Grafting tomatoes

Steve and Val Bradley explain how grafting can protect plants from soil-borne diseases

- Steve and Val Bradley

WHEN growing crops in a greenhouse or polytunnel, you have two choices: either you grow the plants in containers or you create a border with soil.

One of the problems encountered when growing such crops in soil is the incidence (and gradual build-up) of soilborne pests and diseases. This can be further complicated by the fact that many of the most popular cropping plants are closely related and can all suffer from the same pests and diseases. Aubergines, peppers and tomatoes are all members of the same plant family (Solanaceae) while cucumbers, melons and squashes are all in another family (Cucurbitaceae). Once infected, most members of the same plant family are likely to succumb to the same pests and diseases.

Container is one answer

If you know there is a problem, then growing in containers is one way round it, isolating the plant from the soil and using fresh compost each year. Digging out and replacing the border soil on an annual basis is also an option.

Grafting is another

Another alternative is to grow grafted plants, where two closely related plants are joined together to grow as a single plant, harnessing the good qualities of both plants.