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| If I use a cutting from a tomato plant will the new tomato plant be smaller?
I've heard people do this with hot pepper plants and claim after the 4th or so generation cutting, the new plant stays very small and produce some fruits.
I want small tomato plant to grow inside this winter. thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by georgez5il z5 IL (My Page) on Wed, Jun 27, 07 at 18:23
| The plant may be kept "small" by pinching etc.... start with a patio (determinate type) tomato.... There are also chenicals that will shorten the internode spacing resulting in a "smaller" plant. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 Adrian,MI (My Page) on Thu, Jun 28, 07 at 12:23
| i have no background to give you the science... but my gut says that a rooted cutting of a plant... IS EXACTLY THE SAME PLANT.... there can be no genetic degradation in any sense ... so how can 4 subsequent cuttings off off 3 subsequent generations have lost some genetic vigor???? maybe they should try growing them in a new location ... perhaps the problem is related to growing tomatoes in the same location for multiple generations.. in other words.. lack of crop rotation ... that guess is as possible as the other.. but as i said.. its just gut comments..... good luck ken |
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| That's what I was thinking also. A cutting should look exactly like the parent. I've search the net but could not find any info on cuttings resulting in smaller plants. I started some cutting with an indeterminate brandywine tomato. I guess I will see the results by March. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 Adrian,MI (My Page) on Fri, Jun 29, 07 at 8:35
| no ... i know it might be hard.. but try to wrap your head around this: IT IS THE SAME PLANT .... not as you say 'looks like the same plant' ... if you root a piece... how can it be any different???? if you grew the seeds from a given plant .... it would be a 'cross' between the mother and father plant... and even if it did look the same .... it probably isn't ... do you see the difference? of course this is leaving out happenstance genetic mutation of branches which might inadvertently be selected for rooting ... i don't know if tomato does that though ... ken |
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