Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi There
I've 4 very leggy Tomatoes (sweet million) that I didn't plant out before I had to go away for work last week ... they were getting a bit leggy before, but by the time I got back they were laying down / leaning on the window.

I have some decent ones planted out - but wondered if I could do something with the leggy ones, seeing as I have room.

Is it possible to cut off the main stem & let a side shoot from lower down be a newer less leggy leader - would this work? Or if I plant them really deep & stake them would they still come to something? Just thought it might be worth experimenting rather than composting ....

how come I don't have more time?!!

Skip, Sweet Million is a cherry tomato. It's a bushy type which will lie down - or lean - and quite naturally send out side shoots which should be left to do their thing - which is produce tomatoes!

HTH

Tricia

I once read somewhere, though I can't remember where , a method for dealing with leggy tomatoes - it went something like this.

Dig the planting hole a couple of inches deeper than you normally would, and then excavate a 2 inch deep drill to the side of the hole. Put the tom in the hole and then lay the lower stem in the drill. Fill and firm. The tomato will then throw out additional roots from the buried stem.

I've never tried it but it sounds like it might work

It does work - as does starting new plants from cuttings.