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Different types of tomato plants

• Message 1. 

  Posted by iloveroses249 (U14274700) on Thursday, 7th July 2011

  Can anyone tell me what difference (if any) there is between ordinary tomato plants and "grafted" tomatoes ?
  I ask because i put three small plants (tumbler cherry) into two large pots at the end of April, hardened them off, and waited for them to grow. We had lovely weather up until June, then disaster struck, the weather changed to constant rain/wind for nearly all of June. The plants gave up the ghost and died.
  
  Then i spotted "grafted" tomatoes in two different garden centres. Am not buying anymore this year, it's not worth it but would like to know if the "grafted" would be a better selection to try for next year ????
  
  thanks, sharon

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Thursday, 7th July 2011

  Hi iloverosee249,
  What i wanted to say is this ref no matter what toms you decide to try, nothing can stop your toms being treated to bad weather and the chances are they'll end up just like this years efforts,
  
  So having said all this and years ago i also lost my toms until i did a very small thing to save them or at least give them a chance when the weather turns nasty,
  
  It's so simple, and cost next to nothing, all you do is build a little tomatoe shelter, it looks a bit like the trolly collection cover you get your tesco trolly from But in a miniture size,
  
  ie depending on length of your tomatoe growing area,
  all you need is broom pole anchord well into the soil 3 on each side, a top cover ridged so the rain runs off (my first top cover was a bought piece of ridged plastic approx 3feet wide and 6 feet long,
  
  i fitted this on top of the broom poles by drilling a hole opposit each pole and securing using plant green plastic covered wire ties,
  
  Now this idea keeps the rain off the toms, shelters the toms from wind and
  you'll find your toms grow quicker,
  Ive since made a much larger tomatoe tunnel and as we talk my toms are growing away happy.
  
  Your problem is shelter, and no matter what tomatoe you grow ,? They all need protection from weather conditions and open growing sites.
  
  Regards Punpun

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Friday, 8th July 2011

  Grafted toms have become popular of late. Or, at least, with various nurseries. The grafts usually involve rootstock that is resistant to various diseases. Claims are also made about increased productivity. The thing is, hybrid single varieties resistant to various diseases are already available and a lot cheaper than the grafted plants. I've read a couple of expert views to the effect that the benefits don't warrant the substantial outlay for the home gardener.
  
  It's hard to know what went wrong with your plants without more information, iloveroses. It usually takes more than wind and rain to wipe out toms.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Friday, 8th July 2011

  Grafted tomatoes are supposed to be more vigourous, and to crop earlier and longer, than non-grafted tomatoes.
  
  Monty Don told us about grafted varieties on Gardeners' World a few weeks ago.
  
  In his own greenhouse, he was growing mainly non-grafted tomatoes, but also planted just a few grafted ones.
  
  That clip is still available, here:
  
  
  Monty talks about grafted tomatoes at 4 minutes into the clip. So if you move the cursor to that point, you can hear just what he says.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by nanniebutch (U14545104) on Friday, 8th July 2011

  have just a few minutes ago put my own message on about grafted tomatoes, in which you will see that i have today picked 6 ripe tomatoes from my grafted plants, and certainly consider them very fruitful - my plants are well loaded with tomatoes waiting to ripen - i have grown them in a small tomato greenhouse which was bought for me as a present - three plants in a growbag. I will certainly go for grafted plants again, especially for tomatoes - nanniebutch

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Barney_pl (U13897738) on Friday, 8th July 2011

  Leaving the question of grafted re ordinary, which has already been covered here (and about which I have no knowledge, as I grow my own toms from seed), why not treat yourself to a mini greenhouse? They take up no more space than your pots, and will, so long as you fasten them down properly, provide shelter and support for your tomatoess with very little cost.
  
  If you buy the 4 tier mini-greenhouse, and take out the shelves for your toms, the shelf supports provide support for the growing tomatoes. Then you can put the shelves back, line the inside with bubble wrap, and use it for over-wintering plants and even for growing your own tomatoes from seed next year.
  
  This is what I've done for the last couple of years (my three mini-greenhouses were presents). It works wel, and some of the plants I had in there over the winter survived the 16" of snow and -16 degrees temperatures, while similar plants in friends' heated greenhouse didn't. (I don't have a 'proper' greenhouse since I moved here, as it's beyond my budget)
  
  I haven't needed the cover on for my tomatoes, though, as they are against a wall, and protected from the prevailing winds.
  
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by iloveroses249 (U14274700) on Sunday, 10th July 2011

  hello and thanks for all the replies.
  
  i am not very confident with veg/tomatoes, but okay with flowers and shrubs as have been growing these longer. have only recently started with a little bit of veg.
  my tomatoes were bought and were in three inch pots, were outdoor tumbler cherry tomatoes. they were very healthy when bought and re-potted.
  
  unfortunately, the weather turned cold, and wet for quite a few weeks, and together with the fact that we have no shelter from the wind/rain, they didn't have much of a chance.
  I also put in seeds of carrot. lettuce and spinach. the carrots are only just beginning to get a little bigger, the spinach isn't doing very well at all, the lettuce is marvellous. i also put in dwarf runner bean, which looks a bit pathetic but is growing slowly, should be ready for Xmas dinner LOL
  
  Tried a mini-greenhouse a few years back and unfortunately, the howling wind caused havoc with it, as i said earlier, we have no shelter from the wind.
  
  May have to re-think my ideas for which types of veg to grow.
  
  Cheers, sharon

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Barney_pl (U13897738) on Sunday, 10th July 2011

  Tried a mini-greenhouse a few years back and unfortunately, the howling wind caused havoc with it, as i said earlier, we have no shelter from the wind. 
  
  The important thing with the mini-greenhouse is to make sure it is properly anchored. A concrete slab on th bottom shelf is usually enough, Also, to make sure that the cover is properly tied on at each shelf level and ground. Put it against the least windy side of your house (the toms will do, even if that's north-facing, as they'll get warmth from the house walls).
  
  Treat it as you would a tent - that is, !!!properly anchored and fastened!!! - and it will do well. Mine have survived two of the worst winters on record, including very windy, gusty conditions.
  
  
  
  

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