Tomato suckers are not rooting in water. Ideas?

Snarkie · 10-25-2020, 08:02 AM

Okay, so I know enough to root the suckers and not random branches, but none are rooting from this plant. They've been in water for three weeks now, and zilch.

These are cuttings from a plant I started as a cutting from a good plant. Is it possible that clones of clones won't root as easily? I stuck one directly into a pot and it seems to be alive, so I haven't a clue. Any ideas or suggestions for this?

edwmax · 10-25-2020, 04:57 PM

Is the tomato plant a 'determinate' type? ... These grow to a certain size and then set fruit. A few of these might root .... IF (BIG IF) the plant has not reached the fruit stage/size.

Nice to see you back on the forum again ....

Lancelot · 10-26-2020, 04:30 PM

I stick the cutting directly into moist soil, and they seem to almost always take root, if they have the root nodes on the stem.

Snarkie · 10-26-2020, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwmax

Is the tomato plant a 'determinate' type? ... These grow to a certain size and then set fruit. A few of these might root .... IF (BIG IF) the plant has not reached the fruit stage/size.

Nice to see you back on the forum again ....

Now, YOU are the first person to actually make a suggestion that makes sense. That's the problem, thank you. I just got shyte lucky last year that one of them rooted around Thanksgiving and gave me the plant for this year.

Glad to be back as well!

edwmax · 10-26-2020, 08:33 PM

Home gardeners usually grows "indeterminate" tomato plants. These keep growing and setting new fruit. Any part if the plant will root ... in water or moist soil. It is best to use new grow (vs. old growth) for faster rooting.

Look at the seed packets or plant label. it should state if the plant is indeterminate or determinate. .... Commercial growers usually plant determinate tomatoes to get a large harvest at one time .... then replants.

My Brother about a month ago complained about his garden tomatoes only only made one bunch of tomatoes then died back. I told him that's why I only plant heirloom type tomatoes. I didn't go into the 'indeterminate/determinate" difference.

Snarkie · 10-27-2020, 09:15 AM

It's a Better Bush hybrid from Bonnie that is labeled a determinate, but this thing grows like an indy. It was still fruiting last year at Christmas when it finally got hit with frost. That's why I'm trying to clone it. The one I put in soil seems to be okay, but I need to check it for roots. These in water are growing as well, just not rooting. Damn Monsanto! Not only are their seeds sterile, so is the whole damned plant!

It makes sense though about the age. Dawn redwoods will root cuttings from yearlings with almost 100% certainty, but after two years or so, it drops to almost zero. There's some growth hormone that's present in the first year that disappears afterwards.

Thanks again for the info! I believe that is the problem here.

edwmax · 10-27-2020, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarkie

It's a Better Bush hybrid from Bonnie that is labeled a determinate, but this thing grows like an indy. It was still fruiting last year at Christmas when it finally got hit with frost. That's why I'm trying to clone it. The one I put in soil seems to be okay, but I need to check it for roots. These in water are growing as well, just not rooting. Damn Monsanto! Not only are their seeds sterile, so is the whole damned plant!

It makes sense though about the age. Dawn redwoods will root cuttings from yearlings with almost 100% certainty, but after two years or so, it drops to almost zero. There's some growth hormone that's present in the first year that disappears afterwards.

Thanks again for the info! I believe that is the problem here.

Try rooting suckers BEFORE the plant set Flowers. Take the cuttings when the plant is about 1/2 size or less. .... Determinate s (some; not all) basically stops vertical growth. Its best production is the first crop; afterwards the fruit is smaller and produced irregularly. I believe much of the 2nd crop & afterwards may be from the suckers that grow making the plant bushy. This is not as desirable for commercial growers but would be a good home garden plant.

Snarkie · 10-28-2020, 03:41 PM

Since it's going to frost on Sunday night, I just cut the tops off in one last gasp of effort. If nothing happens, I can buy them again, but growing over the winter gave me a huge jump this year. I already had fruits before I even put them outside. Next season, I'll try and get an Everglades and some larger indeterminates and go from there. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

At least I can bring my peppers in and winter them over!

This was my first garden, so the whole thing was basically an experiment and learning lesson any, so I'm learning!

Now, I'm ready to rock and roll for next year with some raised beds in the front yard, and I just ordered two bags of wine cap mushroom spawn to bed up in the next couple weeks.

smeash · 11-01-2020, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarkie

Since it's going to frost on Sunday night, I just cut the tops off in one last gasp of effort. If nothing happens, I can buy them again, but growing over the winter gave me a huge jump this year. I already had fruits before I even put them outside. Next season, I'll try and get an Everglades and some larger indeterminates and go from there. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

At least I can bring my peppers in and winter them over!

This was my first garden, so the whole thing was basically an experiment and learning lesson any, so I'm learning!

Now, I'm ready to rock and roll for next year with some raised beds in the front yard, and I just ordered two bags of wine cap mushroom spawn to bed up in the next couple weeks.

funny you mention the winecap mushrooms.. i had never heard of them, but a friend bought a some of the same with hopes of innoculating the wood chips i spread for him. Im curious how this will work, as having edible shrooms, as well as speeding the decomposition of the chips is a win win!

Snarkie · 11-02-2020, 04:17 PM

The one I put directly into soil looks really bad, so I took a stick and dug down alongside and lo and behold, I saw a heavy root, so I brought it in and stuck it under the grow light. Have to see what happens.

10-25-2020, 08:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,563 BananaBucks : 75,672 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 966 Times Was Thanked 1,612 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 948 Times	Tomato suckers are not rooting in water. Ideas? Okay, so I know enough to root the suckers and not random branches, but none are rooting from this plant. They've been in water for three weeks now, and zilch. These are cuttings from a plant I started as a cutting from a good plant. Is it possible that clones of clones won't root as easily? I stuck one directly into a pot and it seems to be alive, so I haven't a clue. Any ideas or suggestions for this? __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

10-25-2020, 04:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,570 BananaBucks : 55,890 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,588 Times Was Thanked 4,046 Times in 1,890 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 393 Times	Re: Tomato suckers are not rooting in water. Ideas? Is the tomato plant a 'determinate' type? ... These grow to a certain size and then set fruit. A few of these might root .... IF (BIG IF) the plant has not reached the fruit stage/size. Nice to see you back on the forum again .... __________________

10-26-2020, 04:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lancelot Going Bananas in Camelot Lancelot's Photo Gallery Location: Bonduel, WI Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Lancelot Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 67 BananaBucks : 7,232 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 70 Times in 32 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Tomato suckers are not rooting in water. Ideas? I stick the cutting directly into moist soil, and they seem to almost always take root, if they have the root nodes on the stem.

10-26-2020, 08:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,570 BananaBucks : 55,890 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,588 Times Was Thanked 4,046 Times in 1,890 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 393 Times	Re: Tomato suckers are not rooting in water. Ideas? Home gardeners usually grows "indeterminate" tomato plants. These keep growing and setting new fruit. Any part if the plant will root ... in water or moist soil. It is best to use new grow (vs. old growth) for faster rooting. Look at the seed packets or plant label. it should state if the plant is indeterminate or determinate. .... Commercial growers usually plant determinate tomatoes to get a large harvest at one time .... then replants. My Brother about a month ago complained about his garden tomatoes only only made one bunch of tomatoes then died back. I told him that's why I only plant heirloom type tomatoes. I didn't go into the 'indeterminate/determinate" difference. __________________ Last edited by edwmax : 10-26-2020 at 08:36 PM.

10-27-2020, 09:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,563 BananaBucks : 75,672 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 966 Times Was Thanked 1,612 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 948 Times	Re: Tomato suckers are not rooting in water. Ideas? It's a Better Bush hybrid from Bonnie that is labeled a determinate, but this thing grows like an indy. It was still fruiting last year at Christmas when it finally got hit with frost. That's why I'm trying to clone it. The one I put in soil seems to be okay, but I need to check it for roots. These in water are growing as well, just not rooting. Damn Monsanto! Not only are their seeds sterile, so is the whole damned plant! It makes sense though about the age. Dawn redwoods will root cuttings from yearlings with almost 100% certainty, but after two years or so, it drops to almost zero. There's some growth hormone that's present in the first year that disappears afterwards. Thanks again for the info! I believe that is the problem here. __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

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10-28-2020, 03:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,563 BananaBucks : 75,672 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 966 Times Was Thanked 1,612 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 948 Times	Re: Tomato suckers are not rooting in water. Ideas? Since it's going to frost on Sunday night, I just cut the tops off in one last gasp of effort. If nothing happens, I can buy them again, but growing over the winter gave me a huge jump this year. I already had fruits before I even put them outside. Next season, I'll try and get an Everglades and some larger indeterminates and go from there. Thanks for all the help and suggestions. At least I can bring my peppers in and winter them over! This was my first garden, so the whole thing was basically an experiment and learning lesson any, so I'm learning! Now, I'm ready to rock and roll for next year with some raised beds in the front yard, and I just ordered two bags of wine cap mushroom spawn to bed up in the next couple weeks. __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

11-02-2020, 04:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,563 BananaBucks : 75,672 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 966 Times Was Thanked 1,612 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 948 Times	Re: Tomato suckers are not rooting in water. Ideas? The one I put directly into soil looks really bad, so I took a stick and dug down alongside and lo and behold, I saw a heavy root, so I brought it in and stuck it under the grow light. Have to see what happens. __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

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