A Tomato Growing Trick That Seems Insane, But Works Like a Charm

[@aloeme]

Since we're talking about tomatoes: a few weeks ago I could educate my mum on how to propagate tomatoes thanks to one of your old videos. She's been gardening for over 30 years and didn't know that was possible. Her tomato seedlings didn't make it and she was pretty sad about it. She couldn't find that specific variety in the shops, only online. But they were too expensive for just two small plants, due to it being a rare variety. I told her that I followed your advice on propagating tomatoes last year and that she could give that a try. She did and now she has 4 for the price of 2. Her props have taken off pretty well and she's happy again. Thank you!

[@ahealthkit2745]

Wonderful to hear!

[@samurai90x]

i've propagated several limps of tomato plants that i bought from a local store at the beginning of spring, i plan to keep them over winter in the garage and make new cuttings in spring to propagate should be fun.

[@deductivereason7911]

😊😮

[@GraftingWorld1]

It was wonderful to hear your mother’s story! Successfully propagating tomatoes from a rare variety is not easy, but she did it and it is a testament to her patience and remarkable gardening skills. What inspired your mother to try this method of propagation, and do you think she will try this technique with other plants in her garden?

[@anainjamul2056]

We did it! I purchased the Fortamino rootstock seeds and started some of our favorite heirlooms. Mortgage Lifter, Paul Roberson and Brandywine. We've tried to graft tomatoes before, but my husband and I almost killed each other. We are now retired, I follow you and others and we did it! We actually planted ours in the ground already and they are doing great! You and Jacques have really inspired me to up my game and I am always starting seeds for my garden. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement.

[@epicgardening]

Congrats on quite the tomato accomplishment!

[@pedromunoz4468]

Wow congratulations 🎊 enjoy those Tomatoes

[@jesusflores7323]

@@epicgardening need a season long experiment . native carbon root-stock vs carbon grafted on fortamino root-stock. document growth, pest and disease resistance, general plant health, fruit productivity and quality, total yield. Heat and drought resistance maybe as a separate project. would make a great series or compiled into 1 long video

[@deathstack4567]

Hey Kevin, Have you ever thought of grafting a tomato onto a potato, they both belong to the nightshade family and you will get both potatoes and tomatoes, however yes you'll get less of each but it is a fun experiment and would make for a great video, you should try it sometime. Happy Gardening.

[@danluther1741]

Wouldn't you get a Pomato?🤣

[@alexpotter9998]

You've watched the kiwi grower as well lol

[@epicgardening]

We actually have a test of this going right now!

[@tobyatencio6698]

I think that's a totato. 😊

[@ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

topato?

[@ThatgirlinSeattle]

Thank you! A gardening video for gardeners who are not newbies! I learned something from this and I’m definitely going to try this next year. This is why your channel is so successful, you understand that not all KZbin garden channel watchers are new to gardening. It’s refreshing and exciting for folks like me who have gardened for a long time to come across a technique that I haven’t tried. Grafted tomatoes are $20 at garden centers near me so I’ve never purchased one, next year I’ll make my own. Great channel, Kevin!

[@tobyatencio6698]

Why wait? If you graft one now you will certainly have fruit before August. 🤷‍♂️

[@epicgardening]

They're definitely cheaper to do yourself!

[@ZoonCrypticon]

I am a newbie.

[@vaporfacts]

Grafting plants holds so much potential, organic grafting and mycelium👀😵‍💫✨

[@mphil66]

I’ve been gardening many years and I had never heard of grafting! Thank you, very interesting 👊🏻🙌🏻

[@epicgardening]

Glad to hear!

[@Psilo33_]

Love to see you talking about the benefits of grafting. Super fun to do, even better after you see the results! 🌵💛

[@clarencesmith9882]

This was next level for sure! I have never heard of doing this for tomatoes and now I'm fascinated to watch future updates as to how things turn out. Loved the detailed and thorough demonstration by both you and Jacque. Outstanding work. Thank you!

[@kaitlynblaylock8744]

Would be so cool to see one of the carbon tomatoes growing next to a grafted carbon tomato! I'd love to see a video showing the difference in yields!

[@jesusflores7323]

great idea for an experiment

[@cliffordincalifornia]

Good Stuff !!! Me Too Now !!!

[@andrewbarney5503]

Yeah, I'm gonna say semi BS until I see side by side results

[@SomewhatLazy]

I live in Florida and have a lot of issues with bacterial wilt. I can't grow most varieties as a result. I found the Neptune tomato, that is resistant and have successfully grafted over a dozen tomato varieties to the Neptune root stock. 100% success so far. Just finishing hardening them off now.

[@BellaLannie]

What kinds of tomatoes have you grafted to the Neptune. We’re some indeterminate?

[@sunniewright3335]

Good morning and a Happy Boxing Day to any Brits following this channel! This video is so fun to watch. I learned grafting in two of my Ag classes at Bakersfield College: Ornamental Horticulture and Plant Science. One of my professors was amused that one student had so many Ag classes, yet wasn't an Ag major. Well, those classes satisfied science units for my AA-T in English and Literature, and I graduated in May and am currently at CSUB. But I digress! I love gardening, horticulture, botany, etc. Since I will be launching a channel soon, mainly cooking and baking videos to start, and I'm in the process of over-wintering and prepping garden space at my cottage (home), I'll be redirecting followers to your channel, along with a few others I follow, for all their gardening needs for the time being. Love your videos, keep 'em going!

[@ellenkuang8853]

I remember James Prigioni grafted 2 together onto 1 root stock so he had 2 leaders on 1 plant. It was pretty cool.

[@abs_official]

I was today years old when I learned I can graft tomatoes. Thanks for the awesome content!

[@nunyabisnass1141]

I'll try this next year. If I remember. My dad always ends up having about 10 extra plants with no homes, so it looks interesting, and everytime I try something new in the garden I just lord over it intently, so it'll likely be a fun experience.

[@SD-Dan]

Interesting experiment - it'd be cool to see a side by side comparison of grafted vs non-grafted to see how effective it is. I imagine that there's also some rootstock compatibility at play where some varieties will take off on certain rootstock more than others

[@gregmasciola3332]

I think I saw James Prigioni on The Gardening Channel do something like this last year. If I remember correctly, he basically made it so he was growing 2 different tomatoes on the same plant by grafting one as a second leader.

[@epicgardening]

Yeah his experiment was really cool to see!

[@elisabetk2595]

That was so cool. I'm wondering if you could graft two different varieties onto the rootstock? Hmmm...

[@thehappypegasus]

this is so cool!! i'm so excited to see update videos on how the fortamino rootstock impacts these tomatoes!!

[@C3Voyage]

Small zip ties for cleft grafting works well even with fairly large scion diameter. I graft seedlings onto grown tomato plant suckers.

[@OleensEmbroidery]

Dollar tree has the best little garden bell shaped cloches with an open/close vent on top.

[@FurNaxxYT]

You can dab a little bit of aloe around the graft point and it helps the healing process quite a bit

[@michaelmatuszewski7231]

I decided to give grafting a shot after I saw the video where you introduced the fortamino seeds. I ended up buying fortamino, estamino, and super strong rootstocks and grafted my seedlings when they were a little younger than the ones in this videos. Of the 30 I grafted, 28 took and I have em hardening off outside now that it’s warm enough here. The ones that failed were smaller than the rest and I don’t think they got to make good contact with each other in the clips.

[@epicgardening]

That's a great take rare!

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

That was very educational and I appreciated the successful result at the end! Thank you!

[@EarthBackThen]

Great ideas. Thanks Kevin. Thumbs up for gardening 👍

[@StevenBCrosby]

Very smart content ideas you guys are coming up with. Very pleased with the channel. Even more so now. People have no idea how lucky they are to come across this knowledge you're teaching. Good work, smart expansion of wisdom sharing. Very impressive.

[@lutfilhadibinrazali7554]

FRUIT FATHERS ONE AND ALL… BEAR WITNESS

[@emberreel3577]

If you add a drop of distilled water with a drop of DMSO in the graft when u do it .... I bet it would help a LOT!

[@delmadehoyos1946]

Wow, I didn't know tomatoes could be grafted. Thank you so much... learned something totally new!! 👍

[@j.miller9700]

Learned something new there today. Never heard of grafting tomatoes.

[@CharlesGinzel]

would be interesting to do a side by side comparison of grafted and non-grafted plants one year and show the benefit in increased production.

[@kprairiesun]

Midwest gardener does cleft grafting which i used to graft about 16 tomato plants. He also grafted about 5 other plants, including peppers onto a tomato plant for fun.

[@johnliberty3647]

Since you are successful at this do not change a thing but I figured it might be a good idea to remove 2/3rds of the green foliage after the graft. I do it for cuttings and wonder if it might be a good idea to cut back on leaf material as the graft heals

[@scottiegrav]

Love the channel found it this year and can't get enough of both of you guys

[@mstnmz]

Adding molasses to the water when feeding works like a charm. It was insane how many sweet tomatoes I had

[@airunworkman]

Doesn't sweeten but benefits soil microbes.

[@ValleyProud916]

I'm in Sacratomato and my tomatoes grew 3-4 feet from Easter to Mother's Day, so I'm good.🍅 Gotta love zone 9b

[@jonahrosa5140]

Created a new drinking game whenever Kevin says nevertheless! Thanks, Kevin! Keep doing what you do! Awesome content.

[@charlesdavaro8554]

This is one of the best grafting videos i have ever watched. Good job 👍

[@moondoggie5129]

FOREFATHERS ONE AND ALL BEAR WITNESS !

[@gregpannebaker9163]

Is there any advantage or disadvantage to using scion material from the top of a large mature tomato plant that has already fruited? (similar to how citrus is done) I'm wondering if this would make sense for a fall planting using cuttings from the spring plants that have done the best. (in Houston we have two separate tomato growing seasons since the summers are so hot, it's already too late to plant new tomatoes for spring)

[@ULUnLoco]

"That's not Jacques. There is no hat on his head" His dog probably.

[@myurbangarden7695]

Good advice. THANKS

[@brunoandsofie]

Hi Kevin and Jacques. This is a great video. I've tried grafting tomatoes several times and have had mixed results. I've learned some good tips. My one suggestion is that you probably need to sanitize your razor/cutting tool between cuts with some rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. I was especially concerned looking at Jacques' grafts as he had a lot of soil on his hands and it looked like it was getting onto the grafts. You want to avoid getting any soil or other contaminants into your grafts. Otherwise, you're setting yourself up for disease and possibly failure.

[@greensfarmland]

Hey Great video! Have had a low key nursery for over five years, and always looking to add new stuff to sell. I will definitely be adding this to the inventory next season. Here on the Rainy side of the Island, if you don't have a green house, cherry tomatoes is all that produce. So I look forward to trying this root stock out on some larger tomatoes, and hopefully I can get one to take.

[@Pisti846]

We did this in college with a tomato and a potato. but we didn't have the fancy clip. If you place the cut-off top of the tomato into water it will root and you'll have a new tomato plant. I would recommend using a single edge blade for safety.

[@missladylexx]

I love this. Will definitely have to give it a try!!! ❤🍅❤

[@2020Dreamlife]

This guy is a mad scientist. The rabbit whole has just been opened. I’m ready. 😊😊😊😊😊

[@niammaharajh2443]

You can also use clear tap as a bonding for your 2 tomato plants

[@Jakereviewsall]

I never tried to graft a tomato, I will have to try that.

[@VxiceheartxV]

You know what they don't tell you about growing your favorite fruits an veg though? Once you find that variety you love the most, you're gonna just ruin store bought for yourself lol This week I felt an impatient tomato craving while looking at the first few flowers on my cherokee purple & brandywine plants, so I went an got some standard slicing tomatoes from the store an man.... they are so disappointing! I'm too spoiled for store bought tomatoes lol

[@funkymojo111]

Very fascinating. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Will try next yr when I know what I have growing; just heaps of volunteers right now.

[@pedromunoz4468]

Ok I'll try to graft Tomatoes at some point. So far I have Only grafted Dragon Fruits. In 1 trellis I have over 8 Varieties. I only started a couple of months ago.

[@keithmiller3422]

Truly appreciate your video. Tried it before many years ago, but didn't do so well. Your video revealed all my mistakes...lol However, you showed us how to take care of the graft of the small tomatoes, but how did Jock (sp.?) humidify his bigger tomato plant grafts?

[@southsidecarly7427]

Great interesting video! Thanks for sharing it!

[@jamesstrickland833]

Crazy thought though, if the plants are at two different points in their life cycles, is the grafted plant as old as its oldest part, youngest part, or like an average of the two? When you regraph the younger part to yet another plant, which of the three ages now take precedence?

[@italiana626sc]

Curious how many home growers are looking to graft tomatoes, versus growing the variety that we want to grow, straight from the jump. Knowledge is great, for sure, just wondering about the practical application for most of your viewers.

[@epicgardening]

It's more common in the market farming world, but we love to experiment and share the knowledge

[@igleamingrace]

This is interesting, I may try this next year! Keep us posted on results.

[@johnwilliamson9453]

This is great, never thought of this! If you use a longer (taller) root stock, you could burry it deeper, just as long as the graft is above the soil?

[@dangolfishin]

Yes, you just want to keep the scion above the soil so it won't sprout roots of it's own

[@paulschaefer5241]

This practice is commonly done to graft tomatoes onto the roots of a potato. that way you can harvest the tomato berries above the ground and the potatoes below.

[@alf3071]

that's smart

[@JessicaVanderhoff]

I think it's more of a novelty than an actual practice. In San Diego where this channel is based, we plant potatoes in August or February and tomatoes around April.

[@mcgritty8842]

Commonly done? Idk, looked into it and it seems to be mostly for fun for video clicks

[@unmeaninglessly143]

Cant wait to see the update later on the harvest comparison!

[@thirtythreeeyes8624]

You should use a scalpel/exacto or a single side razor just make sure they're cleaned with isopropyl as they often have oil on them.

[@brianharris1573]

I'm doing the same thing with cannabis plants. I'm licensed for 15 plants at a time and yields are a top priority. Morning Star CBD strain with no THC and 16% CBD is the rootstock (will be anyways) with a potential yield per outdoor plant of 5 kilograms of dried and manicured buds. That's why I bought the seeds. 11 pounds of buds a plant and 15 plants is a hefty harvest indeed! Especially since I'll be growing for the seeds to sell at $10 each to a bulk seller(they'll double the price). Fat Bastard strain with about 600-900 grams per plant outdoor yields also has a potential potency of 38% THC. Rather than trying to breed the 2 strains, I'll be grafting onto a superior yielding rootstock. The best part is my root stock is considered hemp, not marijuana and doesn't count for the permit. A friend even sells Morning Star clones on Craigslist without any hassles.

[@Game.Like.A.Mother]

This is a great way to get your feet wet with grafting! Tomatoes are fast growing a cheap! Way better to start with something like this than to jump straight into fruit trees where we could kill a few hundred dollars of plants off 😂 thanks for the tip! ❤

[@igleamingrace]

Totally agree!

[@munirasultana2313]

Very interesting 👌

[@aprilclodfelter318]

Hey Kevin, my question is... what do you use for Soaker hoses or/drip lines for your raised beds. I watch you all the time your channel is awesome

[@ltlwlwl5057]

Will you guys do a side-by-side test? (Grafted tomatoe vs Non-Grafted)

[@epicgardening]

Yes!

[@ltlwlwl5057]

@@epicgardening Sweet! 😊

[@AstroLoops69]

Post grafting, would placing the plants in pots with drainage holes into a tray with water improve the healing process?

[@slamdunk58]

What do you do with the little plastic tubes that you used to fuse the two plants together? Surely you can leave them on? Wouldn't strangle the plant as it grew wider?

[@katieboyd5568]

Can you please post the link for the light blue grafting tool you used? Thanks so much!

[@phoebebaker1575]

Learned a lot, thanks!

[@Deck1ngUK]

Fascinating, would Amish Paste make a good root stock?

[@ClissaT]

So if you had very limited space say on a small balcony, you could actually graft a variety of shoots onto one strong base and get several types off the one bush! Cool Maybe I'll try that one day to see if it works. Right now I have 16ac to plant onto if I wanted so no real drive but who knows what will happen in future. And it would not HAVE to be the Fortamino seedling for the rootstock? All you are wanting is a strong healthy rootstock so any that is like that would do? Except you probably would not want to mix a determinate with an indeterminate. Well that's how I see it anyway.

[@bobbybryant4809]

Great Video! Looking for a better pressure water sprayer / pump, what kind is the one used in this vid.

[@DanRod587]

Very cool video 👍 I first really saw plant grafting on coffee plants. Also, what is that watch you are wearing? 🤙

[@IAMGiftbearer]

Very interesting! I never knew you could graft tomatoes! Where do you buy the Cherokee Carbon seedlings? Can you post a link? I was going to get Cherokee Purple but if the hybrid is more disease resistant I'd rather have that!

[@TheColorblindGardener]

Any chance you have looked at multiple fruit grafting, like 1 plant producing multiple varieties of tomatoes?

[@facingfacts7830]

Love every one of your videos. I'm in SE Fl close to the coast and have sand everywhere. Been doing container tomatoes but only having really healthy plants with Roma varieties. When I lived in San Diego I grew giant tomatoes profusely and canned my own ketchup recipe, salsa, and spaghetti sauce with them. If anyone knows good varieties for zone 10a, please reply.

[@brettchampagne4440]

I think Homestead was bred there. I've read Neptune and the varieties bred in Hawaii, Healani, Kewalo & Anahu do well in FL.

[@kendalludager]

Hopefully i didnt just miss it, but where do you get the tool? Ive looked and cant find a similar one.

[@jchals88]

Great video, Eric!

[@robertrhodessr3664]

Very interesting vid, I hadn't heard of grafting tomatoes, but I will try on a couple of mine. Question: what happens if you graft nonsimilar tomatoes, such as determinate to indeterminate, or cherry tomato onto regular size tomato plants?

[@caroleanne8529]

I wondered that too. Best way to find out is to experiment, but I wonder if the results would be consistent.

[@MizuMing]

My grandfather used to do this in his orchard with crabapple trees and pears.

[@MrBumbles2]

i did this with ameila and some other tomato, and with pepper plants. after a storm wiped out my crop. electrical tape and that's it . and had no idea if it would work. well one ameila is in a wicking tub and i moved into my shop under a light for winter. its still producing tomatoes after 2 yrs. have 21 tomatoes on it right now and already eating fresh maters in may and i had no idea what i was doing. lol. and i have 4 plants from suckers from this plant already with tomatoes on it. and for some reason there only 2ft tall . but loaded with 30 plus fruit on them. had no clue of what i was doing just tried to save the broken crushed plants and it worked. bell peppers i did it too i ended up with the best pepper production i have ever had. could pick 40 plus peppers every two weeks and im not a gardner. hey now i know really what to do lol. dam hurricane

[@maryhaselow5785]

Very interesting but I am not sure Why anyone would want to do this, you did not say. And what are the cons? Will this delay fruiting? And how to pick a rootstock and a plant to graft.

[@tobyatencio6698]

When you put the grafted tomato in the ground, do you bury the graft? I would asume you do with an annual like a tomato, but not with a perennial. Correct?

[@epicgardening]

Definitely don't bury the graft

[@c2hh571]

Have you tried to graft watermelon on top of potato plant? I do not have the video but you are supposed to get both melon and somewhat smaller potato . I want to try these grafting methods.

[@davidniemi6553]

Does it work to graft a sucker onto a root stock? And is it worth using grafting to repair a tomato that has had damage like its top knocked off?

[@SonniesGardenPA]

Very interesting, that clip makes it easier.

[@patriciareynolds2729]

some put the cut top in water to root another plant. what u do with yours?

[@SethWilcock]

How did this work out? Is there a follow up video?

[@wyattspop]

Hey Kevin, I planted my gardens a month ago and my tomatoes cucs etc have hardly grown 2 inches, I get the weather did this, I'm near you in SoCal where it's been unseasonably cool/overcast, but I noticed my topsoil looks very "sandy". Would it still be a benefit to add healthy soil on top and water it in? I obviously cant till it much with seedlings in the ground. I'd hate to lose my entire crop having overvalued the condition of my soil. I added plenty of fresh soil last year, but I seriously injured my back so I couldn't grow last year...I assumed the sol would still be fertile but I was mistaken, when I water the earth looks mediocre at best. I did turn it over 2 feet deep and added some, soil/manure but looks like not enough fresh soil. My Basil leaves look pale....Thx Brother

[@kprairiesun]

I kept mine on the house, misted with water, put plastic storage bag over each one, using a rubber band around pot, kept in big storage tub covered with lid, setting on warming pad. I used Maxiforte root stock

[@BeansAndPotatos]

@@kprairiesun that’s why yours molded!!! That’s too much humidity and heat. Simply leaving them on a room temperature counter next to a pack of ripening bananas will have them red in just a week. Screw all the fancy tutorials you see online. Simple is better.

[@kprairiesun]

@@BeansAndPotatos sorry, I was talking about newly grafted tomato plants! But, yes, tomato's left on the counter to finish ripening tend to rot

[@williamg920]

Can you graft limbs of different tomatoes varieties on one plant?

[@PlantObsessed]

What makes the root stock so much better than the original?

[@carolinesmith1366]

Thank you!

[@fishingwithfilitsa]

Hi, very nice

[@Nonstop_Edits]

KEVIN!!!!!!, I need help, I am 15 and am just getting into gardening and I want to know how to make my soil less hard and compact. It seems like it turns into concrete instead of a soft, fluffy soil. Also I am going to be making your easier bed with wood and planter blocks and I want to know if I should put down cardboard in the bottom? Thank you so much

[@epicgardening]

Breaking it up with a hand tool and loosening with gypsum or compost helps out!

[@Nonstop_Edits]

@@epicgardening Thank you sooo much, I love your videos keep doing what your doing.

[@Psilo33_]

@@Nonstop_Edits I live in an area with similar soil. It can be discouraging, but it’s possible! Like Kevin said, gypsum can be a great tool to help loosen up that soil. Keeping the soil protected is a good idea, as well. Meaning having mulch on top of the soil in the off season, or having a cover crop is also great. And put some cardboard down! It’ll help with weeds coming up through the bottom.

[@Nonstop_Edits]

@@Psilo33_ Thanks for the tips! I will definitely go buy some gypsum to help this raised bed be more successful

[@gardenwitheden]

It's so great that you want to get into gardening, I'm also 15! I suggest also using wood chips, this has worked really well for us in the past to improve the soil in the long run. BTW I also have a gardening channel and may have a few videos that may help you. Eden

[@burakozc3079]

Good luck grafting 1000+ tomatoes.

[@XerxesZangeneh]

This is for home gardening lol

[@metro3692]

Hi Kevin, Great video. Maybe I missed this but what do you get if you root a sucker later on.

[@epicgardening]

Same as the scion, or top

[@metro3692]

@@epicgardening This is like Japanese Maples. Thanks

[@gunslingorgunslingorsadf8150]

Hey got a question, if you got a big sun leaf on a tomatoe plant that is a bit dried from touching soil or something, can you let the sucker grow and pinch of the sunleaf instead... maybe cutting the top of the sucker to stunt it when it's the size you want? Or is it counterproductive?

[@tobyatencio6698]

Does it matter if the top graft is indeterminate? I've never seen anyone graft annuals before. Very cool!

[@dross10001]

No the top(scion) can be determinate or indeterminate and will grow as such.

[@gomathikumar9860]

CAN WE GRAFT TOMATO ON CHILLI? WHAT WOULD BE ITS PERKS

[@emanueldelgado540]

If you graft a indeterminate tomato onto a determinate will it now behave like a determinate ?