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Post by Rosefriend on Feb 10, 2010 12:39:52 GMT
For the last 3/4 years grafted toms, cucumber etc have become very popular here. When they first came out a few years ago I bought a grafted tom which was sold to me on the basis of...earlier harvest, better growth in colder days, bigger fruits and far healthier etc. Well, OK but the toms were horrible - the skins were awfully hard and I can't say that the taste was anything to write home about. I realise that it was the variety but I have never bought another grafted plant since then. Last year I nearly bought a grafted cucumber and after losing the 2 non-grafted ones that I had bought I wished I had but.... I suppose one thing that puts me off buying grafted plants is the price...up to three times (and more) the amount of a "normal plant". Also I have to have the varieties that are on offer..unless I want to graft them myself!! However, does the promised extra harvest/healthier plant justify the price?? Also, in a situation like mine where I have a shorter growing season than the UK is it recommended or does one just start sowing seeds earlier - as I do?? Last year OM posted a link on the Tom "Grow" thread from a Chili seeds website which also contained a marvellous "germination to picking" info about Tomatoes. Obviously early cropping vegetables are better for me....or for anyone if they are late sowing. gardenworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=2008trials&thread=7103&post=261538The site has since changed and the tomato information has been removed - has anyone seen a table or can give me a link to such a site?? RF |
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Post by Ladygardener on Feb 10, 2010 17:22:37 GMT
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 7, 2010 19:55:29 GMT
Well I've never heard of grafted vegetables  you live and learn don't you |
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Post by carolann on Mar 8, 2010 8:50:16 GMT
Me neither Chuckles but you live and learn. I expect people who have a shorter season and to get an earlier crop really need a heated GH to be able to do it.
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Post by prodigal gardener on Mar 12, 2010 18:30:36 GMT
Suttons have some this year - I dont know if they have had them previously, dont think I shall bother - I have enough trouble growing ordinary plants never mind special ones  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 15, 2010 17:08:31 GMT
I suppose the whole thing about grafted veg is that they are supposedly healthier than normal plants and more resilient than normal plants.
I have never had tomato blight but I think I might just invest in a few more grafted plants if I had been. As they are also more resilient to weather conditions they are also better perhaps for people without a GH.
I have to say that I feel that grafted veg may play a larger part in organic veg growing in the future.
RF
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 17, 2011 16:06:27 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 17, 2011 16:54:12 GMT
Interesting to see that the prices seem to have gone down a bit - well a lot.
I paid 5.00Euro (around 4,25 Pounds) just for one plant....that really is a very good offer Chuckles...
RF
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 17, 2011 18:24:52 GMT
That is a good offer Chuckles. I bought a grafted mini cucumber from Homebase last year. I can't remember what it cost but it was expensive. It was terrific 'tho, it gave me lots of sweet little mini cucumbers all summer long. I'd recommend it to anyone.  |
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Post by isabella on Nov 16, 2011 16:21:22 GMT
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Post by Ladygardener on Nov 16, 2011 16:32:25 GMT
The work out good value if you want 3 of each Isabella. I paid nearly £10 for 1 grafted Cucumber one year. I'll be interested to know how you do with them. Will you grow them in a greenhouse then?
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Post by isabella on Nov 16, 2011 19:29:45 GMT
Yes I will grow them in my greenhouse LG  I am going to grow plants from seed also - and then compare them I liked that the peppers were a collection of three different coloured ones The reason I am going to try them is that when Geoff Hodge came to judge my greenhouse we were chatting about grafted veggies and he said how well his had done. As we will hopefully be opening our garden next summer I want my greenhouses to be full to bursting to show people what can be done in a greenhouse. A couple of years ago we visited some gardens and I was really disappointed to see so many greenhouses not being used i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/undecided.gif |
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 16, 2011 19:48:14 GMT
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Post by Amber on Nov 16, 2011 20:01:19 GMT
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Post by Ladygardener on Nov 17, 2011 6:06:48 GMT
I can only grow outside but I was successful with my grafted Cucumber. |
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 17, 2011 10:20:02 GMT
I think the price for the 3 plants is pretty good Isabella whilst 10Pounds just for one Cuc is very high LG. However, I remembered that it was nearly 15 years ago that I bought my first grafted tom - can't remember the price but I remember my OH playing hell with me!! We have kits here in Germany to bud graft.. www.tom-garten.de/tomatenunterlage-veredelungsset.html?___SID=USorry all in German but there may be similar sets in the UK...cheaper and a bit of a challenge... There is no doubt about it that grafted veg plants are very good indeed especially in countries where the summers are so uncertain. RF |
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Post by Dutchy on Nov 18, 2011 9:53:28 GMT
And I have heard that grafted toms are less susceptible to blight.
Not sure if that is true though.
Any one heard this too?
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 18, 2011 16:50:46 GMT
Yes I've heard that too Dutchy - I can imagine that it is true if the overall plant far healthier is and the plant that it is bud grafter to isn't susceptible to blight in the first place...
RF
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Post by Dutchy on Nov 22, 2011 10:04:15 GMT
hm. Oh well I think I will continue with my selfsown ones as I have so far not seen the unusual toms in grafted form.
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Post by Chuckles on May 19, 2015 11:11:25 GMT
Barbara, Rosefriend, Ladygardener, maggy, Geranium, Jilly, Jasmine, Tig, owdboggy, Auricula, Fuchsia, isabella, wendya, Mowhay, florence, SteveC, Amber, Missredhead, theinsidegardener, Ron, farmersboy, phillip66, andy, bagpuss, scarecrow, Yakram,@jimle, bobbiekWhilst mouching in the veg section of B&Q and Homebase yesterday I saw lots of grafted plants, toms, cucs, peppers, they were £4 each. Although they have been talked about on here I've never seen them before. They were very sturdy looking plants, some of the toms had flowers on them and some of the peppers had fruit even 
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Post by Rosefriend on May 19, 2015 11:26:21 GMT
Barbara, Rosefriend, Ladygardener, maggy, Geranium, Jilly, Jasmine, Tig, owdboggy, Auricula, Fuchsia, isabella, wendya, Mowhay, florence, SteveC, Amber, Missredhead, theinsidegardener, Ron, farmersboy, phillip66, andyWhilst mouching in the veg section of B&Q and Homebase yesterday I saw lots of grafted plants, toms, cucs, peppers, they were £4 each. Although they have been talked about on here I've never seen them before. They were very sturdy looking plants, some of the toms had flowers on them and some of the peppers had fruit even I always buy grafted cucumbers each year and then grow the Crystal Apple Cucs as well, but I only ever once had a grafted tomato - not my cup of tea (very possibly just a variety that I didn't like), as I now tend only to grow heirloom tomates...however 4 Pounds is a good price - we pay 4.99Euro - saw an offer for 2.99E at the weekend but the season for buying them is coming to an end really here... Grafted Peppers can be very good - I think isabella buys those.. |
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Post by Ron on May 19, 2015 11:50:42 GMT
No veg, Chuckles, unfortunately, unless I get an allotment... maybe.
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Post by Ron on May 19, 2015 12:01:13 GMT
I think grafted veg is a gimmick designed to put more of your money into the growers bank accounts. Fruit tree grafting benefits the consumers because it affects growth, useful in small gardens, but that's a long term thing. Even grafting of roses has limited merit, it just makes flowering earlier so the nurseries do not have to hang on to them so long. Own root roses are becoming more popular especially in Europe. No problems with suckers and they live longer. Save your money.
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Post by Chuckles on May 19, 2015 19:47:04 GMT
I think grafted veg is a gimmick designed to put more of your money into the growers bank accounts.  You do have a point there Ronny. I was thinking £4 is a lot of money for one plant but looking at the pack of 20 cherry toms on the vine I bought at the weekend for £1.75 made me think differently. Whilst the ones I bought are very tasty I would prefer to pick my own home grown tasty toms. With grafted plants they say you get a stronger plant, higher yeild and good disease resistance. I think they are getting more popular these days and I guess its a case of horses for courses, looking on the net there seems to be more heirloom varieties becoming available but I'm not sure if thats in the UK and Germany though as I only scanned info. |
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Post by Ron on May 19, 2015 20:20:59 GMT
I think grafted veg is a gimmick designed to put more of your money into the growers bank accounts. You do have a point there Ronny. I was thinking £4 is a lot of money for one plant but looking at the pack of 20 cherry toms on the vine I bought at the weekend for £1.75 made me think differently. Whilst the ones I bought are very tasty I would prefer to pick my own home grown tasty toms. With grafted plants they say you get a stronger plant, higher yeild and good disease resistance. I think they are getting more popular these days and I guess its a case of horses for courses, looking on the net there seems to be more heirloom varieties becoming available but I'm not sure if thats in the UK and Germany though as I only scanned info. I suppose the jury's out yet, Chuckles, we will see. |
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Post by Ladygardener on May 20, 2015 5:19:02 GMT
The jury is'nt out as far as I'm concerned with regards to Cucumbers. I would'nt buy or grow anything other than a grafted one nowadays. I've never had a lot of luck with seeds although I have tried many different varieties. With the grafted ones at least I'm sure I'll get fruit. I can't speak to grafted tomatoes or anything else as I've not tried them and can usually manage to get fruit from the toms I grow from seed. Ron, you certainly don't need an allotment to grow veg. Rosefriend does most of hers in tubs.  |
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Post by Rosefriend on May 20, 2015 5:40:16 GMT
I think grafted veg is a gimmick designed to put more of your money into the growers bank accounts. Fruit tree grafting benefits the consumers because it affects growth, useful in small gardens, but that's a long term thing. Even grafting of roses has limited merit, it just makes flowering earlier so the nurseries do not have to hang on to them so long. Own root roses are becoming more popular especially in Europe. No problems with suckers and they live longer. Save your money. You do have a point there Ronny. I was thinking £4 is a lot of money for one plant but looking at the pack of 20 cherry toms on the vine I bought at the weekend for £1.75 made me think differently. Whilst the ones I bought are very tasty I would prefer to pick my own home grown tasty toms. With grafted plants they say you get a stronger plant, higher yeild and good disease resistance. I think they are getting more popular these days and I guess its a case of horses for courses, looking on the net there seems to be more heirloom varieties becoming available but I'm not sure if thats in the UK and Germany though as I only scanned info. I suppose the jury's out yet, Chuckles, we will see. The jury is'nt out as far as I'm concerned with regards to Cucumbers. I would'nt buy or grow anything other than a grafted one nowadays. I've never had a lot of luck with seeds although I have tried many different varieties. With the grafted ones at least I'm sure I'll get fruit. I can't speak to grafted tomatoes or anything else as I've not tried them and can usually manage to get fruit from the toms I grow from seed. Ron, you certainly don't need an allotment to grow veg. Rosefriend does most of hers in tubs. If I remember rightly I first bought a grafted tomato in 2005 - for once Germany was in front of the UK on the grafting veg business... or people were buying them more here to start with. There is no two ways about it that (tests have been made) that grafted veg do have higher yields, are stronger and are far more disease resistant...that of course has it's price but as far as Cucumbers are concerned it is well worth the money as Ladygardener says. Toms, Peppers, aubergines etc then I would rather have my own choice... Olaf is now selling heirloom toms for the gardeners that love to grow them but he has to have F1's and grafted veg for the majority...let's face it - no firm is going to go to all the trouble to graft veg if they don't make a profit and sell their stuff...it is a lucrative business here... We are gardeners on GWD and know the tricks that are used at times but the majority of the UK and Germany are not gardeners - they see a lovely picture promising a wonderful red, juicy tomato that fruits all the year and ..they buy it - pure and simple. Nobody says anything about the weather, the price, or any illnesses - grafted toms are perfect...hahaha!! It is a bit like putting lavender next to roses to stop aphids on the roses - in a really bad year - even the lavender will get the aphids - same with the grafted veg - in a bad year even those will get problems... However for those people that are not passionate gardeners and just want some half way good tasting toms for their terrace, little GH, then grafted toms are good and the best they could do... For me personally I am in the world of heirloom/heritage tomatoes (ever there the breeders are upping the disease resistance) and I accept smaller yields etc for the unique taste that some of these tomatoes give...each to their own taste basically, I suppose... However, there is no two ways about it, grafted veg is here to stay, and will no doubt become more popular once many pesticides and herbicides are taken off the market and that won't be long in happening, I don't think!! |
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Post by Ron on May 20, 2015 6:43:53 GMT
The jury is'nt out as far as I'm concerned with regards to Cucumbers. I would'nt buy or grow anything other than a grafted one nowadays. I've never had a lot of luck with seeds although I have tried many different varieties. With the grafted ones at least I'm sure I'll get fruit. I can't speak to grafted tomatoes or anything else as I've not tried them and can usually manage to get fruit from the toms I grow from seed. Ron, you certainly don't need an allotment to grow veg. Rosefriend does most of hers in tubs. One more tub and landlord Ken will have a fit, I'm sure. I've already tried his patience! Even the 6 pots with potatoes in have had to be moved to a spot that isn't ideal. There's no room for anything more. Rosefriend, you've made an interesting number of points there. Especially '...each to their own taste basically, I suppose...', exactly right.  |
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you live and learn don't you 
it must be getting popular for them to do so much
You do have a point there Ronny.