Container Tomato For Winter. When To Take Cutting? Zone 7/8.

15 years ago

I am planning on taking another cutting to put on my porch that has a large window.

Last year I planted a seed December 8, 2007 and it lived through the winter to plant out in the spring.

Now I am trying to start a cutting that will be mature in November with green tomatoes ready to ripen when I put the tomato plant on my porch. The cutting will be from a "Better Boy " plant. 72 days to harvest.

If I take a cutting September 19th will it mature before November. ItÂs not a seed that matures in 72 days.

Cutting in the pink container taken August 16, 2008.

Karyl

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Comments (4)

Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
15 years ago
If I take a cutting September 19th will it mature before November. ItÂs not a seed that matures in 72 days.
The day to maturity (dtm) is not from seed planting until harvest, but from transplant until harvest. Given that the plant will have less warmth, and less light than during the summer growing season, I suspect it would take even longer than 72 days. Of course 72 dtm is a guesstimate anyway.

Sue
k2marsh
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Sue. I assumed that when the seed package said 72 day to maturity it was from when the seed germinated. OK, I found another seed pack that said from transplant.

I will be starting form a cutting that is about 10 inches long buried so that only two or three small leaves are above the ground. They really grow quick. Like the one in the pink container.

The cutting will start off growing fast. As the weather is getting cooler, out of the 90 degrees, the cutting should grow fast until the weather gets much cooler.

It seems like it is going to be guess work as I have never done this before. Next year I should know a little more about the time it takes to produce big green tomatoes like the tomato plant on the right.

May be someone else with a green house has already done this.

As long as I have tomatoes that have set I should be alright. I just donÂt want to grow a tomato plant all winter that never sets tomatoes.

Karyl
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Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
15 years ago
I just donÂt want to grow a tomato plant all winter that never sets tomatoes.
I'd be happy to have a plant with green tomatoes, even if they weren't so good once they ripened. I'd be frying up those green ones while the snow was flying.

I think you are right...It will be guesswork this year, and you should have a better idea next year...but then the weather will probably totally different.

Sue
k2marsh
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Sue and All,

Real green tomatoes will ripen. I just wanted to make sure I had tomatoes that bloomed and set fruit.

I should be able to have tomatoes all year long.

See my Flicker photo of my last years green ripened tomatoes, and my first seed planted.

Karyl
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Here is a link that might be useful: Flicker Photo of Last Years Green Ripe Tomatos

Container Tomato For Winter. When To Take Cutting? Zone 7/8.

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Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana

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Container Tomato For Winter. When To Take Cutting? Zone 7/8.

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Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana

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Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana

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