Kitchen Garden Forum

Tomato plants pricey? buy one or two sturdy plants early, when side shoots appear, remove them and place lower stem in water, they grow roots and can then be potted up as new plants, This has the advantage of staggering crops too, so they don't all ripen at once and saves money.

Absolutely, Nature's babe. I've increased my crop quite effectively like that in the past.

I first came across this suggestion a couple of years ago and was totally disbelieving that it would work. However, last year I experimented with just one side shoot from a Gardeners Delight and got another productive plant from it. Right now I'm also trying to reproduce a Sungold which got leggy, so have lopped off the main growing top and planted it in soaking wet compost. Having left the original stump in its pot with only one pathetic leaf on it because I hadn't got round to putting it on the compost heat, I find that the stump is now starting to sprout fresh leaves again! Tomatoes seem to have an overwhelming desire to cling onto life at any cost.

Yes, Primrose; they are resilient plants and, what's more, seem to do with far less watering than most people think they need. With a better taste as a result.