Growing Tomatoes

[dan1981]

Any hints and tips?

Got a couple of plants, they are now up to mid thigh height.

Got a couple of small tomatoes growing on one of them but ntohgin on the other.

They are kept in a sunny spot and watered regularly.

Any hints on getting more tomatoes "sprouting"

[Melman Giraffe]

dan1981 said:

Any hints and tips?

Got a couple of plants, they are now up to mid thigh height.

Got a couple of small tomatoes growing on one of them but ntohgin on the other.

They are kept in a sunny spot and watered regularly.

Any hints on getting more tomatoes "sprouting"

Important points for the non-gardener to remember are that you'll need to tie the thrusting plant loosely to a stake to keep it upright, and that you need to pinch out tiddly side shoots between leaf and stem so that all the energy is shunted into growing the fruit. Sunshine's important but be aware that underwatering can lead to split skins.

[HiRich]

(mine have just hit six foot!)

It's a bit early for fruit anyway, and I know some who's plants are still very small. The internet will undoubtedly have a lot of info, but things I've found include:

• Once big enough, move to a decent pot (10-12" really) if you're not doing them in the ground
• They scream out for water. Look to water daily (twice daily is indoors). If in pots, water into a tray - go 2" wider, 1" deep, and on a hot day you can almost see it soak away. If they do dry out, water slowly and carefully - watering too fast can burst the fruit
• Tomato Feed really helps. Advice varies between once a week and every second water. The former is working for me.
• If they are cordon plants, stake them very well (ideally they are supposed to be supported from above). Tie off frequently (string preferred to wire), otherwise there's a risk of them snapping). Particularly important in the windy outdoors.
• Often, where a stem branches out, another will form in the Vee. Pinch these out, as they won't fruit, and just waste energy.
• Most books say pinch out the growing stem after the 4th truss, but I let mine go a bit further.
• Misting water over the flowers assists with fertilisation, especially indoors. A small brush will also help.

[dan1981]

I've got them tied loosley to a stake so thats covered.

I'd heard of these side shoot that need removing - so these are the little shoots coming out of where the other shoots are coming out?

[Melman Giraffe]

dan1981 said:

I've got them tied loosley to a stake so thats covered.

I'd heard of these side shoot that need removing - so these are the little shoots coming out of where the other shoots are coming out?

Yep

[aussiebruce]

whats a "thrusting plant" and a "truss"

[otolith]

There are two types of tomato plant - those you grow as a cordon (one single stem, pinch out the sideshoots) and those you grow as a bush (allow to branch, don't pinch out sideshoots). Do you know what variety you have?

[dan1981]

I have this variety.....

Edited by dan1981 on Wednesday 27th May 17:07

[otolith]

If I mix up the seed packets, I'm buggered if I know what sort my own are... Chances are that it's a cordon variety, though.