First, apologies for what must be a repetitive question, but I found this site by searching Google for an answer to a problem - then could not find the thread again when I registered.
I am growing my first ever greenhouse tomato crop, and have nine big strong plants. I tried to pinch out what I recognised as side shoots, but eventually realised that each plant had two strong stems, bearing a lot of fruit, Even the big fruit are showing no signs of ripening, and I have removed several trusses showing blossom end rot.
Is my problem too many fruit, and should I cut anything back, or take out secondary stems all together. I have a couple of bananas sitting amongst the plants, and I am adding powdered limestone to the feed.
I have cut out leaves above the first truss - should I take out more?
Hi
If you have 4-5 truss on the main stem, you can take out the side one. If they are both quite far along I would leave them.
I is still a bit early for a lot to be ripening, most of mine haven't even started yet.
For blossom end rot just take off the effected fruit, not the whole truss, you need to establish a regular watering routine especially if in grow bags which are difficult to keep watered.
I have plenty of green toms in the greenhouse, but the ones on the allotment are ripening first! Is your greenhouse shaded as tooo much sun, I believe, can slow down the ripening process. I have stripped away some leaves from my greenhouse plants to let more light and air get to the fruits.
The only ones ripening with us so far are the cherries. Be patient!
And we too have several that have made2 main stems this year.
I must just be too impatient! I was sure that my outdoor toms ripened earlier than this when I was back in Oxford. (I moved to Cumbria in December, and found myself the owner of a 12' x 10' greenhouse)
I have auto-opening vents, and I have hung some green netting shading material. When it is hot, I leave the door open.
Another query. I have used best quality growbags, & feed with Tomorite - so how come my plants have calcium deficiency, which is what I understand BER to indicate?
(Off to find a thread on cucumbers now!)
My biggest tomato so far is the size of a goosberry so i wish i had the probably of them not ripening - mine seem to have stunted growth!
QuoteAnother query. I have used best quality growbags, & feed with Tomorite - so how come my plants have calcium deficiency, which is what I understand BER to indicate?
The calcium deficiency is usually brought on by a lack of water at certain stages in the plants development
Join the club!! This is just a start.
http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/horticulture/nf43.htm
This time last week I was worried that my greenhouse toms weren't ripening, but over the past weekend we've had tomatoes with everything :D.
Have patience - they'll get there soon enough, and you'll be complaining about a glut!
Picked the first ripe Tigerella today! Nothing like that taste!