Tomato Growing Thread 2012

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Mar 1, 2012.

  1. Lolimac

    Lolimac Guest

    Ratings:
    +0
    Feel like i'm still on a 'magical mystery tour':lunapic 130165696578242 5:
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Jenny namaste

      Jenny namaste Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 11, 2012
      Messages:
      18,488
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      retired- blissfully retired......
      Location:
      Battle, East Sussex
      Ratings:
      +31,969
      Thinking is the best way to travel.
      In search of a lost chord - the Moody Blues....
      very spiffy......
       
    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

      Joined:
      May 5, 2012
      Messages:
      27,768
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Public Transport
      Location:
      At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
      Ratings:
      +52,209
      I'm wondering if music might help my tomatoes - had another look this morning, and there is another couple of wee fruits forming, but nothing to write home about, and the other fruits that appeared already don't seem to be getting any bigger.

      Presumably this is due to the cooler weather?
       
    • Gay Gardener

      Gay Gardener Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Nov 16, 2011
      Messages:
      1,258
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      The Wash, Fens
      Ratings:
      +1,978
      It's my first time growing Brandywine tomatoes. They don't seem to act like other toms I'm growing. They are doing fine, set the first truss and always had an obvious leader, though at about 2ft high they are seeming to branch into 3 with no obvious leader of the 3. They also seem to start the flower bud thingys in odd places, like in a random place on the main stem, they look like little pert little nipples to begin with.
      Is the lack of an obvious leader normal? Have I got alien toms? How to decide which of the 3 main bits of top growth to leave as the main upgrowing stem? Should I wait till one of the 3 breaks from the pack?
      Any advice welcome.

      The rest of my other varieties seem like with others to be sulking a bit in this nondescript weather.
       
    • OxfordNick

      OxfordNick Super Gardener

      Joined:
      Jul 25, 2011
      Messages:
      677
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Oxfordshire
      Ratings:
      +1,615
      I cant help 'cos Ive never grown them before either - I was expecting to start to see flowers on mine this week but the change in the weather has put everything back (again). Strangely the runt of my Tomato litter this year is Alicante - of the three I grew from seed two have given up completely & the last remaining one is looking distinctly sorry for itself.
       
    • Lolimac

      Lolimac Guest

      Ratings:
      +0
      Hang in there ON....How ill do they look....they do need a bit of stress to fire them up....
      (got that advice from JWK:wub2: ) brilliant:dbgrtmb:....works for me too:biggrin:
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Jenny namaste

        Jenny namaste Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 11, 2012
        Messages:
        18,488
        Gender:
        Female
        Occupation:
        retired- blissfully retired......
        Location:
        Battle, East Sussex
        Ratings:
        +31,969
        What did JWK say when they look Cardiac arrest ill?
         
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        32,431
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +49,905
        If you can't tell which is the strongest or the middle one, then it doesn't really matter which two you remove. Probably best to nip them out sooner rather than waiting as the plant puts a lot of energy into growing sideshoots, that energy is better off going into flowering and fruiting :blue thumb:
         
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        32,431
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +49,905
        How sorry does it look? Is it going yellow, leaves falling off or what. Maybe a photo would help.
         
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        32,431
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +49,905

        CPR is needed, remember do chest compressions in time with Staying Alive - no mouth to mouth otherwise Vinnie Jones will get you!
         
        • Like Like x 3
        • OxfordNick

          OxfordNick Super Gardener

          Joined:
          Jul 25, 2011
          Messages:
          677
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Oxfordshire
          Ratings:
          +1,615
          Its just a bit wilty & sad - my own fault - I managed to move them out to the blowaway just before we had the last really cold spell; the ones in the growbags were ok after a bit of extra seaweed extract & a stern pep talk, but the spares that I hadn't potted on just gave up & died.

          Then a snail popped in for the night & beheaded two of the three remaining ones (and later died for his crime under my boot - atleast I think it was the guilty one..)

          I expect it will be ok when we get a bit more sun, but its not looking like thats going to happen for at least a week... Im a bit frustrated with the whole thing at the moment. Stupid Weather !
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

            Joined:
            May 5, 2012
            Messages:
            27,768
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Public Transport
            Location:
            At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
            Ratings:
            +52,209
            If its any consolation OxfordNick, I have a couple that are looking distinctly sorry for themselves, the worst being:

            P1010810.JPG

            I am thinking that its been the condensation sticking to the inside of the polytunnel, and then rubbing against the plant as the poly gets buffeted by the wind?

            The one to initially fruit hasn't progressed much:

            P1010809.JPG

            And another one, although its started fruit, its got a leaf at the end of the fruit truss - not sure if its a problem or not?

            P1010808.JPG
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Kristen

              Kristen Under gardener

              Joined:
              Jul 22, 2006
              Messages:
              17,534
              Gender:
              Male
              Location:
              Suffolk, UK
              Ratings:
              +12,669
              If its just the one plant? then could well be as you suspect. Just break off the damaged leaf, the plant will be fine if its just localised physical damage.

              Quite common, usually certain varieties are more prone. My Gardeners Delight trusses try to grow a whole plant on the end of the truss - silly things! Pinch the tip out to stop them continuing to grow, but a few leaves on the end of the truss will just help provide "energy" (I find the "branches" that develop on the ends of the trusses are difficult to snap off, hence suggest just to pinch-out - if you spot it early that might be the whole bit, but if you are bone-idle like me the thing will be a week or two old by the time I notice it! and then no chance of safely removing it in its entirety)
               
              • Like Like x 2
              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

                Joined:
                May 5, 2012
                Messages:
                27,768
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Public Transport
                Location:
                At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
                Ratings:
                +52,209
                There is another plants suffering similarly, but not to the same degree - all the rest are fine; all the growth above those leaves looks healthy too. so I will try and whip off the knarled ones and see how it goes from there.

                As for the truss with leaves, I think its been there a while as the leaves are well developed, so I am tempted to leave well alone.

                Thanks :)
                 
              • Kristen

                Kristen Under gardener

                Joined:
                Jul 22, 2006
                Messages:
                17,534
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Suffolk, UK
                Ratings:
                +12,669
                It will keep growing ... and then become heavy and cause problems. Suggest you take the "tip" out of it to stop it growing any more.
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                Loading...

                Share This Page

                1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                  By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                  Dismiss Notice