Stop dreaming of higher yields and sturdier tomatoes. You have the result in your own hands by simply grafting your tomato plants. We will explain to you step by step how exactly the masterpiece is achieved.
How do you graft tomato plants?
To refine tomato plants, place the upper shoots of high-yielding noble varieties on the lower shoots of resistant rootstocks. The plants should have a suitable stem diameter and then be connected with clamps or sticks. After successful grafting, they are cultivated in a humid microclimate.
What exactly is tomato grafting?
In gardening, grafting is used to combine the beneficial properties of plants. As a rule, the tomato varieties with the tastiest fruits produce a sparse harvest, are susceptible to disease and have poor stability. Other varieties compensate for the poorer taste with their yield and resistance. A select variety is thus refined onto a resistant base.
Staggered sowing of noble variety and rootstock
It is advisable to sow the weaker cultivar a few days earlier than the strong-growing rootstock. This ensures that both plants have a corresponding stem diameter at the desired time. Here's how to do it:
- Sowing the noble variety at the end of February/beginning of March
- the document follows about 10 days later
- on the warm windowsill or in the greenhouse in a nutrient-poor substrate, sieve a maximum of 0.5 centimeters over
- the germination temperature is 18-24 degrees Celsius
It takes 10 to 14 days for germination. During this time, keep the seeds constantly moist and warm.
Refining requires sensitivity
If the cultivar and rootstock have reached a height of 10 centimeters, take on the next step of refinement. In addition to the tomato plants, you will need a sharp, disinfected knife and grafting clips or sticks. This is how it continues:
- water the plants one hour before starting work
- Cut off the shoot of the rootstock 2-3 millimeters above the first pair of leaves (cotyledons)
- do the same with the noble variety
- insert a ceramic pin into the top shoot of the cultivar and attach it to the stem of the rootstock
- optionally create the connection using a clamp
This part of the refinement has been successful if both central shoots are exactly above one another. Ideally, half of the pin is inserted into the connected shoots.
Care after finishing
The grafted tomato plants should then be placed brightly and warmly, without direct sunlight. A mini greenhouse is ideal now. A hood made of perforated transparent film also creates the desired warm, humid microclimate at 22-25 degrees Celsius. After a week, the young tomato plants begin to acclimate to normal conditions.
There is no reason to worry if the stressed plants give the impression of being weak for a short time. With proper care and warm temperatures, they will still grow together and recover.
Tips & Tricks
The F1 hybrid 'Vigomax' has made a good name for itself among hobby gardeners as a growing base. Vigomax is resistant to numerous diseases, such as powdery mildew or green collar. In addition, it produces a lush harvest of crunchy, juicy tomatoes from July onwards.
