the international space station... as long as the plant has food, water and light... the energy shoudl take care of itself, why would a plant produce vegetation which is not to its benefit?

[Lady Willow]

Because the aim for growers is to maximise the FRUIT from the plant. The more vegetative growth the less the plant will concentrate on producing fruits. Hence that is why tomato feeds are a ratio to promote fruit growth and not vegetative growth.

There's generally a reason why the experts tell us to do things. Whilst I don't generally follow advice blindly, if a grower I respect (Bob Flowerdew, my husbands mum!, etc) tells me to do something, I know there's good reason ... they are the experts, not me.

[AXJ]

That makes sense, I did some research and shade leaves etc are a net benefit to the plant and provide surplus energy and nutrients broken down using photo synthasis, the ones near the roots feed the roots, the ones near the top feed the flowers and fruit.

Flower and fruit are sinks for the nutrients provided by the generators of energy. Therefore it makes sense to remove the bottom leaves or suckers as they are sending their goodness to the roots of the plant, which are probably well established already.

At the end of the day, you're right suckers are suckers... and need to be removed.

[Millymollymandy]

Does anybody want some Gardener's Delight plants??? (OK, can't send them - pick up only! )

And yes, I know I should sow more - but there were only a few old seeds left in the packet, so I chucked them all in...

Oh Ina you and I are so alike - I did EXACTLY the same thinking oh the seeds are old and won't all germinate..... I currently have 12 potted up when I was only planning on 6, and it was really, REALLY, hard to chuck the other 20 or so.

Anyway this year will be interesting, because I have potted up my toms and chillies in a mixture of home made compost, home made leaf mould and shop bought potting compost in equal quantities. I have saved an absolute fortune in potting compost.

[Annpan]

I am confused (as usual ) - do you take the leaves off? so that you just have a long stalk? Or do you take off the 'branches'?

I have been reading that you take off the 'side shoots' but I am just not sure what that means - my tomato plants are about 10 inches tall now, no signs of flowers and I haven't taken anything off yet - as I don't want to peel of the wrong thing and damage the plant