Tomato Growing 2024

Thanks @JWK This is quite confusing! So the stems coming from below ground are not suckers in this case. The shoots from between the stem and the leaf are suckers. Cutting off the side shoots is not cutting off the leaves (as I have done!). Fingers crossed that I will get a tomato at some point!

 

oh no... But don't worry it was a freebie

 

My Honey Moon is just now turning pink in the greenhouse 31st July. Outside ones are looking promising but still only pale green.

 

At least something:

 

Plenty of Sungold since late June and now the other varieties are starting to ripen:

 

Hello all, Earlier in the year I was given 3 tomato plants by a friend. She had forgotten their names but one is apparently a bush type and the other a cordon. Goodness knows what the third one is. They are planted in pots in my small leanto glasshouse which did have two sliding panes of glass in the roof but which are completely gummed up with moss/debris/muck etc so I can't now open them. The greenhouse is 5ft at the top back x 4ft wide.
Two of the plants have now hit the roof, which I'm keeping covered with newspaper in this very hot sunshine. Two of the plants have flowers on.
My query is do I let the tall plants grow sideways or just cut the tops off?

 

Bit awkward without knowing which is which but I'd be tempted to pick out the growing tips of those 2 at roof height as presumably they are cordons and see what side shoots you have that would be worth leaving to flower and fruit. The Bush one "should " be obvious as it will have a number of shoots from the base and it won't reach 5 ft.
Maybe a photo if you can will give people an idea ? Good luck with them anyway

 

Thanks @Philippa and @JWK, I'll try to remember to take a photo tomorrow, although that might depend on whether it's pouring with rain! It probably won't be very clear as I've got potted strawberries on a shelf behind the tomatoes - it's very overcrowded!

I'll try pinching out the tops and seeing what happens.

 

Photos (hopefully) as requested. Upon looking more closely at my 3 plants, I don't think any of them are a Bush variety. Two have two trusses. No. 3 was the smallest and has no flowers.
I could just chop this off to give the others more room?
I can't physically lift them out the greenhouse.

 

@lizzie27 the last picture seems to show at least one really good truss on there, that would be enough for me to stop the plant at the top - 2 would be better. Other might have a better idea as I've not grown toms inside in the UK for years. I'd also remove these suckers. There may be more we can't see.

 

I think you are right @lizzie27 in sacrificing No. 3 to allow the other 2 more room. Given the height restriction you are working with, I'd personally try for 4 or 5 trusses on each plant. I can see some tiny side shoots starting in a couple of the pics but you may well be best off to nip those out and concentrate on the trusses which are currently flowering. Have a careful check to see if you have any bigger/better side shoots which would be worth leaving on.
Not easy to really say unless you are physically there to look at them but hang on and see what others say/suggest
These last few days of heat have certainly helped stuff on but no idea how long it will last.

 

Hello, I’ve been lurking for a while, you all seem very knowledgeable! I’m quite jealous of all the lovely tomatoes you have. I’m normally good with tomatoes, but this year, like some others, there seem to have been a lack of pollinators and I only have three Crimson Blush from four plants, and rather more of some rather good green ones I’ve grown from the saved seeds of some I bought in Spain. No idea what variety, they were just labelled 'Negro'. They weren’t actually black, but a very dark green with lighter green shoulders.

Anyway, never having grown non-red tomatoes before, what I’d like to know is, how do you tell when a Green Tomato is ripe for picking? Do you just squeeze it gently and see whether it gives?