Small tomatoes

Hello all,

I am slightly frustrated but will not give up!

Second year of growing three tomato plants in growbags, in those green growpots. But each year I don't seem to get very large tomatoes - they grow so big and then stop.

Any tips. Is it to do with root area? I've heard that it's better to plant in 5 gallon pots? I feed once or twice a week and water regularly. I prune lower leaves off and pick out side shoots.

Thanks for any advice.

 

What variety of tom are you growing?

 

1 each of Moneymaker, Shirley and Alicante..

 

I think I would expect those to get to about 4 or 5 cm diameter max. What are yours doing?

 

Maybe you are not feeding enough ?

Also, at what point do you start cutting off the bottom leaves?

 

I grow mine in buckets that can be picked up cheaply Effy and make holes in the bottom for drainage. I don't think grow bags have enough room for root growth. I water mine every second day in dry weather and feed once a fortnight with tomato feed, twice a week is a bit excessive, once is fine. I don't start feeding until the fruit starts to form.

 

Completely different situation here but......... try cherry tomatoes. Then try not feeding so much and stop harassing the plant with pinching out parts. Finally lack of sun is suspect, well, and possibly pot size. So, next year - big pots, best sun, and minimal input except for water as needed. Then you will get an average crop - which the squirrels will eat.

 

Effy66, you still have not said what size your tomatoes actually get to. Maybe they are perfectly normal, you wouldn't expect those varieties to be big beefsteak size. In any case, if they taste good and you get plenty to eat, does it actually matter what size they are?