Re: Tomato roots
- To: v*@eskimo.com
- Subject: Re: Tomato roots
- From: A* D* <a*@crwys.demon.co.uk>
- Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 20:37:21 +0100 (BST)
- Resent-Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 13:17:59 -0700
- Resent-From: veggie-list@eskimo.com
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On Tue 13 Oct, Margaret Lauterbach wrote:
> At 07:14 PM 10/13/98 +1300, you wrote:
> >Greetings from Westland New Zealand,
> >
> >Last week I had no option but to transplant several grafted rootstock
> >tomato plants in my greenhouse. Unfortunatly the move damaged the roots
> >significantly. The shifted plants have remained robust and have not wilted
> >or colasped, but I am wndering if they will actually grow. What does the
> >collective experience suggest - is if possible to damage a grafted
> >tomatoe's roots and get away with it, or should I throw them away now and
> >replant afresh?
> >
> >Regards Ian Gill
> >
> I think they'll recover. You've undoubtedly seen tomato branches hanging
> by a thread, still nurturing leaves and fruit on the torn branch. I'm very
> curious, though, to know why you have grafted rootstock tomato plants.
> Margaret
>
Tomato plants are grafted onto rootstock to overcome four diseases -
k,n,v,f stand for korky rot, nematodes, verticillium and fusarium . It
is done where it is not practicable to change or sterilise the growing
medium. With most commercial tomatoes being grown hydroponically it
would seem that this practice is no longer widespread.
As the others say, tomato plants are surprisingly tough.The main worry
I would have would be stem rot, as long as you keep that dry I can't
see the problem unless ants move in and disturb the roots Aas I
experienced), even then they can sometimes be nursed through.
--
Allan Day Hereford HR2 7AU allan@crwys.demon.co.uk
