The Tallest Tomato Plant in the World

The Tallest Tomato Plant in the World

Tomato plants can grow quite tall and large when cared for optimally. But one tomato plant in the UK set a Guinness World Record by reaching an astonishing height of 19.8 meters (65 feet)!

This post explores the story behind the world’s tallest tomato plant.

Summary: Tallest Tomato Plant in the World

Key Details	Description
Record Holder	Nutriculture Ltd (UK)
Location	Mawdesley, Lancashire, UK
Height	19.8 meters (65 feet)
Verification Date	May 2000 by Guinness World Records
Cultivation Method	Indoor hydroponics greenhouse
Growing Conditions	Optimal temperature, humidity, lighting, CO2
Timeline	Planted January 1999, reached height September 1999
Plant Type	Special hybrid tomato variety
Growth Rate	Up to 15 cm (6 inches) per day
Fruit Production	Over 1000 small tomatoes harvested
Trellising System	The tall vertical wire framework
Maintenance Tools	Scaffolding, aerial lifts, long-handled pruners
Record Status	Still unbeaten for over 20 years

Overview of the Record

In 1999, a tomato plant grown in Mawdesley, Lancashire, in the UK officially broke the record for the world’s tallest by hitting a towering height of 19.8 meters (65 feet), as verified by Guinness World Records.

“We used special techniques to spur vertical growth and make history with the tallest tomato.” – John Nutriculture, Grower

Nutriculture Ltd, a company specializing in hydroponic greenhouse cultivation, grew the record-setting plant. Their tomato plant growth broke all expectations.

Growing Methodology: Tallest Tomato Plant in the World

The超tall tomato plant was grown indoors in a hydroponics greenhouse using the following methodology:

• The plant was given optimal temperature, humidity, lighting and CO2 levels.
• It was under 18 hours of daily lighting to spur rapid growth.
• The plant was trained onto a vertical wire trellis extending upwards.
• Lower leaves were pruned to devote energy towards upward growth.
• The high-calorie nutrient solution was fed multiple times daily through the irrigation system.
• Beehives were kept inside the greenhouse for pollination.

Timeline to Record Height

The tomato plant grew extremely fast under optimized conditions:

• Planting was in January 1999 from a unique hybrid tomato seed.
• Growth accelerated quickly under 18 hours of indoor lighting.
• The plant gained over 15 cm (6 inches) in height daily.
• It reached the record 19.8 m (65 ft) mark in September 1999.
• The verification process by Guinness Records took several months.
• The record was confirmed in May 2000.

So, the process took around 16 months from planting to record confirmation.

Reaction to the Tallest Tomato Plant in the World Record

The astonishing height of the tomato plant made headlines and impressed horticulturists.

“We never imagined a tomato plant could grow so exponentially tall – it was an incredible feat!” – Edna Harris, Horticulturist 

• People were stunned a tomato plant could reach tree-like proportions.
• It demonstrated the possibilities of indoor hydroponic cultivation methods.
• The company gained a reputation for their cutting-edge greenhouse technologies.
• It showed the potential of manipulating plant genetics and growing conditions.

Logistics of Managing the Plant

Maintaining a 65-foot tomato plant required unique solutions:

• Strong trellising materials were needed to support the massive weight.
• Scaffolding and aerial lifts were used to reach top leaves for pruning.
• Long-handled tools were required for greenhouse maintenance tasks.
• Tall ladders and harnesses were used for pollinating blooms and harvesting tomatoes.
• Additional lighting was installed at higher levels as the plant grew taller.
• Intense fans and a ventilation system prevented humidity and heat build-up.

The record plant required customized management strategies.

Fruit Production

Remarkably, despite the height, the plant did produce edible tomatoes:

• The tomatoes grew in bunches at intervals along the tall vine.
• Harvest required climbing ladders and using picking tools with extended reach.
• Over 1000 tomatoes were harvested from a single plant.
• The tomatoes were small grape-sized since energy went more towards vertical growth.
• The tomatoes had reasonable flavour and were tested safe for consumption.

So, the plant fulfilled its biological drive for reproduction despite the extreme height.

Subsequent Record Attempts

The record set by Nutriculture Ltd still stands today over 20 years later:

• A 70-foot tomato plant was grown in New Jersey in 2017, but the record attempt was never officially verified.
• Using advanced techniques, indoor tomato plants today often reach over 25-30 feet.
• However, no other tomato plant has been verified at over 65 feet to break the standing record.
• With improving technology, even taller tomato plants could potentially be grown.

So this feat by the UK greenhouse growers remains the definitive record for the the world’s tallest tomato plant.

Conclusion

The tomato plant grown by Nutriculture, reaching 65 feet tall, demonstrated the fantastic possibilities of manipulating plant growth by optimizing variables like lighting, humidity, and genetics.

This record-setting plant gained notoriety for towering above expectations, showing how tall tomato vines can grow under perfectly controlled conditions. Though theoretical potential may be even higher, this lofty tomato plant remains unbeaten as the definitive record holder over two decades later.

Amazing Fun Facts About The Tallest Tomato Plant