Why is it that, however often you tie a tom plant vertical, it will always take off at an angle, making it quite difficult train back??
Nothing to do with the sun - it can point in any direction.
answer-don't know! there must be a reason? but-looking good those plants, Tim.
thank goodness-i thought it was me!about 3/4 of my toms of any variety are desperately trying to grow at right angles.most annoying when youare trying for a little aestheticism in the glasshouse! :)
i just bend mine back straight and tie em up!!!! they soon learn!!
- and then they break!!
For instance, on the one shown, I will have to undo the tie to allow the bent stem to move enough to meet the cane, & then re-tie.
Very un-cooperative!
In the greenhouse, I train mine up strings.
One string/wire runs the length of the greenhouse (through the little green plastic things that are used to keep bubble insulation in place) and then one string it tied to this string/wire above each plant and drops down to touch the soil alongside the plant. It is wrapped several times around the stem and the the stem is gently bent "around" the string as the plant grows (twice a week at the height of the growing season).
THere is never a problem of the cane falling over.
Phil
un-cooperative? it worked with my tomatoes.
I blame the parents... ;D.... bring back national service.
Phil - I know that they use that method professionally, but I've always been too chicken to try it!
I'll have a go with the remaining ones. On your head be it!!
i just gave mine a strong talking to.....seemed to work.
i'm doing just what they tell me now......
actually-i,m going to try the string theory too...
Right then, Phil - stand by your beds!!
I think you can see them at the far right?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/thehouse.jpg
Would it work with cus as well? I often have a cu stem slip down & double up.
I have always done mine on strings, I find it easier to just twist them rather than tying in! (Lazy me!) I plant the string under the Tomato when I put them into their growbags, it holds it in place!
Tim I grow my out side Cucumbers up strings on the plot, seems to work for me!
w....with yer boots in yer 'and..
hand me the binocs-i need to see the other end. ;D
blimey tim-are you sure you're retired-thats a fulltime job you have there! ;)
I grow my cucs up greenhouse shading,(the green stuff that comes on a roll,not the white paint on stuff!).I just fasten some from bottom to top of gable end of greenhouse and let them get on with it,using there tendrils to find there own way.(sometimes with a little guidance) :)
Tim,
I've no experience of using string for cus but the principle is based on friction (The string against the stem, the same that is used for abseiling down mountains) and so it should work
Phil
i've never seen a cuc abseiling down a mountain...
sorry....i think i'm on the wrong forum ;)
i'll get me coat.. :(.
You need to get out more Kitty!! :D
Thanks, Phil. Never thought of that.
Rather the cus than me!
true, phil -true.......
Crikey my toms are tiny in comparison.
I'm growing a variety of tomatoes; Tigerella, Gardeners Delight, Golden Sunrise and one other I can't quite remember
They are all still in their polystyrene cups that I transplanted them into .The biggest are about eight inches tall.
Should I be planting them out into bigger containers now?
I've got one of those plastic wendy house type green houses that I open during the day to harden them off.It in full sunshine and i regularly ater and feed them
What might be the problem?
Thanks
Jo
Toms originally come from semi shrubby conditions in S America, they basically scamble up and over rocks and other plants. Saw a nice picture of wild toms in a book some time ago. The plants were also trailing down some bare rocks. The plants grow along rather than up!
I guess its in their genes to not grow straight
Jo,
I would have them in 5" pots now, if they are for indoors or plant them out if they are outdoor
Phil
Last count I've got 80 plants so they will have to go where I've got space. I bought the B&Q mix though I didn't label them.
I'm going to try to give away at least ten to relatives
I'm planning on lifting some turf,,mixing in loads of compost and grit then staking about 10-15 in a row. So I can get 30 - 45 (if I'm sneaky) in the ground.
The rest I was thinking, after someone told me I needed 18 inch pots per plants, will go in black buckets from Wickes with holes drilled in them. About 18 inches each and £1 each.
My OH won't let me dig up any more of the garden. Its not that we don't have the space its just the only place not shaded by the trees is the nicest place to sit.
Thanks for you help, I've taken today and tomorrow off work to get the Green house sorted and now its gone grey!!
On a plus note my tumbling toms are in a 2 tier basket thingy and are out in the front and loving it.
Jo
Jo,
You could save the money on buckets by visiting your local large supermarket and scrounging the black bucket things that they get their cut flowers in - they are usually glad to get rid of them
Phil
Thanks for that Phil.
So I'm right that I need 18 inch pots?
Jo
Anything over 12" should be good enough - the larger the better and they will require less frequent watering.
If you can place the pots on soil then you could use the ring culture method which will reduce watering -
Cut the bottoms out of the "pots", place where they are to be used, fill with plants and compost.
The tomatoes develop 2 sets of roots,
one for water - these go straight down into the soil which you then water (but less than if you were having to supply all the water in the pot.
the second set takes feed from near the base of the stem, so you feed the pot.
Phil
Probably a bit late, but I have caned mine for bad behaviour. Should have caned earlier then I wouldn't have had this problem.
I grow tomatoes outside and they are more disciplined as they don't head for the light so grow upwards in an orderly fashion. :)
Wardy,
Upwards is where the light is, so they do head for it! ;)