Tomato Growing Thread 2012

All my toms are outside and this year with ALL the rain and the warmth (it has been really warm here for quite a few weeks) they are growing like mad, all are lush and green however the distinct lack of sunlight has obviously stalled the "flowers developing to fruit stage", there are plenty of flowers but they look the same now as they did 3 or 4 weeks ago, they're just not doing anything and yet the plants continue to grow.

I doubt even if I stopped the plants to try and direct some energy in to the flowers it would do anything as they'd probably just start producing more side shoots??

 

Honest, cross my heart. I haven't stuck a Tesco tom on with sellotape. An awful lot of leaves though. Should I remove any so that sunlight can get in? Sunlight????

 

Maybe Maskotkas? Mine were free in Gardeners World.
Theyv'e cost me a fortune since mind.....

 

Hi.

That sounds a bit odd How many trusses are there? Have you been 'tapping' the plants/flowers? Is the atmosphere too dry?

 

Well, mine are quite a bit behind, no surprise there as they are trying to grow in arctic conditions :WINK1: I have lots of flowers and plenty of trusses and just this past week I've noticed a lot of tiny toms the size of peas so I'm quietly hopeful of a decent crop. Outdoor toms are in much better shape than indoor ones though

Regarding truss numbers, I'd be interested in knowing what people do/recommend. Long time ago an old timer told me and I've heard from a few others since as a general guide to confine plants to 4 trusses outdoors and 3 trusses indoors. I've generally gone with that, though I notice my Super Marmande's first truss is very high up the stem, is this usual as I've never grown them before?

Cheers

 

Hi GG.

With my greenhouse toms, I stop them when they reach the roof. That usually equates to around 6 trusses. Light levels this year have been very poor, which for me has meant quite 'leggy' plants, so it might be the case that I will only get 5 trusses. With my outdoor toms, I normally restrict to 4 trusses, but again, because of the weather, will probably be restricted to 3 trusses. Having said that, I doubt if I'll get anything at all from those

 

I grow my toms in the greenhouse, which after a slow start look like they are going to crop quite well. Although I stop them at 5ft I don't remove any trusses and let them do their own thing.

 

Thank you Keith. I will leave well alone. It has been great fun - my first ever tomato growing. Iv'e got a super (my mum's) recipe for Green Tomato Chutney!!