Boost Tomato Yields by Propagating Suckers: A Simple Cloning Technique

Tomato "suckers"—side shoots between the main stem and branches—are often removed to concentrate energy on fruit production. But don't compost them! Rooting suckers creates free, genetically identical plants that fruit faster than seedlings.

The Math of Multiplication

One Sweet 100 tomato plant yields ~100 cherry tomatoes. Root 5 suckers → 500 more tomatoes. Root 5 from each of those → 2,500 additional tomatoes—all from one original plant. I've bought just one Sweet 100 in years, perpetuating generations through suckers.

How to Root Tomato Suckers

1. Cut suckers cleanly with sharp shears.
2. Place in water until ready to pot.
3. Plant cut-end down in moist soil or hydroponic medium (hydroton, cloning plugs).
4. Keep consistently moist for several days until roots form.
5. Transplant to larger pots or garden when established.

Key Tips

• No rooting hormone needed—they root readily on their own.
• Hydroponic rooting is faster than soil.
• Works with every tomato variety I've tried.
• Limitation: Only viable for indoor/perpetual growing; outdoor plants die at frost.

Increase Production Exponentially

Turn "waste" suckers into a self-sustaining tomato factory. The juicy rewards are worth the minimal effort!