Last October, in a mad rush to pick the remaining tomatoes before bad weather settled in, I clipped the uppermost growing tip (terminal shoot) from one of my heirloom Black Krim plants. The plant was still beautiful and I couldn’t stand the thought of what the approaching snowstorm would do to it.

I plunked the shoot in a jar of water and placed it by the kitchen sink, just so I could enjoy one final remnant of summer. That little bit of summer lasted through fall, winter and into spring. Now the plant is getting ready to produce fruit once again.

The cutting rooted in the jar of water and last month I planted it in the vegetable garden. Now the plant is over 3 feet tall and is loaded with little yellow flowers that mean tomatoes will soon be on their way.

I’ve saved heirloom tomato seeds from one season to plant the next, but this was the first time I’ve saved a part of the actual plant.

I kept the jar filled with clean water and every once in a while I’d feed it with some liquid fertilizer. The roots continued to grow and the plant remained green from month to month.

In early spring I carefully transplanted the cutting into a tall container filled with moist potting soil to alllow the roots room to grow. The plant was hardened off with the other tomato plants I had started from seed and then transplanted into the garden.

Even though it’s a bit shorter than the Black Krim I started from seed, it’s blooming right on schedule. I’ll keep my fingers crossed this tomato plant, from last year’s garden, will set fruit to enjoy this year.

I’ll also try to take another cutting to see if I can keep that plant growing for another gardening season.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Spearhead Shade Gardening Shovel with Steel-Reinforced Fiberglass Handle

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Reduce Digging Effort - The Spear Head Spade is the first hybrid shovel/spade, guaranteed to make your toughest digging up to 80% easier than regular shovels and spades, even in the toughest soil conditions. Ideal for landscaping and gardening. Multi-Purpose Shovel - Spear Head Spade is a versatile tool that can be used for digging, planting, weeding, cutting, and edging. It is designed to handle tough soil and clay conditions, and can cut through roots and tough vegetation with ease. Innovative Design - Has a unique blade design that makes it more efficient and easier to use than traditional spades. The blade is shaped like a spearhead, with a pointed tip and a curved edge that allows it to penetrate the soil more easily. Ergonomic D-Handle - The large, cushioned D-grip offers comfort and better leverage for gloved and ungloved hands alike, reducing strain on the hands and wrists. Lightweight & Strong - Durable handle is made of special steel-reinforced, pultruded fiberglass to withstand heavy use. 60% stronger than EN-3388 shovel/spade standards, 33% thicker and 25% harder than normal shovels. Sharpened from tip to tail at a 35 degree angle for an effective and durable edge.

Buy at Amazon

Ho-Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Versatile Tool: The Easy Digger Korean Triangle Blade Ho Mi Ho-mi is a versatile gardening tool designed for leveling and digging in home and garden settings. Efficient Design: Its unique triangular blade shape allows for easy soil penetration and efficient leveling of garden beds or landscaping areas. Durable Construction: Crafted with sturdy materials, this tool ensures long-lasting performance and reliability. Ergonomic Handle: The comfortable handle provides a secure grip, reducing hand fatigue during extended use. Compact Size: Its compact design makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces and store when not in use.

Buy at Amazon

Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency.

Buy at Amazon