How to Propagate Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
| Methods | Stem cutting, water, seed |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Best season | Spring–summer |
| Time to root | 1–2 weeks |
| Group | Outdoor / garden |
Tomato suckers — the small shoots that grow between the main stem and a branch — root extremely easily. Rather than discarding suckers you’d normally pinch off, root them in water for free extra plants.
Water propagation
- Pinch off a healthy sucker, 3–4 inches long.
- Remove the lowest leaves.
- Place in a glass of water.
- Change water every few days.
Roots appear within 1–2 weeks; transplant to soil once roots are an inch or more.
Growing from seed
Sow indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost for the best head start.
When to propagate
Spring through summer, whenever you’re pinching suckers anyway.
Common problems
Cutting rotted in water. Change water more frequently and keep leaves above the surface.
Questions people ask
Will the rooted sucker fruit the same as the parent? Yes — it’s genetically identical, so fruit type and size match the parent plant.
Related
Water propagation hub · Similar plants: Pepper, Basil