It has been two weeks since I planted out my tomatoes, and they are scrambling ever higher. The first flowers are starting to open, and I’m starting to yearn for the first sugary bite of a ‘Sungold’ cherry, or a fat, juicy slice of ‘Purple Calabash’.
But while I wait, rather impatiently, I’m tending to those little sideshoots which appear between the leaf and main stem. If you’ve never done this before, here’s a little guide. There are lots of reasons why I do this, but one of the best reasons for pinching out tomato sideshoots is that they provide plenty of new, baby tomato plants from cuttings.
Tomatoes just love sending out new roots from their stems, so they are very easy to propagate from cuttings. In fact, even if I’m growing a variety that I adore, like ‘Sungold’, I’ll only ever sow two plants, and propagate about four more from their sideshoots.
Here’s what to do:
1. Find a strong sideshoot with a good amount of stem, like the one pictured above. Tip: if you’re working near the top of the plant, take extra care not to cut out the main lead shoot from the stem.
2. Cut the sideshoot at the base, taking care not to damage the main plant.
3. Remove the bottom sets of leaves so there is at least an inch of stem showing.
4. Place the cutting in some damp compost, covering at least an inch of the stem. Leave the pot somewhere warm and out of direct sunlight.
5. Water well, and keep watering, twice a day for two weeks. By then, your cutting will have rooted, so grow on, and pot up as you would with a normal tomato seedling.
What a great idea, and your plants look beautiful, too! We spent all spring tending to our tiny seedlings when we should’ve known to just take cuttings. At this point, though, with two each of six heirlooms and two hybrids, we’re on track to have more tomatoes than we know what to do with! I love that tomatoes can grow roots anywhere along their stems…I only wish I could do it with my other, less prolific plants like my bell peppers.
A great tip very, well explained - but as all 28 sowings of tomato plants have germinated successfully this year I think I will put this idea in storage til next summer! I am still trying to find homes for them all. I love your photos too.
wow, I have never heard of anyone doing this, though it makes perfect sense! I’ll also be saving this tip for next year. Wish I’d spotted this post this past Spring, as I started a TON of seedlings and could have saved indoor starting space with this smart method. thanks!