Graft Tomatoes called Might Mato Question

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, bdank. This user is located in Zone 7 - Northern Virginia (Fredericksburg). This was originally posted on May 7, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Donald1800. This user is located in Fontana, CA Zone 8. This was originally posted on May 7, 2013.

For those who have trialed the 'Mighty Mato' and would like to experiment with thier own grafting of preferred tomato varieties using the 'Supernatural Rootstock' used with the 'Mighty Mato' product line, you can purchase rootstock seeds from:

http://www.territorialseed.com/product/14338/603
https://awhaley.com/seeds/root-stocks/supernatural-tomato-rootstock

Don't forget to set up one 'Supernatural Rootstock' plant for seed collection at the end of the season - you will then have a perpetual no-cost source for this valuable tomato rootstock.  And if you collect seeds from your other tomato varieties, it would be a good idea to keep your 'Supernatural Rootstock' plant as far away from your other tomato varieties as possible to reduce the chance of cross pollination/DNA contamination.

Donald1800

So the Supernatural stock isn't a hybrid?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Donald1800. This user is located in Fontana, CA Zone 8. This was originally posted on May 7, 2013.

No.  From what I understand, it is a 'Wild' tomato variety that produces non-tasty fruit, but has a robust root system.  So, you get the benefits of both by grafting.  This from their promo site   http://www.gardenmediagroup.com/archived-articles/155-supernaturals-grafted-vegetables   

"...Growing tried and true tomatoes on wild tomato stock has created a super-natural tomato plant that produces huge harvests of healthier, heartier tomatoes, whether hybrid or heirloom,? says horticulturalist John Bagnasco..."

Donald1800

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, bdank. This user is located in Zone 7 - Northern Virginia (Fredericksburg). This was originally posted on May 8, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Donald1800. This user is located in Fontana, CA Zone 8. This was originally posted on May 7, 2013.

No.  From what I understand, it is a 'Wild' tomato variety that produces non-tasty fruit, but has a robust root system.  So, you get the benefits of both by grafting.  This from their promo site   http://www.gardenmediagroup.com/archived-articles/155-supernaturals-grafted-vegetables   

"...Growing tried and true tomatoes on wild tomato stock has created a super-natural tomato plant that produces huge harvests of healthier, heartier tomatoes, whether hybrid or heirloom,? says horticulturalist John Bagnasco..."

Donald1800

Interesting, Territorial seed has it listed as a hybrid. Maybe that's a mistake. I'm very interested to see how grafted tomatoes do in my garden and might be interested in grafting my own someday. I love experimenting.

Something I'm really interested in is the possibility that grafted tomatoes might be less prone to blossom rot. I can't grow paste varieties in my earthboxes because, even in the old previously dolomited mix, I loose most of them to blossom rot.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Donald1800. This user is located in Fontana, CA Zone 8. This was originally posted on May 7, 2013.

One item you should be aware of is that you have to read carefully the product description because some writers mistakenly consider a 'grafted' product as a 'hybrid'.  Further examination of web information on the 'SuperNatural' rootstock clearly indicates that the rootstock is a wild tomato relative with non-eatable fruit, although the scion (top) CAN be a hybrid plant.  So:

1. A grafted product is NOT a hybrid by virtue of the graft
2. Either rootstock or scion CAN be from a hybrid plant
3. A hybrid plant is a plant with DNA modified through either cross pollination of two different varieties OR direct genetic modification of DNA (GMO) by gene splicing.

Donald1800

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, bdank. This user is located in Zone 7 - Northern Virginia (Fredericksburg). This was originally posted on May 9, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Donald1800. This user is located in Fontana, CA Zone 8. This was originally posted on May 7, 2013.

One item you should be aware of is that you have to read carefully the product description because some writers mistakenly consider a 'grafted' product as a 'hybrid'.  Further examination of web information on the 'SuperNatural' rootstock clearly indicates that the rootstock is a wild tomato relative with non-eatable fruit, although the scion (top) CAN be a hybrid plant.  So:

1. A grafted product is NOT a hybrid by virtue of the graft
2. Either rootstock or scion CAN be from a hybrid plant
3. A hybrid plant is a plant with DNA modified through either cross pollination of two different varieties OR direct genetic modification of DNA (GMO) by gene splicing.

Donald1800

This is good to know, since the seed for the rootstock is very expensive.

[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 May 9, 2013.

This is interesting about the SuperNaturals rootstock, because most of the tomato rootstocks out there are F1 hybrids of tomatoes and wild tomato relatives. You can't count on Maxifort, Colossus, etc., to breed true.

I did do some searching on the SuperNaturals rootstock, and I couldn't find any other sites which specifically addressed whether or not SuperNaturals is a hybrid. So we are left with the quote Donald posted and the hybrid notation at Territorial.

[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 May 10, 2013.

Well I just found out I never did make the order for some grafted tomato plants. I ordered the pea fences at the time and was going to add the grafted tomato plants but never did.

I wonder if it's too late since I can't find any listed on their web page like before. Oh well, I'll just get some regular plants locally and order the grafted plants next year.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, bdank. This user is located in Zone 7 - Northern Virginia (Fredericksburg). This was originally posted on May 9, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, Wildcat. This user is located in Western KY, Zone 6. This was originally posted on May 10, 2013.

Well I just found out I never did make the order for some grafted tomato plants. I ordered the pea fences at the time and was going to add the grafted tomato plants but never did.

I wonder if it's too late since I can't find any listed on their web page like before. Oh well, I'll just get some regular plants locally and order the grafted plants next year.

You might be able to find grafted plants locally. Check some nurseries.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, gardendoc. This user is located in Ocean Springs, MS Zone 9a. This was originally posted on May 10, 2013.

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 May 9, 2013.

This is interesting about the SuperNaturals rootstock, because most of the tomato rootstocks out there are F1 hybrids of tomatoes and wild tomato relatives. You can't count on Maxifort, Colossus, etc., to breed true.

I did do some searching on the SuperNaturals rootstock, and I couldn't find any other sites which specifically addressed whether or not SuperNaturals is a hybrid. So we are left with the quote Donald posted and the hybrid notation at Territorial.

I'll bet the Supernatural rootstock is a hybrid. If it was truly open pollinated there would be degrees of variation. Would be interesting to grow one to fruit, collect the seed, and see what grows from those collected seed

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posed by Newbie, nsdjohn. This was originally posted on May 10, 2013.

Since this quote is from me, I should try and clear the confusion. Our original grafting trials were with wild species. Each species had it's own set of positives and negatives. We then began testing the hybrid rootstocks and found similar difficulties. It seems that most hybrid rootstock has been developed for greenhouse culture and attempts have been made to adapt them to outdoor use. We have trialed over 30 of the world's 60-some rootstocks. Our current choice of the SuperNatural rootstock for the Mighty 'Mato program is the result of best performance in outdoor gardens. It is also one of the few rootstocks that adapts to containers and is compatible with determinate varieties.

The description on the Territorial website is correct and it is truly a hybrid. The Garden Media quote was from a couple years ago and this is the first year we have offered plants on the SuperNatural rootstock. BTW the last shipping date for grafted plants from GardenLife is Monday and they are taking orders through Sunday on their website-- about 40 varieties of grafted veggies, including eggplants and peppers.
...John Bagnasco

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally psoted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on May 10,
2013.

Hey that's pretty neat.  Thanks John for jumping in here and giving us the scoop straight from the horse's mouth.  WAIT.  That didn't sound right!

May I ask how you detected the conversation was happening here?  Web search engine?

[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 May 10, 2013.

And My 2 Mighty Matoes have left the top of the pea fences.   

Still so young  that  none that have even ripened yet.  Whoo boy, this is gonna be a ride.!

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, bdank. This user is located in Zone 7 - Northern Virginia (Fredericksburg). This was originally posted on May 9, 2013.

Thanks for the information, John. I bought my grafted tomatoes from Burpee, but now I'm interested in Mighty Mato and the SuperNatural root stock. I will look into having some of these in my garden next year.

[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 May 10, 2013.

Sorry, posting error. Here's my full post.

Ok, here's my update on the 2 Mighty Matoes I planted for those who asked for updates as my season is earlier in Texas..  Bought them on a whim.

 Simply, I'm astounded.    One Mortage Lifter with another tomato,  different box has a Black Krim with a partner.


Both are to the top of their pea fences.

I just walked in after counting.  The fences are so stuffed I'm concerned about bugs and ventilation but I'll worry about that  later.


Black Krim.One beauty half ripened.  I counted 57 tomatoes on that one plant.  About 1/3 are almost full size.   1/3 halfway there, and the rest cherry sized and growing.  That's ballpark.  And this plant is LOADED with blooms.  I'm sure there are dozens  I could not see.



The Mortage lifter isn't quite as loaded, but I counted a least 40-50 at different stages.


I'm just a third year newbie here, but in the future I'm planting nothing but grafted plants if I can find them.

If you haven't planted yet, get them.  Be warned . They drink water like a drunken sailor drinks rum.  I'm filling those 2 boxes 3 times a day. 

Get some.

[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 May 14, 2013.

Something I'm really interested in is the possibility that grafted tomatoes might be less prone to blossom rot. I can't grow paste varieties in my earthboxes because, even in the old previously dolomited mix, I loose most of them to blossom rot.
[/quote]

Bdank, FYI  I did have BER last year, but I used a spray and now I use the snack.  No sign of it on the grafted toms. But they aren't the paste type.   Last year my San Marzanos produced nothing edible and I gave up on them. And maybe it's my imagination,, but I think the stinkbugs gravitated to those damaged tomatoes first. 

Never again unless I find a grafted version that might work.  I'm too new at this to bother with looking at a  full plant of diseased bug ridden fruit.  I want tomato paste, I'll buy it in  a can.  At least for now.