Green-fingered ‘genius’ reveals how the novice gardener can double their tomatoes – and people are raving about it
A GREEN-FINGERED “genius” has revealed how he doubles the amount of tomatoes he grows every summer… for free.
The gardener shared that he cuts side shoots off his tomato stems and re-plants them in the garden.
The free hack was shared in Facebook group Veg Gardening UK and it has blown fellow-gardening fans’ minds.
Anthony Battams said: “For those that don’t know, when you remove the side shoots from your tomato plants, just drop a few in some water.
“They will grow roots very quickly, giving you some extra plants in no time.”
The gardener shared his anecdote alongside a picture of a nursed side shoot that was ready to be planted.
He said: “This will be potted up and put outside in the ground.”
People were amazed by the idea that would help them double the amount of tomatoes they could grow and dubbed the free hack as “genius”.
In the comments section, one person said: “Well I never!
“I had no idea about this!”
Another gushed: “At 53, I didn’t know this and I grow some tomatoes every year.”
A third added: “B****y hell, you learn something new every day.”
A number of other gardeners revealed they have already been practising the free hack.
One penned: “On the advice of someone on here, we did side shoots last year and there were no downsides.
“Just loads more tomatoes!”
A second said: “This works 100%.
“I did this last year and I got so many extra plants.
“Definitely doing it again this year.”
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, tomatoes are “one of the most popular crops to grow”.
Experts said: “They can be started from seed indoors or bought as young plants, then grown either outdoors or in a greenhouse, in pots or in the ground.
“These tender plants need a warm, sunny, sheltered site if grown outdoors and love a long hot summer.”