Grafting experiment

[Paulieb]

I was wondering about trying to do my own tomato graft, by buying grafting rootstock seeds, but looking at the price I don't think I'll have the time to do it justice.

So, in my mad thoughts I wondered about using seeds that I already have, and to make matters more complicated I have wondered about grafting a chilli onto a tomato.

I read a site that said this is feasible as they are the same family - Solanaceae. The most vigorous tomato that I have, I think, would be something like Amish Paste, and the smallest chilli (to try to present the biggest difference) would be something like the white Habanero that I grew last year.

The most difficult part (apart from creating the conditions for the graft to take), I think will be to get the scion and rootstock to be matching in size at the required time.

Any thoughts? Any tips to make this experiment successful?

[Paulieb]

On second thoughts, the online info was for a Capsicum annuum, so may need to choose a different chilli.

Although if a C.annuum works onto a chilli, then you would have thought a C.chinense (Habanero or other) would also.

[solway cropper]

It is possible to graft certain peppers onto certain tomatoes as it has been done experimentally under controlled conditions but how successful it would be for the home grower I wouldn't like to say. Generally speaking the two are mostly incompatible and I would expect success rates to be poor or non-existent. I would like to ask why on earth you want to do it. Why not just grow peppers and tomatoes?

Grafting of peppers onto peppers should be much easier.

[Paulieb]

Since starting my RHS course and learning how to graft, I've been getting carried away with 'what else can I graft?'.

A site I read earlier quoted a 100% success rate for capsicum onto tomato (probably in a lab somewhere), but looking at a few more sites this evening, I think the general consensus is that they are highly incompatible. It clearly pays to look at more than one website for research.

My theory was that the rootstock of a rampant tall plum tomato, might boost the small habanero into a massive crop, which I think now may be next to impossible.

Perhaps I'll downscale my experiment to 'messing around with excess plants in April'.

[zazen999]

I have some tomato rootstock seeds, perhaps get hold of some and get them sown for a later graft.

The one I grafted onto He-Man rootstock last year did mugger all; until about late August when it verily romped away. No toms but the thickness of the stem was a sight to behold. Never seen anything like it!