(You can read about the first part of this grand experiment here: Perennial Tomatoes.)
When the time came - when the days and nights were warm enough and the chance of frost was finally past - I planted them outside. I watered them. I waited for that first red tomato, and waited, and waited. There were flowers, but no fruit.
I was pretty sure it wasn't because they were cuttings. My pepper plants from the feed store didn't even bloom. Was it all the rain we had during the summer? The grasshoppers? Lack of bees? It was a mystery. Then I talked to other local gardeners who were having the same problem, so I knew it wasn't just my plants.
I told him about my tomato experiment. He said yes, it could work, tomatoes keep growing until "they get frosted". He'd never thought about the concept before, but yes, it could work...
Check out these updates on the perennial tomato experiment:
Part 1 - 10/10/12
Part 2 - Update #1, Spring
Part 3 - Update #2, Year Two (This post)
Part 4 - How to Take Tomato Cuttings
Part 5 - Perennial Tomatoes: Year Four
Part 6 - Perennial Tomatoes: Year Five
This post has been shared at some of my favorite blog hops.
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My hope is to inspire you, and to encourage your homesteading plans and your dreams of a simple, self-reliant, God-dependent life. You can follow me at:
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~~~~~
My hope is to inspire you, and to encourage your homesteading plans and your dreams of a simple, self-reliant, God-dependent life. You can follow me at:
Facebook | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Subscribe via email
I'm going to try this. We also had such a terrible tomoto year, but with the cooler temps we're getting some fruit again. I can't wait to see what happens for you next year.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angi. This terrible tomato year is a mystery, isn't it? I hope you'll give this a try, and let me know your results.
ReplyDeleteI've so gotta try this! Out of the 5 varieties we planted, 2 did great. Unfortunately, I don't know what they were (1 was given to me by a stranger at a store), so I can't go buy them again. Problem solved - cuttings!
ReplyDeleteThat's perfect, Nikki! Take lots of cuttings since you can't replace these plants.
ReplyDeleteI wish I would have read this earlier, I have to try this.
ReplyDeleteFile it away for next year, Kathy!
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome and when I finally get a plant that is disease resistant I will do just that! I have had a hard time for the past few years with some dreadful blight and I need to get out there and find a better plant. Once I do, I'll be unstoppable in my propagating! Very clever!
ReplyDeleteWishing you luck finding a disease-resistant tomato variety. Do you rotate where you plant them each year?
ReplyDeleteDoes this have anything to do with the fact that your tomatoes might be 'determinate' and not 'indeterminate'? We live in eastern WA and I had a ton of tomatoes this year. We used compost from the compost bin when we planted them and I didn't have to even fertilize this year. It was the year of the tomato, cucumbers, peppers!
ReplyDeleteHi Janice, I grow an indeterminate variety, so I don't think that was the reason. It was evidently just some weird regional thing this year. I hope next year is better!
ReplyDeleteNow you have me excited to try this next year, as the frost has been here for a couple of weeks..I once had a volunteer tomato that was more frost resistant and when I brought the ripening fruit into the house it ripened perfectly and lasted longer. What I would give to know what that beauty was!!
ReplyDeleteJanice, I'd love to know what kind that tomato was too. This would be a great way to keep an unknown variety going.
ReplyDeleteClever idea! Thanks for sharing it on Tuesday Greens!
ReplyDeleteI'm heading outside to take some cutting right now! Here in Calif.we haven't had a frost yet so my Big Boy plant is still giving us a few tomatoes! Thanks for the great posts!I'll be a follower! I "garden" at www.theradishpatch.com and I'll share your posts! Thanks,Donna
ReplyDeleteI have been doing this for a few years. It is a great way to get tomato plants to fruit earlier. I have found in my garden that overwintered cuttings like this will set fruit about 2 months earlier than seed grown plants.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Damo. Great observation; I hadn't noticed.
ReplyDelete