Topic: I think I've made a mistake with the Toms !!

[wilko]

???
Having looked at the pictures of ChrisG'c Toms in 'Edible Plants' I think I must have done something wrong with mine (Alicante) there so bushy, I have been removing the side shoots, but there is more than one main stem on every plant ( sorry about the blurred image)  :(

They just look so overcrowed !

this could cause problems, Yes?

[Chris Graham]

Remember this is my first year of actually knowing what i'm doing  ;)  last year was a bit of a disaster.

Anyways......Looks to me like you have a lot of lower growth, a lot of folk here remove the lower leaves under the first truss. Its suppose to give the fruit more water and food, instead of it all going to the leaves.

It does look to me like you have a lot of side shoots growing.

I'll run out and get a photo of the lower section of plants, be right back!  ;)

[Rosyred]

Looks like two side shoots to me in the photo. Your still get tomatoes but maybe not as big.

[Chris Graham]

Hope this helps

[Chris Graham]

I have to say tho they do look very healthy!

[wilko]

:)
do you think it is too late to remove the lower leaves and the side shoots now ?

[Chris Graham]

:)
do you think it is too late to remove the lower leaves and the side shoots now ?

I would leave that question for the experts.......i'm sure they will be around soon.

[davyw1]

do you think it is too late to remove the lower leaves and the side shoots now ?

No, but don,t take them all of in one go just a couple at a time every few days.

CHrisG, What i do when my Tomato, get to your stage is to tie up my trusses to support the weight of the fruit.

[Tee Gee]

You have missed the first two side growths and as a consequence you will be unable to grow them as cordons.

Your best bet now is grow them as bushes and only allow a maximum of three trusses per stem.

Thin the plants to three stems and treat each one as you would a cordon,i.e. nip out side shoots.

Feed and water as you would normally!

This should give you a reasonable return.

[tim]

Nice advice!

[wilko]

 ;) Thanks guys
I'll follow your advice and I'll know for next year ! :-\

[Barnowl]

Thanks TG, have wondered about that problem - I've some that are twin stemmed because I didn't spot the side shoots in time. Will pinch out at 3 to 4 trusses depending on how strong they look (apart from the one Santa that I allow to go fairly mad along the back fence).

I have to say that some toms, like Black Russian (one of the twin stemmed mentioned above), seem absolutely determined to 'go bush' - you only have to take your eye off them for 24 hours and they're misbehaving. ;D