If you want to save money on shop-bought tomatoes, growing your own is a fantastic option. With prices soaring recently, any gardening enthusiast should consider this simple trick to multiply your crop. A content creator with 46,600 followers, known as Sally, shared a method that involves using side shoots from your existing tomato plants.
How to Get Free Tomato Plants
In a TikTok video, Sally explained: "Did you know you could get a whole load of free tomato plants off the current one you're growing? These side shoots, also known as suckers, grow in-between the main stem and branches of your tomato plants. If you're growing certain varieties, it's always best to remove these. However, you don't need to discard them; you can just plant them in a pot of compost and they will then go on to form a whole new tomato plant."
She demonstrated how to pinch off a small sucker and replant it elsewhere. "The reason we remove these branches is so the energy can be redirected into the fruit growing on the main stem. But each of these side shoots can grow into tomatoes themselves. As you can see here, this is one which is quite established. Removing them will support them as they grow."
Step-by-Step Guide
- Use a 9-10cm pot filled with multi-purpose compost.
- Place the side shoot into the soil.
- Roots will develop along the stem, giving you an additional tomato plant.
Sally noted: "They do grow quite quickly."
Alternative Method: Growing Tomatoes from Slices
If you don't have existing plants, you can grow tomatoes from slices:
- Choose a ripe tomato and slice it into 1-2cm thick pieces.
- Place the slices on top of potting compost in a tray or pot, then cover with a thin layer of soil.
- Keep the soil moist and place the pot in a warm, sunny location. Seedlings will appear within 1-2 weeks.
- When seedlings have at least two sets of leaves (about 10cm tall), transplant them into separate, larger pots.
- Bury the stem when transplanting to encourage additional root growth, making the plant stronger.
This easy gardening hack can help you enjoy a bountiful tomato harvest without spending extra money.
