For those who were lucky enough to get their tomatoes planted early, vine ripened tomatoes are here (or almost here). However, in a blink those tomatoes will stop producing, which is why I encourage ya’ll to root sucker branches to ensure a harvest right up until frost.
As luck would have it, I broke the top off of my tallest – over fertilized – tomato while trying to stake it. Never fear, I placed the broken plant into a jar of water. Less than a week has passed, take a look at the roots that have emerged!
This photo was taken two days after I placed the plant in the water. As you can see, tiny roots are emerging.
The second photo was taken after the plant had been in the water five days. Check out those massive roots.
I didn’t add root stimulator. I didn’t use purified water. One plant, tap water and wait.
Don’t you love it? A free tomato plant in less than seven days!
My next step is to dig a very deep hole for this plant. Since the weather is much hotter now and rain is less frequent than in the spring, I must plant deep in order for the tomato to survive. I will remove the stalk that has blooms on it, and bury the plant four inches deep. Then I’ll add shredded newspaper into the hole, water the newspaper, add a layer of dirt, and another layer of newspaper … water again then add pine mulch and water again. I know this is a lot of water, but remember, the plant has been living in a jar of water for almost a week.
If Mother Nature cooperates, I should have tomatoes from this plant in September.
So my gardening friends, the proof is in the jar. You can do this! Happy gardening, and remember, keep those hands dirty.
