Clone dwarf indetrerminates from extra growth ends

[BlackBear]

Hi all ,

I was just wondering if one can make extra plants from Dwarf indeterminates from an "extra " ...growing end .

If a growing end of an indeterminate vine can go on forever

then is it the same for a dwarf indeterminate ?

I know one should not prune ...etc.

But if one had an earlier larger dwarf plant ...and harvested some growing ends

would this not theoretically jump the resulting clones (plants)about 12 weeks ahead of starting from seeds???


Is there some disadvantage to starting with extra growing ends ...because of the

dwarf gene ????

[Labradors2]

I don't see why taking cuttings from a "dwarf" would be any different from taking cuttings from any other tomato plant. The clones which would indeed be quicker than starting from seed.

Linda

[BlackBear]

just thinking out loud here.....if one liked a certain plant for it's unique

characteristics........Like the 2015 release Dwarf purple Heart as an example.





I am thinking it could be difficult to get seeds replacement

so of course 1st step is to grow out and "procure " your own seed stock.


As the intention of indeterminate /dwarf was compactness and prolonged harvest


I can see in my case trying to prolong the whole plant season till about

December by moving certain select plants to a winter protected location .

Before the old "Mother Plant" is discarded one has taken various growth ends along the way and started them again at a manageable size .


The clones go into cool /low growth preservation till about Feb. 15 when we start the cycle all over again with seedlings ....only this time one may be starting with

Bigger plants to begin with and end up with bigger /earlier indeterminate dwarf culture.


Does anyone think the cuttings of the indeterminate dwarf will affect the mother plant to much and therefore affect the yield ?

Is there a rule of thumb of how many growth ends one could cut and or where

should one cut them from ?

I am hoping that one does not have to choose between fruit harvest and growth end harvest .



One thing is for sure the varieties I would like to try are not found at Wallmart.

[Gardeneer]

You can root cutting (main or side branch ) from any tomato.
Yeas, the plant created this way will be a clone, identical.

Gardeneee

[Salsacharley]

About a month ago I pruned 2 Dwarf Wild Fred suckers and replanted them. They are both doing quite well. Now I have 3 Dwarf Wild Fred plants. The parent is just now beginning to fruit while the 2 clones are just getting growing.

[BlackBear]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

You can root cutting (main or side branch ) from any tomato.
Yeas, the plant created this way will be a clone, identical.

Gardeneee

Just had a brain storm I remember a certain hybrid indeterminate dwarf from 2 years ago I think it was a Husky "Pink" was so vegetative prolific in a 10 gallon container

the roots would pop up and then new vegetation 'trees would pop up from the roots"
I think I even let the plants fall over a bit at 90 degree angle touching the soil ( by mistake) and the nodes would produce new Trees...yes.......there is another way of " root cutting " I could have divided that dwarf Indeterminate quite easily ..I am sure .

never thought of that for Tomatoes......really ?...the root cutting ?



good grief is there a shot of a hormone to enhance such culture for the top growth ??

I mean I know a dip in rotenone powder does help for various cultivars for rooting etc......

but I never seem to really need it for Tomatoes ....ever .

What about from an actual "piece of a root " cutting and let the top growth come from culture enhancement ?

[BlackBear]

Originally Posted by Salsacharley

About a month ago I pruned 2 Dwarf Wild Fred suckers and replanted them. They are both doing quite well. Now I have 3 Dwarf Wild Fred plants. The parent is just now beginning to fruit while the 2 clones are just getting growing.

oh man oh man ...I have to get organised with these ideas to utilize them ...

I think one is safe with indeterminates to do this type of plant reproduction ..... and I hope all dwarf indeterminates as well.

what about the dwarf determinates ....does one have to harvest the sucker or clone

before the mother plant has produced blossums ????

Extension of this question is .... does one have to harvest the clones in a semi determinate before the mother plant produces blossums as well ?

As this sort of thing can save 10-12 weeks compared to starting again from seed .
One could extend the harvest even in determinates by having a 2nd late waves of clones that are offset later but still in season of the mother plant.


?????? does this seem correct ???

[nctomatoman]

Sure - taking clones from the new Dwarf varieties works great - a few customers lost the odd one to disease, so I have a few rooting.

[digsdirt]

what about the dwarf determinates ....does one have to harvest the sucker or clone before the mother plant has produced blossums ???? Extension of this question is .... does one have to harvest the clones in a semi determinate before the mother plant produces blossums as well ?

Yes you can but just as with indeterminates it has to be a growth tip of a lateral branch (suckers is not an accurate label for them). It has to be done before there are blooms on it and before the mother plant has set fruit. Technically, it is before the mother plant has set fruit on its terminal bud but by then it is usually too late as the lateral branches below will have also set fruit. So the key is "get them early" in the plant's life.

Dave

[Labradors2]

That's very interesting Dave!

Would taking a cutting from a lateral branch when there are blooms on the main plant explain why my cutting went all mushy on the end?

I did this recently when a plant was knocked over in the wind. I was able to salvage it because it was hanging by a thread so I put a plant pot (with the bottom cut out) over the base of the stem and built up the soil around it and it looks as if it will survive.

I took the cutting for insurance, but it didn't work!

Linda

Originally Posted by digsdirt

Yes you can but just as with indeterminates it has to be a growth tip of a lateral branch (suckers is not an accurate label for them). It has to be done before there are blooms on it and before the mother plant has set fruit. Technically, it is before the mother plant has set fruit on its terminal bud but by then it is usually too late as the lateral branches below will have also set fruit. So the key is "get them early" in the plant's life.

Dave

[digsdirt]

Would taking a cutting from a lateral branch when there are blooms on the main plant explain why my cutting went all mushy on the end?

This is on determinates - Strong possibility as the plant's circulatory system has already begun to reduce the supply to that branch, to seal it off. But it could also just be damp-off or something else coincidental.

Personally I find trying to clone determinates is often a waste of time and effort simply because the timing is so much more crucial than with indeterminates, and the rate of failure much higher. Can it be done? Yes, very early on in the plant's life cycle. But for all practical/useful purposes, no.

Dave

[Labradors2]

OK. Got it. This was an Indy, so something else was going on.

Thanks,
Linda

[BlackBear]

Originally Posted by digsdirt

Yes you can but just as with indeterminates it has to be a growth tip of a lateral branch (suckers is not an accurate label for them). It has to be done before there are blooms on it and before the mother plant has set fruit. Technically, it is before the mother plant has set fruit on its terminal bud but by then it is usually too late as the lateral branches below will have also set fruit. So the key is "get them early" in the plant's life.

Dave

ah ha ! I thought so ... one is limited by the clock of the development of the Mother plant setting terminal blossoms .......early is best ...