Plant Parenting:Tomatoes Grow Air Roots!

July 2, 2019

New adventitious roots and buds can develop at the base of a leaf, leaf petiole, stem internode, node, or at the base where a stem has been cut, depending on the plant species. Have you ever been instructed to plant tomatoes deeper in the soil so that you bury part of the stem? That’s because tomatoes grow adventitious roots along their stems, which can make the plants stronger and more vigorous.

Adventitious root initials developing on this tomato stem.
PC: Leslie F. Halleck

You can clearly see the adventitious roots growing along the stems of this potted tomato plant. These stems are good candidates to provide cuttings, since root tissue is already growing.

To learn more about how to take cuttings, and make more tomato plants, check out my book PLANT PARENTING

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