Tomato plants regenerating each year.

Question

4 years ago I planted 6 cherry tomato plants in a raised garden bed along with a few other plants including some basil. At the end of that season I pulled all the plants out and disposed of them. Due to family issues that garden bed was then forgotten. The next year I noticed what looked like about 10 small tomato plants in that same garden bed. I ended up with the best crop of cherry tomatoes I had ever had. Believe it or not….every season since then…and I do still throw the plants away at the end of every season……I have had another self generating crop of cherry tomatoes. Just for interest sake the originals were grown from seed. How many years can I expect to keep getting self generating tomato plants in that garden bed?

Answer 1

These are notorious for dropping tomatoes, and thus, seeds everywhere. This can happen for a very long time. It is hard to say when they will stop. As long as there are strong genetics, good fertilization practice, and more than one plant for pollination it could support tomatoes almost indefinitely.

As long as you keep the soil in proper condition, you can see volunteers come back every year for years to come.

The only drawback is that disease organisms may build up when same crops are grown in same spot year after year.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/different-vegetable-families.htm