Please help me decide - should I take cuttings?

13 years ago

I've planted about 40 different tomato plants (I'm a single person but want to try drying and canning the excess tomatoes I don't eat), however most don't seem to be doing that well. There are three which are looking better than the rest and have grown to about their second node and the first suckers are just starting to form. I was wondering, if I kill all but the three best and grow them to the stage where I can take cuttings to grow into fully grown mature plants, will there be enough time in the season to get a harvest from them?

I live in the UK by the way (the South East), if that helps.

Or do I need to just grow all the seedlings and hope for the best?

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Comments (7)

barrie2m_(6a, central PA)
13 years ago
If you think you have plants well enough to take top cuttings then you could also trench plant those plants and just leave the good looking growth above the soil line. That would probably give you the faster harvest.
digdirt2
13 years ago
If you should take cuttings from them or not would all depend on what is wrong with them, why they "don't seem to be doing that well"?

If it is a disease problem then cuttings are a waste of time. If it is a nutrient problem then the cuttings will have the same problems unless you ID and fix it. Is it lack of sun, lack of water, what are the symptoms?

Otherwise I agree with the advice above - trench in the entire plant leaving just the growing tip exposed and hope for the best recovery and production.

Dave
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organic_wonderful
Original Author
13 years ago
No, I don't have any problems with diseases or anything like that. It was just not so good potting soil.

That's not the issue. I'm just saying there are a few that stand out and seem to be much stronger than the rest and I want to use that genetics when I move them outdoors into better soil. Is there any reason why this wouldn't work?
digdirt2
13 years ago
Other than you risk the cuttings dying and that your harvest will be delayed accordingly there is no reason I know of why it wouldn't work. Not that I would do it or recommend doing it but it is your choice.

On the other hand, many of the plants that don't appear the best right now may very well kick into high gear once planted outside. A better solution might be to simply transplant some of the weak ones into new containers with some quality potting mix and plant them deeply.

Dave
mrdoitall
13 years ago
How big/old are the weak plants? If they are 4 to 6 weeks old I would harden off and plant them out in the garden. They will kick in and recover and grow fine in the warmer weather. We need more info to help you! post some pictures.
seysonn
13 years ago
I Totally agree with DAVE. Ugly ducklings can become beautiful swans.
organic_wonderful
Original Author
13 years ago
Okay I'll do that.

But if I have expensive F1 genetics and don't want to buy load of seeds isn't rooting sucker cuttings a good way of turning one plant into many?

Please help me decide - should I take cuttings?

Comments (7)

barrie2m_(6a, central PA)

digdirt2

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Please help me decide - should I take cuttings?

Comments (7)

barrie2m_(6a, central PA)

digdirt2

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