Get another stem?

tryno12 · April 29, 2017

A few questions please? The large is a pic of a grafted plant that I received from a friend. The others are from seed of Ginger's. I don't know what the graft is but was wondering if I can make another main shoot/stem come out? or why should I -- don't know if it would produce more or not? I believe it to be a Beefsteak type Indeterminate. also a little purple color on top side of some branches and some on lower leaves - i think i have seen that before so no big deal? Also should i take the bottom leaves off? It will be 2 weeks to keep these things healthy before i can plant here in Central Indiana! I have been sticking the suckers in the ground to see what I get

Thanks all!

Father'sDaughter · April 29, 2017

Looks like the large plant has already formed another stem. That "sucker" that I see forking off at the top, if left on and not pinched out, will become a second stem. Whether or not you leave it on to grow is entirely up to you.

Some say additional stems give you a chance at more fruit, others say single stems give you larger fruit. For some of us it's dictated by how much space we are willing to give to a single plant. I want to grow more tomatoes than I have room for, so I use stakes instead of cages and try to limit my plants to two stems in order to fit more in. Others use cages, give them a lot of space, and do very little pruning.

oakley · April 29, 2017

Not entirely clear what you are asking...pruning, pinching off suckers is entirely your
choice. Ask your friend what the plant name is. That helps determine what you might
want to do.
Lowers leaves are often removed if touching soil or container.

Most important is to check your batteries in your smoke detector and please unplug
your lights before heading to bed. Potentially a fire hazard the way you have that set up.

clkeiper · April 29, 2017

if it is cold that can cause an uptake issue (or inability to convert it to a usable form) of phosphorus . they should grow out of it. I planted in the ground in the hightunnel this week and one variety seemed to get a bit purple, too.
As the grafted plant grows it will produce more sideshoots... those you can pinch a few off and make cuttings but I wouldn't pinch out the center in order to force that to happen unless I knew for certain it was a determinate but even then I would do so only under duress.
Take off the bottom leaves when you plant it out but do not plant it so the scion can touch dirt at all. otherwise the scion will be rooting and defeating the purpose of grafting.

tryno12 · April 29, 2017

Thanks all! I am careful of the tin light setup and aware that it is not code. I am usually around when in use(it is cool to the touch)- in the kitchen nook with laptop - I am great full my wife still allows all this to go on

- it is set up on the Grand kids eating tables so when they eat here lately they have to sit at the big people's table

Thanks again for all the info and concern.

Gardeneer · April 30, 2017

This year I attempted to push the envelope by almost 45 days.
I planted out some tomatoes on March 7, where our LFD is around April 15.
Come March 16 / 17 a severe frost ( actually freeze) popped up, that was not there when I was planting out.
Making the story short : I lost 7 plants (after my best preparation to protect them ). 4 got their growing tips toasted (almost all the way down to the ground) but survived. .
I kept them and they all grew new branches from the roots.
This was an opportunity to do an experiment:

HOW TO GROW VIGOROUS INDETS AS SHORT AND COMPACT.

They were/ are:

--HILLBILLY
-- RC MORTGAGE LIFTER
-- ANANAS NOIRE
-- BFBS ( a gardener friend's special breed)

Now they all have about 4 branches, come up from the root at the same time.
They are as bushy as any tomato can be and all are fruiting @ about 18" height, next to others as tall as 4ft at this time. .

tryno12 · April 30, 2017

Wow, a great learning experience! I have covered plants up for too many years ( i'm 67 now but remember all the way into my teens having to cover). Trying to avoid but i know darn well I will do some early

as you have and pray for the best. Let us/ me know how "indeterminate turned dwarf by freeze" turn out.
Thanks
Pete

April 29, 2017	#4
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	if it is cold that can cause an uptake issue (or inability to convert it to a usable form) of phosphorus . they should grow out of it. I planted in the ground in the hightunnel this week and one variety seemed to get a bit purple, too. As the grafted plant grows it will produce more sideshoots... those you can pinch a few off and make cuttings but I wouldn't pinch out the center in order to force that to happen unless I knew for certain it was a determinate but even then I would do so only under duress. Take off the bottom leaves when you plant it out but do not plant it so the scion can touch dirt at all. otherwise the scion will be rooting and defeating the purpose of grafting. __________________ carolyn k

April 30, 2017	#6
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Compact Short Indterminats This year I attempted to push the envelope by almost 45 days. I planted out some tomatoes on March 7, where our LFD is around April 15. Come March 16 / 17 a severe frost ( actually freeze) popped up, that was not there when I was planting out. Making the story short : I lost 7 plants (after my best preparation to protect them ). 4 got their growing tips toasted (almost all the way down to the ground) but survived. . I kept them and they all grew new branches from the roots. This was an opportunity to do an experiment: HOW TO GROW VIGOROUS INDETS AS SHORT AND COMPACT. They were/ are: --HILLBILLY -- RC MORTGAGE LIFTER -- ANANAS NOIRE -- BFBS ( a gardener friend's special breed) Now they all have about 4 branches, come up from the root at the same time. They are as bushy as any tomato can be and all are fruiting @ about 18" height, next to others as tall as 4ft at this time. . __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

April 30, 2017	#7
tryno12 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Indianapolis Area 46112 Posts: 857	indeterminate turned dwarf by freeze experiment Wow, a great learning experience! I have covered plants up for too many years ( i'm 67 now but remember all the way into my teens having to cover). Trying to avoid but i know darn well I will do some early as you have and pray for the best. Let us/ me know how "indeterminate turned dwarf by freeze" turn out. Thanks Pete

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April 29, 2017	#2
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Looks like the large plant has already formed another stem. That "sucker" that I see forking off at the top, if left on and not pinched out, will become a second stem. Whether or not you leave it on to grow is entirely up to you. Some say additional stems give you a chance at more fruit, others say single stems give you larger fruit. For some of us it's dictated by how much space we are willing to give to a single plant. I want to grow more tomatoes than I have room for, so I use stakes instead of cages and try to limit my plants to two stems in order to fit more in. Others use cages, give them a lot of space, and do very little pruning.