Using cell packs to germinate!

[habitat_gardener]

Originally Posted by RinTinTin

If you read past the opening paragraphs, you will see that the conclusion is that transplanting actually harms the plants and production:...

That would explain why volunteers are so vigorous and productive. Usually I pull volunteers because I haven't found them to be worth keeping, but this year one got to 2-3 ft. before I noticed it (busy yesr! and it was camouflaged by pots of peppers), so i let it be and it turned out to be a black cherry. The only tomato I grew in that part of the garden last year was Kosovo; the last time I grew Black Cherry nearby was 2005! Now I just grow herbs and flowers in that bed, so I haven't even been adding compost. Anyway, in the past couple weeks it's been my most productive tomato. I picked 2 pints one day last week, vs. 2 pints of all other surviving tomatoes (about 10 plants, half of which are still doing pretty well). The volunteer is happily growing up the hollyhock stems, smothering the oregano, and even growing into the lavender. The birds like it, too. It started producing fairly late, but it'll be interesting to compare its total production to other varieties and other years.