Tomato Growing Thread 2023

Cheers Pete.

I've done the same on a number of plants - so will just top up, and not add any more pellets!

 

Makes sense. That's the tip I was looking for, thank you. I will prune some of them today does it matter if I prune buds or flowers? I will be aiming then to have around 20 fruits per plant. Where are you based JWK? Your tomatoes looks big already!

 

Hi JWK,

Just trying to process all the awesome tips to utliise them this next season from early in. Please do correct me if I wrong. If I will be growing Black Krim or Pineapple for example next year which are beef, cordon indeterminate type.fkr these plants my plan would be to keep one main stem, keep about 5 trusses with about 4-5 tomatoes on them. Then if I will have two many trusses then I will be pruning them. For example I will have 3 trusses at the bottom of the plant then I will prune two and leave one. Then next one I would keep a bit higher and I would prune the rest and move up. Or should I just keep the very first 5 trusses and keep pruning all the new ones as the grow ? And depending on the weather and season overall I would pinch top of the plant around probably early August mid August. Does that sound about right JWK?

 

Toms starting to ripen at last!

 

Looking great! And lovely name too

 

Honey comb first one ripening.

 

I've just found a clump of tomato plants in the garden, growing in between some roses ... probably seeds fallen into last year's compost which I tipped on to the soil.
I don't think I could separate them, they're too big now, and I have nowhere to put them anyway. I'll leave them and see what happens.

 

Hi again
I managed to buy tomato and cucumber plants from a local supermarket (as recommended by a couple of people on here) and have potted 3 different varieties (2 to each large 13" pot) so am now keeping my fingers crossed that they will grow.
I will keep you updated of any progress hopefully

 

I have put 2 baboons (my 6 year old neices name for bamboo) into each pot for support

 

Sorry to be a pain again (poetry unintended) but a friend suggested putting tea leaves from used bags into the pots.
Is this helpful for the tomatoes to grow and if so...when...and where in the pot ie on top of the compost or worked in please

 

Thanks for the advice. I have potted the plants in a multi purpose compost today and was advised to cover them with a top layer of this compost so nothing is 'showing through' obviously.
I will follow your advice with regards too Tomorite/Wikinsons version and will indeed purchase a thermometer.
If the temperature goes above 35°c how would I shade the greenhouse?

 

Evening JWK,
Fair point on blight, I am scared of it too. Unfortunately for me not knowing much about growing I have picked almost all beef steak toms this year all my plants have more than 5 trusses and are about 1m tall. Still not that high right? Hence thinking shall I pinch top of now when I have already 5 trusses or let it grow and kelp pinching side shoots and new trusses, what do you think?

Did you try peroxide/ copper fungicide for late blight? Apparently kills blight. See photo attached. I did not try it but basically peroxide kills fungus and copper kills spores.i can search and you link to YouTube for full video, guy explained all really well and it does make sense. If I get blight deffo trying this.

Also I have pierced stems of my plants with uncoated copper wire. Hardened gardeners swears this massively boost toms resistance to blight. I will send some photos tomorrow. Maybe this would help you with blight problems.

One more thing. I think I had early blight, i sprayed plants with milk/baking soda solution and it cured it. Also aspirin spray people swear that prevents blight. So does peroxide. That's all I heard of I think to combat blight.