Scrooge tomato cloning.

[Shadylane]

I popped one into water a couple of days ago, there's no sign of roots yet and it's looking very droopy and miserable.

Have you kept it in the shade Snips? I don't find they droop if you keep them cool and shaded.

[Jimmy]

Good stuff, I like the term armpit.
Might try popping them in water, but mine usually work OK direct into compost.

Thanks
Jimmy

[Pa Snips]

Have you kept it in the shade Snips? I don't find they droop if you keep them cool and shaded.

No, I put it in full sun. Right then, into the shade it goes, thanks.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Pa,

I usually keep mine in a milk bottle on the kitchen window sill behind SWMBO's net curtains.

Roots can appear anywhere between 3/7 days and then grow fairly quickly. At this stage keep the water level topped up, if the roots dry out they will die. When you 'pot up' keep the compost wetter than normal for a couple of days whilst the plant gets used to taking what it needs from the compost.

Also works with cumbers. First 2 pics are Tumbler tomatoes second 2 cumber Baribal

Colin

[chris]

I'm lazy - I just bung them into damp compost Infact, did about 10 just now!

[solway cropper]

I popped a rather large armpit into water the other day and it looked a bit droopy so I snipped the lower leaves in half and it perked up no end. If the weather's hot it also helps to mist them with water as they lose a lot through transpiration.

[Dead Dogs]

Remember, root grow away from light. Just sticking your armpit in water and leaving them on a window sill will hamper root growth. I put my armpits directly into well watered mpc. They perk up after a day or two and away they grow.

going to see if I can keep Toms fruiting all year round under the artificial sun using this method.

[Jimmy]

Pa,
Also works with cumbers. First 2 pics are Tumbler tomatoes second 2 cumber Baribal
Colin

Cumbers now there's a good tip.
1) The F1s cost a fortune for 3 seeds.
2) My cumbers often burn out, a slightly later plant(s) would be good.

Any more details?
Thanks
Jimmy

[Two_Sheds]

No, I put it in full sun. Right then, into the shade it goes, thanks.

The little seedling has no roots, and no method to draw up water (yet) ~ so, you need to reduce transpiration (loss of water from the leaves) as much as possible ~ by keeping it cool & shady until the roots have formed. That goes for any kind of cutting

[maytreefrannie]

Yes, Jimmy, I've tried it by just sticking the 'armpit' shoot into compost, sometimtes even at the side of a pot that was already growing a tomato plant.

Good results, and I plan to do the same this year.

I've tried overwintering as well, but with no results at all.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hi Jimmy,

As to cumbers its really easy. You can use any well develop side shoot or if your plants are in trouble you can cut off about 6" of the leader.

Dont leave to many leaves on the cutting as it will be struggling to take up water to start. Also if you look at pic 3 you will notice that most of the new roots have come from where 2 leaves were removed.

Pop it in the bottle of water, daylight doesn't bother them (providing they are shaded) again as can be seen from the pics. Just keep the water level topped up and away you go.

I have tried both ways over the years, milk bottle versus compost and the milk bottle wins hands down as the cutting finds it easier to take up water in the initial stages of growth.

Hope this helps Colin

[Pa Snips]

The little seedling has no roots, and no method to draw up water (yet) ~ so, you need to reduce transpiration (loss of water from the leaves) as much as possible ~ by keeping it cool & shady until the roots have formed. That goes for any kind of cutting

OK, cheers...learning all the time

[Jimmy]

Hi Jimmy,
As to cumbers its really easy. Colin

This will save me loads of money.
I stopped growing GH cumbers because of the cost.
I can buy one plant , or use one seed.
Probably buy one plant and let the shop pay for the early heating etc.
Oooooo I do love Scroogy tips.
Thanks
Jimmy

[Tripmeup]

Took off two pits yesterday and planted into wet compost, so here's hoping- will also try some in water later...

Out of interest and given that the pits are always going to be way smaller than the plant you remove them from, is there a low success rate with them in terms of getting a crop from them ??
After all, you are starting them off way behind what are well established plants in June....

thanks

[CimaDirapa]

I shave my armpits once every season, glass of water on the window and back to the hanging shelf in the poly, I certainly don't shave the armpit's of the armpit's.