How to Grow Tomatoes from Suckers
02.08.2023 - 08:43
/ balconygardenweb.com
/ Dhruvdeep
Tomato plants can produce a lot of suckers — shoots that emerge between the stem and the branch of the plant? These suckers sap valuable energy from the main plant and hinder its growth, which is why it’s often recommended to prune them.
If you’re removing them anyway, why not use them to grow whole new tomato plants from suckers?
Tomato suckers are easy to spot – they are the small shoots that grow between the main stem and the branch of the plant.
When choosing suckers to root, look for those that are young, healthy, and around 4-6 inches long.
It’s best to do this in the morning when the plants are hydrated and the suckers are plump with moisture.
Once you’ve identified the sucker you want to root, use clean shears or scissors to cut it off from the main plant.
It’s important to make a clean cut as close to the main stem as possible without damaging the main plant. This helps the plant heal quickly and minimizes the risk of infection.
Next, remove the bottom leaves from the sucker so that only the top leaves remain. This helps the sucker focus its energy on developing roots rather than maintaining its leaves.
Ensure the top leaves remain intact to allow the sucker to continue photosynthesizing and producing energy.
Now it’s time to plant the sucker in the soil. Fill a pot or container with potting soil and create a hole in the soil. Gently insert the sucker into the hole, making sure to bury the stem up to where you removed the leaves.
This helps ensure the sucker remains stable and receives enough water and nutrients to grow.
Water the sucker well, but be careful not to overwater it. The soil should be moist but not waterlogged. Place the container in a warm, sunny location where the sucker can get plenty of light.
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