If you’re looking to maximise your tomato harvest, grafted tomatoes are your ultimate gardening ally! Combining the strength of a hardy rootstock with the delicious fruit-producing scion, grafted tomatoes offer exceptional vitality, disease resistance, and double the yield of traditional plants. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a curious beginner, grafted tomatoes like Oderings’ ‘Mega Tom’ promise a bountiful and satisfying growing experience.
What Are Grafted Tomatoes?
Grafted tomatoes are created by merging two different tomato varieties:
- Rootstock: Provides strength, disease resistance, and improved sap flow.
- Scion: Produces high-quality, tasty fruit.
The result is a plant with incredible resilience and productivity, used extensively by commercial growers worldwide. Oderings’ ‘Mega Tom’ grafted tomatoes combine a durable rootstock with popular scion varieties, ensuring superior results for every gardener.
Why Choose Grafted Tomatoes?
- Higher Yields: Produces at least double the fruit of a standard tomato plant.
- Disease Resistance: Strong rootstock minimises the need for spraying.
- Ease of Growth: Thrives with minimal care, making it perfect for beginners and children.
General Tomato Care (Grafted or Not)
- Temperature: Tomatoes prefer 18–22°C but can survive occasional drops to 5°C.
- Light: Plant in a sunny spot; low light may delay fruit ripening.
- Soil: Use a quality potting mix like Oderings Tomato & Veggie Mix to simplify watering and reduce disease risks.
Feeding and Watering
- Fertilising: Wait until plants are 1 metre tall or fruiting. Use Oderings Garden Replenish or Wally’s Secret Tomato Food.
- Pest Control: Apply Neem Granules every 3–6 weeks to combat pests naturally.
- Watering: Water deeply and directly into the soil, avoiding leaves to prevent disease. Reduce watering during harvest for sweeter fruit.
Pruning Tips
- Remove lateral shoots to focus the plant’s energy on fruit production.
- Once the plant reaches 1.8m, pinch out the tips to prevent further upward growth.
Pest Alert: Tomato Psyllid
The tomato psyllid, a pest from Mexico, can wreak havoc on tomatoes and potatoes, causing stunted, wrinkled crops. Combat psyllids with:
- Neem Granules: Prevent infestations when applied regularly.
- Yates Mavrik Spray: A low-toxicity solution safe for bees, with a short withholding period.
- Yates Success Ultra: Low toxic formulation, registered for use on edible plants.
Why Grafted Tomatoes Are Worth It
With their unparalleled productivity, disease resistance, and ease of care, grafted tomatoes are a smart choice for any vegetable patch. Grow Oderings’ ‘Mega Tom’ grafted tomatoes this season and enjoy a rich harvest of sweet, delicious fruit.
