Graft Tomatoes called Might Mato Question

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, jenny168. This was originally posted on March 13, 2013.

Hi,

Grafted tomatoes, peppers an eggplant by this Mighty Mato is getting a lot of press just in the last couple days in Los Angeles.  They are going to be sold at many of the major gardens centers around town.  I wondered if anyone has tried them in the Earthbox and what your experience has been?  I am always open to trying new things, especially when they say production is 4 to 5 times greater.  Also, I wondered if the rootball is much bigger so that two tomatoes in an Earthbox might be too much?

Any thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, Wildcat. This user is located in Western KY, Zone 6. This was originally posted on March 18, 2013.

This year I'm trying grafted tomatoes for the first time. I have never heard of Mighty Mato but I ordered mine from Gurney's. I saw a couple more members say they might try them.

I guess welll see how they all turn out later this summer.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, LaurainFL. This user is located in Zone 8b/9a, NW Florida. This was originally posted on March 18, 2013.

I am trying a few this year that I grafted onto Maxifort rootstock. Maxifort is a rootstock commonly used for commercial tomato grafting, but I don't know if it is the same one that Mighty Mato uses.

Some of the grafted plants are going into the ground to test nematode resistance. Others are going into EBs. One has a box to itself. Two others are sharing EBs with non-grafted indeterminate tomatoes. I planted them this way because I am wondering the same thing: whether two grafted tomatoes might be too much for one box. (Not to mention whether they live up to their claims of increased production.) I'll post back as the season goes on.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, EEPPS. This user is located in Zone 9, Brandon, FL. This was originally posted on March 18, 2013.

I planted my tomatoes Feb 7th and could not find anyone that shipped that early.
As hot as it has been think I would be pushing my luck to plant this late (planting guide says Feb-March)
Would like to try some in the fall but also will have problems finding a source.
Don't have enough courage to try grafting on my own.

ED

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, LaurainFL. This user is located in Zone 8b/9a, NW Florida. This was originally posted on Marhc 18, 2013.

The timing problem is why I grafted mine.

However, after I got started grafting, I found an outfit in California that will ship grafted tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants as early as late January: http://www.gardenlife.com/store/SuperNaturals-Grafted-Vegetables/

Right now they are only showing shipping dates of March 25 or later, but I guess that is becuase the earlier dates have passed already. When I was there looking in early January, they had the earlier shipping dates posted. So maybe bookmark them and check over the winter for next year?

Disclaimer: I have NO EXPERIENCE ordering from these folks. I just found them on a web search. Do your own research on them/order at your own risk.

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As to grafting your own, it takes a steady hand and you cannot rush the healing process, but it's definitely something a home gardener can do. Since this year was my first time, I planted some cheapo seeds to practice on: I grafted cheapo seedlings onto other cheapo seedlings and took them through the healing process before using the expensive rootstock seeds. Even with some practice, plant some extras, just in case. And plant the seeds earlier than usual since you will lose a couple of weeks to grafting shock and healing.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, superjono. This user is located in Dallas, Texas Zone 8a. This was originally posted on March 18, 2013.

I have been reading about the Mighty Mato everywhere on the net. Haven't planted that variety yet. Tomatoes don't like me I guess, because they refuse to fruit in Texas heat. I planted 2 sweet 100 tomatoes in one of my EBs and I am determined to succeed in getting tomatoes this year.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, EEPPS. This user is located in Zone 9, Brandon, FL. This was originally posted on March 19, 2013.

Thanks LaurainFL I will bookmark the link.
May get enough courage to graft in the fall

ED

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, BK. This user is located in North Houston - Zone 9. This was originally posted on April 14, 2013.

I bought two of them and put them in separate Earthboxes about 2 weeks ago. One was a mortgage Lifter and the other was a black Krim.  Also have many other toms in different boxes. The Might Matos were a little larger than the other tomato plants when I bought them . I was careful to plant them with the grafted section above the soil line as per instructions that came with them.

They are going crazy.Huge, full , green and lush.And growing MUCH faster than any of the others.  Lots of blooms on the Black Krim and average amount of blooms on the Mortage lifter.  So far, looks like a big winner.

If you haven't planted yet, I'd suggest you give them a shot.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, GreenMtn. This user is located in Southern CA - Inland Empire / Zone 9. This was originally posted on April 15, 2013.

I  haven't found Mighty Mato anywhere other than Sunshine Nursery in Ontario , CA.  I recall they were about  $10 each. I didn't buy ( though it was so tempting) because I thought that was a bit pricey.

Question : Once the plank tuckers out can you  save the root base and  regraft next season ?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, grandpa. This user is located in Northeast Missouri -- Zone 5. This was originally posted on April 16, 2013.

I haven't received my grafted tomato plants yet, but are most users planting one plant per box or two like the instructions say? Thanks

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, BK. This user is located in North Houston - Zone 9. This was originally posted on April 17, 2013.

Grandpa,

I have bdanks double pea fences on my tomato boxes. I had no idea someone suggested only one grafted tomato per box.  We need a "don't do this, dummy"  category.

So I put one indeterminate  yellow pear in one box with the grafted Mortage Lifter and a grape tomato in the other box with the grafted Black Krim.

I have made a BIG mistake.  The grafted plants (planted only a few weeks ago)  are now already halfway up the pea fences. Inside, they're so thick there could not possibly be any air circulation. Both now loaded with blooms and small toms starting.

These  suckers are on steroids.   Not quite sure what to do about it.   But it's clear it's not gonna work.  The other plants will be choked to death, that's for sure.  Any ideas on what I should do?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on April 17, 2017.

I would wait and see... the non-grafted toms are cherry types which, in the beginning, are slower to develop than regular ones... however once they take hold, look out!

You can prune away the non-productive lower growth of the grafted plants to give some ventilation and allow the cherries to breathe. Pruning will also allow you to monitor the graft point for unwanted suckers growing beneath it.

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, BK. This user is located in North Houston - Zone 9. This was originally posted on April 17, 2013.

Mickie,
I'm not real clear on what you're saying here. 

"You can prune away the non-productive lower growth of the grafted plants to give some ventilation and allow the cherries to breathe. Pruning will also allow you to monitor the graft point for unwanted suckers growing beneath it."

I've already removed (as much as I can)  the suckers.   But these plants don't seem to have any nonproductive lower growth.  There are blooms from bottom to top.

I can barely find the cherries already.  In two weeks.  The graft point is just above the shower cap level, so there's nothing underneath.  Can you explain in idiot language?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, grandpa. This user is located in Northeast Missouri -- Zone 5. This was originally posted on April 16, 2013.

So should I stay with just one grafted tomato or one grafted and another regular tomato plant per box?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, LaurainFL. This user is located in Zone 8b/9a, NW Florida. This was originally posted on April 17, 2013.

I'll report back later in the season regarding 1 vs. 2 grafted plants per box.

I have a grafted tomato all by itself in one box. I also have two more grafted tomatoes, each of which has a regular tomato for a box-mate. My grafted tomatoes (I grafted them myself) are a couple of weeks behind the others as a result of the grafting process, but they are taking off and starting to catch up now.