Water Planted it in a Pot and Grew a Plant Out of It: Overwintering Tomato Plants

Have you ever wondered how to preserve your tomato plants during the fall and winter seasons so that you can enjoy them again in the spring? Well, today I want to share with you an experiment I did in which I grew tomato plants by taking cuttings and rooting them in water. This method allowed me to overwinter my tomato plants and plant them in the spring, resulting in a beautiful harvest. Let's dive into the process!

First, I identified the sucker growing inside the main stem and branch and cut it. I made sure to get a cutting from an indeterminate cherry tomato plant for this experiment. After getting a nice cutting, I removed the extra branches from the bottom of the stem and also removed any extra growth, leaving only 3 to 4 leaves on the stem.

I then put the stem in water and placed it next to a window that receives sunlight. I used filtered water since my water was chlorinated and changed the water every two to three days. After about a month, the tomato plants grew roots, and I inspected the health of the plant to make sure there was no mold, fungus, or disease in the roots.

Next, I dug a hole in the pot, and I gently covered the roots with soil and watered the newly planted cutting generously. After one month, the newly rooted tomato plant was ready. The plant continued to grow after another month, and I staked and provided support to the plant.

After four months since taking cuttings, the tomato plant was producing a lot of tomatoes. I also took the suckers from the original tomato plants and rooted them in water to grow more tomato plants. I then dug a hole in the ground and planted the newly rooted tomato plants in my garden.

It's spring here in California, and I transplanted the original tomato plant into my garden. I dug deep to take all the roots out with the plant and buried about a foot of stem by covering the stem in soil so that the plant grows more roots and can intake more nutrients. I added compost and covered the tomato plant with soil. I then placed a long stick next to the plant and strung the tomato plant with pure cotton string and tied the string to the stake.

In conclusion, by taking cuttings from tomato plants and rooting them in water, I was able to overwinter my plants and enjoy a beautiful harvest in the spring. This experiment was a success, and I hope you try this at your home this fall to have tomato plants ready to grow in spring.