What Are Grafted Tomato Plants?

You may have heard the term "grafted plants" once or twice. But what exactly does that mean, and why is it so special? Recently, I went to the Mighty 'Mato growing grounds and was able to see the grafting process first hand. Essentially, grafting works by fusing the stems of two plants together. A superior rootstock is picked for its ability to resist infection and its unique ability to increase vigor and fruit yield. The upper part of the plant is selected for its variety and quality characteristics. The scion (fuse) is held together by a special clip that will slip off as the plant grows.

Using a special blade, the two plants are carefully sliced and placed together with the clip. The fused plants then sit in a greenhouse until they're matured enough for your garden. Once planted, the grafted plants will grow larger, juicier fruit with more yield per plant, truly making it a Mighty 'Mato plant!

When you receive your Mighty 'Mato plants, the grafting clip may still be on the plants. If so, carefully remove the clip or let it slip off naturally as the plant grows. Here are some more quick tips to get you started:

• Use a good organic fertilizer
• Be sure to plant below the graft (or fuse) line
• Trim away any initial flowers so plant can put all its energy into growing strong and producing better fruit
• Use a large tomato cage-These plants will get BIG!

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