Tomato propagation with indoor soil

Propagating tomatoes is useful for growing a late-season crop, overwintering a favorite variety and indoor winter growing. Faster than growing from seed, propagation also results in a plant with the same qualities of the mother plant, which is particularly important when growing hybrid varieties. The proliferation of heirloom tomatoes benefits greatly from propagation, keeping those beloved but rare varieties producing for future generations. The use of indoor soil in propagation prevents pest problems, and provides a sterile growing environment for roots and consistent moisture control.

1. Remove a 6-inch cutting from a healthy stem of an existing tomato plant. Gently prune off all but the top two leaves. Look for a stem close to the ground; these will produce roots the fastest.
2. Place the stem in a vase with water up to 1 inch below the lowest leaf. White roots will appear in about one week. If the water becomes murky or slimy, replace with fresh water.
3. When the roots are about 1/2 inch long, the stem can be placed in indoor potting soil. Use a pencil to create a hole in the center of a 4-inch plant pot. Insert the tomato stem in the hole, and firm the soil around it. Water well after planting, and keep the soil consistently moist for the first two weeks.
4. Place the planter in a sunny window. Give it 1/2 cup of water when the soil is dry 1 inch below the surface. The plant is ready to transplant outdoors when it is 6 inches tall, or can be left indoors and replanted into larger containers as needed.

Plants should be given time to adapt before moving them outdoors full time. When they are 6 inches tall, move them outside for one hour the first day, two hours the second, adding one hour each day until the plant is outside all day. Remove all leaves but the top two, dig an 8- to 10-inch hole, and place the plant in the hole, covering all but the top two leaves. Water well.

Feed fruit-producing indoor tomato plants with 10-10-10 fertilizer once per month. Overwintering plants should not be fertilized until planted outside.