One of the advantages of being at The Great Park Farmer's Market is that we get to play with leftovers from the Master Gardener's workshops, seminars, and other promotions. 

This last week grafted 'winter' tomato plants were being promoted.  They are called winter tomatoes because they will grow this fall and should have a crop ready by winter.  We acquired some (more than 50) of the leftovers and will donate a portion of the sales collected to The Great Park.

The claim by the producer is that a grafted tomato plant produces 400-500% more than a conventional plant of the same variety. 

This is possible because conventional tomatoes are grown from seed on their own roots.  Tomato plants have typically been chosen for their fruit quality, not for having great roots.  The rootstock tomatoes, selected and bred for the best roots, have mediocre, even inedible, fruit. 

Grafted tomatoes can then have the best of both.  Earlier this year I dismissed the superiority of grafted tomatoes thinking that proper gardening techniques would neutralize the advantages.  Researchers, however, have noted that not only do grafted plants grow faster, huskier and produce a larger quantity of larger fruits at an earlier age over a longer period of time; the foliar disease resistance of the rootstock apparently carries over into the leaves of the fruiting portion!  I have to see this to believe it and so do you!

The plants we have are already 2 feet tall and very husky (more than pencil thickness).  They have unusually large leaves and are already setting fruit.  The containers are slightly larger than normal quarts (4").  They are grafted about 1/2" above the soil, which, by the way is of excellent quality. 

To create a grafted tomato the seeds of the scion (fruiting variety) and seeds of the rootstock are planted within a few days of each other (rootstock a few days earlier).  Within 7-10 days of germination, both plants are severed with a razor blade and the top of the scion is clipped to the stump of the rootstock.  The newly grafted plant is kept dark and close to 100% humidity for about 3 days (while the graft heals), then slowly reintroduced to full sun and normal humidity by 7 days.  1-2 weeks later the plant is installed into the farm or garden. 

 

Although it is late in the season the grafted plants can still produce a large crop before winter and have a decent chance to survive and produce through 2012.  Normally grafted tomato plants sell for at least twice the price of non-grafted plants.  We are offering these for a special price since it is late in the year. 

 

Don't forget Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew (Spinosad).  Grafted plants have no resistance to caterpillars.  Tomato Hornworm caterpillars are very active until late November, but can be controlled by one or two applications per month. 

 

Jetsetter  $4
This is a medium to large (8 oz. to 2 lb.) fruit with smooth, juicy flesh with a good rich flavor.  It is a disease resistant (VFFNTA) indeterminate hybrid that produces in 64 days and has a long harvest season.  It has been compared favorably with Early Girl.  It is good for slicing and in salads. 

I wouldn't be surprised if a grafted Jetsetter survives a few winters. 

Marianna's Peace  $4

Heirloom from Czechoslovakia from the early 1900's.  This is a relatively small beefsteak (up to 2 lb.) with pinkish red skin and smooth, creamy flesh with old-fashioned flavor.  It has won several "best taste" contests and is on many "top 10" lists.  It has an indeterminate type of growth with harvest in 80 days.  It is especially good cooked and for salsa.  Although considered more productive than the famous Brandywine, it is still a light producer. 

Heirlooms like Marianna's Peace benefit the most when grafted.  The powerful rootstock seems to compensate for the heirloom's weaknesses.  Grafted heirlooms are very popular with commercial hot house growers. 

When I grew a conventional Marianna's Peace 5 years ago the plant took a long time to bloom and only grew one cluster of fruit.  These grafted plants are already blooming.  If I get a good late crop of Marianna's Peace, it will justify ordering grafted vegetables next year. 

Stupice  $4

This heirloom is from Slovakia.  The red fruit is small to medium sized (2-8 oz.) with tangy, sweet flesh.  It has won taste tests.  It is good in salads, wonderful cooked and for soup and makes perhaps the best tasting juice.  It is a compact, indeterminate vine with first harvest in 52 days.  It can set fruit at 42 degrees F! 

 

This great tasting heirloom tends to have small, golf ball size fruit.  Grafting should increase size and production. 

 

Please visit us at our farmer's market locations.


EVERY SATURDAY  9am-2pm

SoCo Farmer's Market

South Coast Retail Collections Center
3315 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa

Exit 405, north on Harbor, left on South Coast Dr, right on Hyland

 

 

EVERY SUNDAY  10am-2pm

The Great Park Farmer's Market

Exit 5 at Sand Canyon, south on Marine Way (parallels the east side of the 5) and follow the signs.