Perlite Is Your Friend

rnewste · August 25, 2009

After years of trying to root Suckers rather than starting my Fall crop from seed, I typically have a 1 in 3 success rate when inserting them into growth hormone and then Potting Mix:

Quite by accident, I had some Potting Mix that I had combined with Perlite and Cactus Mix in a 3:1:1 ratio for trials in my EarthTainers this Fall. Well, guess what? The Suckers love this combo mix and are coming along great:

Lesson learned. NEVER try to root Suckers in straight Potting Mix!!!

Ray

dokutaaguriin · August 25, 2009

HI Ray,
My method is to put the sucker in some water. When I see some root growth then I transfer them to potting mix. Sometimes I add a couple of drops of fish emulsion fertilizer.

Jeff

habitat_gardener · August 25, 2009

How soon after cutting the sucker does it produce tomatoes? I think it's too late to start new plants here...usually we get a frost the first week of December that kills off the remaining plants.

Perlite is also useful for greenhouse/indoor growing, to keep fungus gnats from laying eggs in the top layer of soil. The local master gardening group also recommends a layer of perlite on the surface of the soil when planting seeds. I haven't tried it, but probably it helps keep the soil from drying out or forming a crust.

rnewste · August 25, 2009

habitat,

Maybe I have just been lucky the past few years, but I have had ripe tomatoes into January here. Perhaps my luck will run out this year, but with the global warming trend, maybe we won't have a hard freeze until mid-January this year.

Ray

recruiterg · August 26, 2009

Ray,

I root hydrangia and other garden plants and I always use a 1:1 mix of perlite and peat moss. You could use soil-less seed starting mix in place of the peat moss.

dcarch · August 26, 2009

How about this?

Sure way to get real good and fast results.

dcarch

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...hlight=rooting

August 25, 2009	#1
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	Perlite Is Your Friend After years of trying to root Suckers rather than starting my Fall crop from seed, I typically have a 1 in 3 success rate when inserting them into growth hormone and then Potting Mix: Quite by accident, I had some Potting Mix that I had combined with Perlite and Cactus Mix in a 3:1:1 ratio for trials in my EarthTainers this Fall. Well, guess what? The Suckers love this combo mix and are coming along great: Lesson learned. NEVER try to root Suckers in straight Potting Mix!!! Ray

August 25, 2009	#2
dokutaaguriin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Z3a Posts: 905	HI Ray, My method is to put the sucker in some water. When I see some root growth then I transfer them to potting mix. Sometimes I add a couple of drops of fish emulsion fertilizer. Jeff Last edited by dokutaaguriin; August 25, 2009 at 11:04 PM. Reason: spelling

August 26, 2009	#6
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	How about this? Sure way to get real good and fast results. dcarch http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...hlight=rooting __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

August 25, 2009	#3
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,540	How soon after cutting the sucker does it produce tomatoes? I think it's too late to start new plants here...usually we get a frost the first week of December that kills off the remaining plants. Perlite is also useful for greenhouse/indoor growing, to keep fungus gnats from laying eggs in the top layer of soil. The local master gardening group also recommends a layer of perlite on the surface of the soil when planting seeds. I haven't tried it, but probably it helps keep the soil from drying out or forming a crust.

August 26, 2009	#5
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Ray, I root hydrangia and other garden plants and I always use a 1:1 mix of perlite and peat moss. You could use soil-less seed starting mix in place of the peat moss.