Tomatoes - a little tip

[tim]

We all know the side-shoots that we pinch out on indeterminate plants (No 1).

But we can be taken unawares when the stem bifurcates. (Nos 2&3).

No hassle - can let the odd one grow on - but can get a bit crowded. = Tim

[tim]

[adamhill100]

Thats how mine have gone butlooking good for fruit is coming on well... How many clumps of flower/fruit should I let grow before I halt anymore growing?

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[Mrs Ava]

Couple of mine do that.  I just cut out the one without flowers on and let the other grow on.  After a week away my greenhouse was full floor to ceiling with my toms! :o  Once mine hit the ceiling I guess I shall pinch the top out and leave them to it.

[tim]

Adam - as usual, no note of in or out?
If 'in' - as many as you have room for. Or food &/or light & warmth.Our Santa, last year, went to 10 feet. 'Out' - 3-4 trusses.

And Emma - the whole point about this - although I didn't show it - is that both shoots are identical, with flower truss.  = Tim

[Mrs Ava]

Oh!  A couple of mine look as though they are 2 stems welded together.  Only one of the 'split' had flowers on and I could definately tell which was the strongest, plus, if I didn't thin them out a touch, no light was going to get into the greenhouse!  Tis a jungle!!  :o

[tim]

These are the tops of No 3. = Tim

[adamhill100]

Thanks Tim! They are out so will need to stop them now..

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[ina]

Tim, I thinks it's time for a updated panoramic view of your wonderful greenhouse...... Please?

I also have a couple of tomato plants that ended up with two, identical main stems, I let them be.

There is another mystery going on in the greenhouse.
One of the stems of a truss continued to grow. The stem grew beyond the truss, into a branch with leaves and a new truss on it. I let it be too, just to see what happens.

[tim]

Yes - that's V common, Ina. I think it wasteful of effort to leave it on. Trusses supplied by the main stem must be better off? = Tim

PS The best view was 18 June - you can't see beyond the first 2 plants now!

[ina]

Ahhhhhhhh, what shame, here I thought I had something special. I will snip it off now.

Did you take a picture on June 18th Tim?

[tim]

Yes - Basics - page 2, 4 down! = Tim

[ina]

Where's my trained cat that takes red x-es away? Only red x showing where your pictures once were. Boohoo.

[ina]

Aha, the pictures are back and so is my cat!
Tim, your picture on the right looks great, thanks for showing the way to find it. The left is a little sad, hope it's just a few you lost.

[tim]

'Specially for Ina - who wants to know what's going on in there? = Tim

[derbex]

Congratulations Tim, your greenhouse is definately further on than mine.

I can't quite make the flowers out -marigolds?

Jeremy

[tim]

Yes. I'm not a believer, but they look nice?? = Tim

[ina]

absolutely fab. Love them itty bitty baby peppers. Looking sooooo gooooooooood! And all those tomatoes, the trusses started so nice and low, plenty of space up to grow lots more.
Thank you so much Tim. Do you think you may use grow bags upright again next year?

[tim]

Much better. They are half bags, and I top them up with 2-3" additional compost. = Tim

[derbex]

Tim, I'm not sure if you've said before, but why growbags rather than borders? Had your borders become infected?

Jeremy

[tim]

No - you haven't asked before.
Never considered borders. So - let me think aloud.

1. We have solid clay 6" down & would have to import soil.
2. Soil has to be sterilised or changed each year - no matter what some folk say.
3. Beds assume one down each side? Very limiting for arrangement. Look at the photo on p.2 of Basics. And we change the layout each year, depending on what needs what light.
4. Despite being sunk 18" into the ground, we have only 6' at the eaves. We get 7-8' from centre to half-way out.
5. I think I have more accurate control of growing conditions in bags. And feed goes only to the thing that needs it.
6. You can't go around to the back of plants in beds, to check, pinch  out, spray or pick.
7. Plants in beds are often close to the glass - bad for vetilation.

How about you?? = Tim