Tomato Growing Thread 2022

I think it looks pretty normal to me, the top set of leave are fairly large for the size of the plant which is giving it the bushy appearance.

 

Thanks Pete...it is the lack of a growing tip that is throwing me, all my other cordons have them and according to the tag this is also a cordon, so we'll see.

 

Does it have flower buds, only bush plants usually terminate at the first flower truss.

 

I think you might have nailed it, Pete...this plant looks to have terminated at the first truss.

 

Years ago I used to grow Marmande, and they did this kind of thing, but I used to just select the strongest side shoot and grow that upwards and then pinch out the others.
The other thing they used to do a lot of the time was grow shoots on the end of a truss and even have shoots form from the midrib of some leaves later in the summer.

 

There is a small side shoot that I will leave and see if I can coax it into an upright position and grow it up.

Cheers pal...

 

Hello Tomato Growers,

My first time on this forum so be gentle.

I normally post on the Chili forums but as I've just been transplanting tomatoes, I thought I would post here today.

My tomatoes are a bit behind and this is because I've had a bottle-neck in my grow tent. My chilli's were transplanted about a month ago clearing the grow tent and the tomatoes were then planted as seeds. Today I moved them from the tent into the hydroponic Wilma systems in my smaller greenhouse. Hopefully they will catch up. I took some pictures of my setup and there are still a few plants to transfer of other smaller varieties.

The variety that is shown in the pictures is Maskotka. We have grown this variety successfully for the last 2 seasons. The variety produces a lot of sweet tasting cherry tomatoes and does not need side shoots removing as it is a bushy variety (determinate).


1. 8 x Maskotka in 11 litre pots (clay beads)


2. 4 x Maskotka with 4 spare 11 litre pots


3. The whole 8 x 6 greenhouse showing 2 Wilma systems and 2 Deep Water systems

The tomatoes are a bit floppy but should recover as the roots establish in the clay beads.

Enough for now.

Best Regards

Ademission

 

Looking very good, Ademission...as a Quadgrow user I'm appreciating that set up.

 

JWK,

I bought a new greenhouse last summer so I grow tomatoes in the smaller 8 x 6 greenhouse and chilis (and other plants) in the larger 10 x 12 greenhouse.

You asked me how I support the tomatoes. I support both the tomatoes and chilis in the same way. I bought some green plastic coated aluminium canes. They are pointed at one end and blunt at the other (Aldi and Amazon). I put one cane in the centre of each pot and then link them with horizontal spacers positioned half way up the cane and then again at the top. I looked back at my pictures to find one that shows them being used with tomatoes (see below).


Picture of Maskotka tomatoes 2020 July 4th

The canes do not degrade with use so once bought, they do not need replacement. I have about 120 or so and adjustable length spacers. Also have some that are not adjustable in length too.

I only add these canes when the tomatoes get big enough to need them hence they are not yet on my original posted photos.

Regards

Ademission

 

Shep,
I've been looking at Quad Grow systems as well but never took the plunge as I'm happy with the Wilmas.
The Wilma systems I use are fully hydroponic. I use 2 part Canna Coco solutions and adjust food and acidity with a couple of meters. I have to add more water once a week with a hosepipe and change the whole volume of water approximately every month. The system is based on a single water pump (supplied with the kit). All pipework comes with the kit as well. I like it a lot as you can go off on holiday and it will look after itself. Oh, forgot to mention the pump needs to switched with a timer (not supplied) and so you do need mains.

Each 8 pot (11litre) system with approximately 100litre tank costs just over £100.

Regards

Ademission

 

It certainly looks like an excellent system and the price is very reasonable too, will look into it a little deeper.

 

Toms moved to the Quadgrows, so now in place whatever happens with the weather, temps are looking good for the rest of May so should be ok.

 

Amazing stuff, as I've said before you lot are very clever! All I've done is lose half my Tom's to insects! So I've sent for more seed of both my varieties. Must get round to planting them. It's only May so they'll catch up ..... a little!! As long as we freeze enough for the Winter!

 

I have to admit my toms are GC bought, so a bit of a cheat on my part, I've just potted them on until big enough to plant in their Quadgrows.