How to Graft Two Different Varieties of Tomatoes to the Same Rootstock

Whether you want to maximize your growing space, harvest two tomatoes from one container-grown plant or are working on a science project, knowing how to graft two tomatoes can come in handy. While grafting tomato plants together isn’t recommended if you want to see your largest possible harvest, if space is your concern, then grafting is the way to go. To make your grafting of two tomato varieties successful, be sure to work with clean supplies and ideal growing conditions.

2 potted tomato varieties, each 1-foot tall
2 garden stakes, 18 to 24 inches tall
Soft string or plant ties
Sharp knife
Grafting tape
Clear, plastic bag

Instructions

- 1
  Push the two potted tomato plant containers side by side. Determine which plant you want to be the main plant which will keep its rootstock after grafting. Push two garden stakes into the soil in the plant’s pot spaced 6 inches apart.
- 2
  Hold the main stems of both plants side by side, leaning the second plant closer in to the main plant if needed. Wrap a length of string or plant tie around the stems to hold them together.
- 3
  Find the point where the two plant stems touch just above the string or plant tie. Cut a small notch 1/8-inch deep by 1-inch tall into the stem of one plant at this point. Make a matching cut into the stem of the other plant.
- 4
  Pair and hold the cut surfaces together immediately after cutting. Wrap string or plant ties around the cut stems to hold the surfaces tight to one another. Wrap grafting tape around the string or tie to lock the stems in place.
- 5
  Cover the plants with a clear, plastic bag and loosely tuck it around the base of the pots. Make sure the plants are in indirect light with temperatures around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Water the plants as needed, but otherwise leave the tomatoes alone for one week.
- 6
  Check the plants after a week for signs that both plants appear healthy above the cut surface. If your plants appear wilted or have yellowed, then the graft didn’t take. Check for bulging of the grafting tape to prove growth is occurring. Give the tomatoes a second week if the plants aren’t showing new growth or the tape isn’t yet bulging.
- 7
  Support the original main stem and grafted second stem by tying them each to a garden stake just above the grafting site. Make a clean cut with your knife just below the grafting tape to cut off the bottom half of the second tomato plant, leaving it depending on the main plant’s rootstock.
- 8
  Remove the grafting tape two days after you have removed the root portion of the second tomato plant to allow the stem time to heal. Gradually move the plant toward a full sun area over a period of three to four days.

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