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How To Multiply Your Tomato Plants

June 1, 2017 by Sara 13 Comments

I’ve been growing my own tomatoes for years but can’t believe that I’ve only just found out how to multiply your tomato plants in this way!

How to make more tomato plants

This handy trick appeals on so many levels. The cuttings that you use to make the new plants are just the unwanted side shoots from the original mother plant, that would normally just end up on the compost heap. So you are not wasting anything, just putting the whole plant to good use. This method is also a lot quicker than planting directly from seed, because the little plantlets will give you a head start.

I was optimistic that this idea would work, as I had some great results last summer making lots more basil plants . But since I grow them outside, and we live in the UK, I thought it might take too long and it would be too late to actually produce any ripe tomatoes.

I needn’t have worried, because the cuttings in the picture above were put in water on a bright window sill for only one week, and tomato plants grow so quickly, they’ll be ready to plant out and flowering in no time at all.

How to multiply your tomato plants

How To Multiply Your Tomato Plants

  • It all starts from the mother plant, so you need a good quality organic tomato plant that is the cordon type, not the bush variety. This means they grow upwards from a central stem with side branches which bear long trusses of tomatoes.
  • This type of plant needs support from a sturdy cane and to be tied in at regular intervals as it grows upwards.
  • The side suckers appear at the junction between the main stem and the side branches, and if left to grow the plant puts too much energy into leaf growth and so the overall yield of tomatoes will suffer.
  • Just pinch or snip them off when they are around 3-4 inches long and put them straight into a clear bottle of water.
  • Keep them in a bright window and in a few days you will see lots of tiny roots sprouting from from the stem.
  • Allow these to develop for a week or so before planting into potting soil in the usual way.
  • It’s so satisfying to make more plants instead of just throwing the cuttings away.
  • When you have lots of tomatoes to use up, why not try my recipe for Roasted Tomatoes With Garlic and Basil.

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Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: Grow your own veg, Summer, Tomatoes

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Comments

  1. Rachel @ Smart Mom Smart Ideas says

    May 13, 2016 at 10:33 am

    I have some tomato plants. I will have to see if this is possible. Tomatoes are a great starter veggie. I am fortunate I can grow them almost year round here in Florida.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 13, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      Lucky you being able to grow tomatoes all year round! How wonderful! ?

      Reply
  2. P,Mott says

    March 13, 2016 at 1:39 pm

    I’m wondering if this will work with bush style tomatoes?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 13, 2016 at 2:42 pm

      To be honest, I haven’t tried with bush type tomatoes. Partly because there is no need to pinch out the side shoots, so I just let them do their thing! But it really doesn’t take long for the roots to develop, and it’s definitely worth a try. I’d love to know how you get on!

      Reply
  3. V.Stiborova says

    February 5, 2016 at 1:46 pm

    Hi, I multiply my tomatoes like this for many years. I only give them immediately into the soil … and it works.

    Reply
  4. Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says

    August 24, 2015 at 9:25 pm

    What a great tip! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we’re looking forward to what you have to share next week. 🙂

    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai

    Reply
  5. Miz Helen says

    August 5, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    Awesome garden information, I will be using this tip for sure! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you again soon.
    Miz Helen

    Reply
  6. Mary Gilbert says

    August 1, 2015 at 3:27 am

    Good to know….thanks for sharing.
    Home Matters Linky

    Reply
  7. Marigene says

    July 31, 2015 at 2:10 am

    Great idea…have you harvest many tomatoes from the “free” plants?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 31, 2015 at 11:36 am

      The new plants taken from cuttings develop fruits in exactly the same way as normal, the yield will depend on the conditions like sunlight, feed, watering and where you live, whether you have a greenhouse or not. It’s a great way to share plants with your friends and extend the growing season as long as you have a sunny window sill.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. HOW TO MAKE MORE BASIL PLANTS | Senior Garden Retreats says:
    January 16, 2017 at 1:27 am

    […] can use this method of propagation to multiply your tomato plants too, they are very quick to root […]

    Reply
  2. Tomato Leaf Pest Spray - Whole Food Home says:
    July 1, 2016 at 4:41 pm

    […] tomato plants and just throwing them away. If you want lots of tomatoes, you can always use them to Multiply Your Tomato Plants and of course your compost heap will always happily convert them into next season’s compost. […]

    Reply
  3. How To Make More Basil Plants - Whole Food Home says:
    May 28, 2016 at 10:54 am

    […] can use this method of propagation to multiply your tomato plants too, they are very quick to root […]

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Sara

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How to make more tomato plants

How To Multiply Your Tomato Plants

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