cuttings from a determinate tomato

coloken · March 28, 2012

If I were to cut the top (tip) from a determinate tomato after it had flowered below and started it new, would it be a complete plant and grow flowers or would it stop growing? Would a "sucker" from the main stem grow into a complete plant?

Jeannine Anne · March 28, 2012

The sucker definately would I have done it many times, i don't know about the tip.

XX Jeannine

dice · April 2, 2012

I have had some grow back. I do not remember if the cutting was from
the growing tip at the top of the plant or the end of a branch. An Odessa
cutting that I overwintered under lights developed one fruit over
the winter and then grew back a complete, determinate Odessa plant
the next summer when I planted it in the garden.

I do not know if all determinates will do that. If you root a cutting from
the top of the plant and get a terminal inflorescence, a flower cluster
at the top instead of a growing tip, you could try pinching it off and see
if the plant will grow side branches from the crotches of the leaves.

maf · April 2, 2012

Yes, it won't be a problem. As long as there are a couple of leaf-nodes (with or without leaves) you will get new branches even if the tip should terminate.

March 28, 2012	#1
coloken Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NE Co Posts: 303	cuttings from a determinate tomato If I were to cut the top (tip) from a determinate tomato after it had flowered below and started it new, would it be a complete plant and grow flowers or would it stop growing? Would a "sucker" from the main stem grow into a complete plant?

April 2, 2012	#3
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	I have had some grow back. I do not remember if the cutting was from the growing tip at the top of the plant or the end of a branch. An Odessa cutting that I overwintered under lights developed one fruit over the winter and then grew back a complete, determinate Odessa plant the next summer when I planted it in the garden. I do not know if all determinates will do that. If you root a cutting from the top of the plant and get a terminal inflorescence, a flower cluster at the top instead of a growing tip, you could try pinching it off and see if the plant will grow side branches from the crotches of the leaves. __________________ -- alias

March 28, 2012	#2
Jeannine Anne Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,553	The sucker definately would I have done it many times, i don't know about the tip. XX Jeannine

April 2, 2012	#4
maf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: England Posts: 512	Yes, it won't be a problem. As long as there are a couple of leaf-nodes (with or without leaves) you will get new branches even if the tip should terminate.