Assuming you are going to be transplanting them anyway I'd try to separate them. Other than the yellow pear - I just pitch those. Yucko! Phooey!! ;)

Once you see the root ball it should be clear how possible that is going to be. Other wise, just cut off the weakest looking ones.

Another option would be to root cuttings of the ones you have to sacrifice - just root the cuttings for more clones.

Dave

Tomatoes are tough when it comes to transplanting them. I think it may have to do with how they can grow roots along their stems.

I suggest separating them and planting them all. It sounds like they're really tall, so snip off quite a few of the lower leaves (maybe halfway up the plant or so) and plant them deeply to encourage more root growth along the stems.

I start my own seedlings now that I have the room for it, but when I used to buy transplants I would search out the ones with multiple plants per pot on purpose. Your mom got three plants for the price of one!

I guess it's possible they might not all live, but in my experience tomatoes can take quite a bit of manhandling.

Hey thanks for the replies! I might give separating them a try. I'm just not sure the best way to go about it because i checked out the roots and they are really dense and entangled as expected. It would be difficult to get rid of the other 2 perfectly healthy plants though!

Luckily I started my own tomatoes (about 45 of them) 2 months ago anyway which are ready to go out in the garden now so these will just be a bonus if they make it.

Dave, have you had much success with cuttings on a tomato plant? And if I do try that option, I'm assuming it would be best to try rooting the main stem?

Thanks.

I am with Dave - toos the the yellow pear or give away to am elementary or jr high school for science project - I have a friend that wants it every year - I will give him better plants but he's stubborn

As far as the San Marzano - it's ok but too bad you can't add Redorta to the name ie San Marzano Redorta - but I wouldn't buy either - just get a serrated knife or a flat bladed screw driver- pop the plants from the pot and lay sideways on a table/bench - try to pry the plants apart the best you can then surgically cut between them - you will have some intertwined root but they will be fine
Dennis

Remove the root ball from the pots they are in as long as they are a LITTLE moist (not dry to the bone or muddy) and with a sharp knife just slice the root ball. Then place each in the ground. Assume some shock, but immediate water and follow-up watering will minimize that. Plant them deep, as in a foot. The two types are contrasts, the SM are "Roma" types that are probably determinant and primarily for sauce and the YP are yellow pear-shaped indeterminant cherries with fair disease resistance and minor flavor. I am also with Dave, if space is limited, plant the SM ones.

That's discouraging to hear such bad things about the Yellow Pear haha. Fortunately, I'm not limited in space and will have many many other plants with great tasting fruits (fingers crossed). Thanks for all the tips!

tomatomike
you are close with San Marzano (though there is a San Marzano Bush and others I have never grown) it is actually a semi-determinate and San Marzano Redorta is Indeterminate - may be why it is a hevier producer

Dennis

Well, let me tell you. This require some surgical specializion.
Just as not every doctor can do hear or brain surgery, so not every
gardener can separate three 2 feet tomato plants grown in a 12" pot.
Then just like surgery, there will be no 100% guarantee.

If I havd to do it, firt I would prune them to minimal size couple of days before.
Them have my garden spot, glove, and knife (very sharp one)ready.

1- Water the pot thoroughly. Better yet immerse it in water.
2- Take it out, lay it down on its side, and try to
separate one of them , by slight shaking.I would cut
some of the tangled roots as I continue.
3- Immediatly bring it to the garden spot(that has been prepared).
4- While holding the plant from its stem, try to keep the roots
mostly vertican and spread while filling around/between the roots with
good fine moist soil and packing it gentlty, until the plant can
stand up on its own.
5- Water it thoroughly, so that the soil snuggs the roots, add more soil.
You hav to get the air out and in order to do that the soil has to replace the air.
Continue withe the second and third one.

P.S. watering and feeding the plant prior to surgery is important, since it will not get thirsty and/or hungry soon.

Ahhh, don't super soak them before tearing them apart. You want the soil not bone dry nor globby wet. Lift the root ball out of the container & thunk it on a hard surface (driveway good). Thunk it all around to loosen the roots - loosen the plants by thunking & pulling - using gentle holds on the stalks at rootline. If they are so intertangled as not to gett loosening (amazing how sometimes they will just release though), then use that serrated knife to separate.
Plant deep right away & keep moist & shaded for a day or two. They'll do fine.

FTR - yellow pears make the prettiest & tastiest sauce, salsa & marmalade. Cooking them releases their most excellent goodness - flavor & texture-wise.

I divided my herbs that I got from Home Deopot the way sada describes. Basically used a serrated knife to go through the root ball after loosening up the plants on top.
Gave me 3 arugula, 3 parsley, and multiple basil from each 4" container. Seemed like a pretty good deal!
I probably should have divided the lemon balm and catnip too but only wanted one container of each since they're not going in the ground.

I appreciate all the advice! Looks like it's gonna have to wait a few days...a storm is coming in. That's good to know about the yellow pears getting more flavor when cooked. If it all works out, it will be a good deal for sure.

If I want to buy seedling, I look for the packs that has as many
seedling as possible. This way I get a bang for the buck and I know
how to separate and transplant them.Tomato is not that hard
cucumber family is. I have separated 4 seedlings from a small pocket.