Tomatoes With Taproots

[barkeater]

I found one disadvantage of direct seeding vs. traditional transplanting. Unless the taproot is broken, the tomato doesn't develop the lateral roots like in the traditional way.

I have a cherry tomato planted out 30 days ago the day after it germinated in a pot. The taproot was undisturbed, and it was growing beautifully, almost a foot tall.

We had very strong winds, 20-25 mph, yesterday. Today the cherry is lying on its side.

Apparently, those lateral roots also serve to "anchor" the stem so it can stand erect. I don't know if there is any damage caused, maybe this just shows the natural vining that would occur in nature.

[carolyn137]

Bark,

Have you read that link I've posted many times from work done in the 20's that shows the huge difference between never transplanted tomatoes with tap roots and those that are transplanted that do have fibrous roots with much greater spread and absorptive surface area?

If not I can go fetch and bring it over here to IE from my AOL fave list.

[barkeater]

Hi Carolyn. Yes I read it, that is why I wanted to try one with the taproot. The article did mention earlier harvest with an undisturbed taproot, and I am curious to see how much earlier, if at all.

[Adriana]

Hi Carolyn,

Could you please post that link? I'd like to read it.

(How's the rainfall in your area?)

Adriana

[geol]

Root Development Of Vegetable Crops

[mdvpc]

I had pesticide drift from a neighbor that devastated many of my containers. So I direct seeded in the container and they are doing well. The lack of lateral roots in a container may not be as important-I guess I will know more after I see how much harvest I have from the direct seeded plants.

[QAGuy]

This link will take you right to the appropriate chapter.

http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglib...10137ch26.html