Is there a way to keep tomato plants small? - General Gardening - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

dboi87 · 10-02-2015, 01:35 PM

i was thinking about maybe keeping a cherry tomato plant going over the winter inside, but only if it's possible to keep the plant relatively small. Is this possible? If so, how how small could a cherry or grape tomato plant be while still producing fruit.

MicroRoy · 10-02-2015, 03:56 PM

Through the variety called Tom Thumb it tends to stay small.

MicroRoy · 10-02-2015, 04:05 PM

Tiny Tim is another.

Pro Headies · 10-02-2015, 04:09 PM

I had some sungolds come up from the previous years plants this year. They were blocked from getting much sun by this years grape tomato variety that got 8-9ft tall. The sungolds got maybe 2ft tall and produced a few tomatos. They were in 1000gallon raised bed but id bet if you put your plant in small pot and under lower intensity light kept close they would stay on the smaller side.

Lester Beans · 10-02-2015, 04:24 PM

I just prune and tie them back like a Thai plant. The varieties already mentioned are a great place to start.

dboi87 · 10-02-2015, 05:34 PM

Thanks guys. I saw a thread posted on gardenweb that claimed they will not produce if kept small.

stoned-trout · 10-03-2015, 01:25 AM

theres strains for containers and such that form small bushes naturally...yeehaw..you can prune/train tomatoes too ...

jsomhintdh · 10-03-2015, 01:35 AM

If you have the time, couldn't you start from seed. Let grow a bit, then take clones, and flower those? Seems like just keep a mother getting older and older, and keep taking clones, those clones will be a mature'eeer clone, and be able to fruit quicker?

Growing other plants still is a mystery to me, til i start understanding how each plant lives and reacts. Like some strawberries or blueberries need a few years of life before fruiting is viable, but once that plant has reached it's maturity can't you clone and just instantly fruit?

I'm very curious about indoor growing everything i wanna eat. But i get turned off by how some seed starts can take years, or you need to keep them for years and pinch off early flowers to allow for years of root growth compared to fruit growth.

Anywho, let us know what you figure out that works! I'd be interested

Thanks for the good thread

Budley Doright · 10-03-2015, 04:13 PM

Here is another take....

Most folks who do tomatoes understand the concept to suckering the plant......

If you leave the first sucker on the plant...... allow the main plant to grow some....

once it hits a certain point..... pinch off the new flower trusses and new growth......

once you harvest the main plant....cut it away....the sucker part of the plant can take over......

You are effectively growing the plant horizontally instead of vertically.....

MicroRoy · 10-03-2015, 09:22 PM

Look in online seed catologs. Tomatoes are devided into determinate. They grow into a bush of a that is more or less fixed.

Then there are Indeterminate. They grow long vines.

10-02-2015, 01:35 PM	#1
dboi87 Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 68	Is there a way to keep tomato plants small? i was thinking about maybe keeping a cherry tomato plant going over the winter inside, but only if it's possible to keep the plant relatively small. Is this possible? If so, how how small could a cherry or grape tomato plant be while still producing fruit.
	Quote

10-02-2015, 03:56 PM	#2
MicroRoy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Up above the Timberline Posts: 3,202	Through the variety called Tom Thumb it tends to stay small.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

10-02-2015, 04:05 PM	#3
MicroRoy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Up above the Timberline Posts: 3,202	Tiny Tim is another.
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

10-02-2015, 04:09 PM	#4
Pro Headies Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 545	I had some sungolds come up from the previous years plants this year. They were blocked from getting much sun by this years grape tomato variety that got 8-9ft tall. The sungolds got maybe 2ft tall and produced a few tomatos. They were in 1000gallon raised bed but id bet if you put your plant in small pot and under lower intensity light kept close they would stay on the smaller side.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

10-02-2015, 04:24 PM	#5
Lester Beans Frequent Flyer Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ~ In The Garden Pulling Weeds ~ Posts: 3,223	I just prune and tie them back like a Thai plant. The varieties already mentioned are a great place to start.
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

10-02-2015, 05:34 PM	#6
dboi87 Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 68	Thanks guys. I saw a thread posted on gardenweb that claimed they will not produce if kept small.
	Quote

10-03-2015, 01:25 AM	#7
stoned-trout if it smells like fish Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: bible hill estates Posts: 8,328	theres strains for containers and such that form small bushes naturally...yeehaw..you can prune/train tomatoes too ... __________________ SML..iff mi spellin and centances suk and yoo don't lyke itt too fukkin bad;/?.....I once was asked what I would say upon getting to the gates of heaven??? m/r is a visitors badge an option??? I would like a few drinks at the bar... YEEHAW....vote for real legalization not sum bullshit...free the weed or kiss my ass...you wont be getting my tax money..
	Quote

10-03-2015, 01:35 AM	#8
jsomhintdh Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 75	If you have the time, couldn't you start from seed. Let grow a bit, then take clones, and flower those? Seems like just keep a mother getting older and older, and keep taking clones, those clones will be a mature'eeer clone, and be able to fruit quicker? Growing other plants still is a mystery to me, til i start understanding how each plant lives and reacts. Like some strawberries or blueberries need a few years of life before fruiting is viable, but once that plant has reached it's maturity can't you clone and just instantly fruit? I'm very curious about indoor growing everything i wanna eat. But i get turned off by how some seed starts can take years, or you need to keep them for years and pinch off early flowers to allow for years of root growth compared to fruit growth. Anywho, let us know what you figure out that works! I'd be interested Thanks for the good thread
	Quote

10-03-2015, 04:13 PM	#9
Budley Doright Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,884	Here is another take.... Most folks who do tomatoes understand the concept to suckering the plant...... If you leave the first sucker on the plant...... allow the main plant to grow some.... once it hits a certain point..... pinch off the new flower trusses and new growth...... once you harvest the main plant....cut it away....the sucker part of the plant can take over...... You are effectively growing the plant horizontally instead of vertically..... __________________ https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=42847 Wick Cloning = Cheap and effective MMMP Patient/Caregiver https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=309503 Big Clones.....and Air Layers also a legal Michigan grow
	Quote

10-03-2015, 09:22 PM	#10
MicroRoy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Up above the Timberline Posts: 3,202	Look in online seed catologs. Tomatoes are devided into determinate. They grow into a bush of a that is more or less fixed. Then there are Indeterminate. They grow long vines.
	Quote