Tomato plants

Alison_B · 22 July 2005 at 10:21PM

Reading various threads a couple of months ago, I decided to have a go at growing my own tomato plants from seed. Didn't think anything would take as I can't normally grow anything but have been very surprised at how many plants I have got - have given loads to neighbours and friends and binned half of the seedlings.:doh:

They grew into small seedlings, then I repotted them into something bigger and have now just transferred them into individual large pots. The children were telling somebody that they had grown loads of tomato plants and they told us that we had to "pinch them out" and to shake the plants to polinate them. Is this true? What do I have to do to pinch them out? They are cherry tomatoes and we haven't got the packaging any more.

When should we be seeing some tomatoes on them also?

Many thanks.

Alison

squeaky · 22 July 2005 at 10:54PM

Hiya

We've got threads on tomato plants all over the place. Probably about as many threads as you had plants. I'm sure I've seen advice on pinching out recently, as in within the last month but I'm blowed if I can remember where. I'll see what I can find and report back in a while.

There's a chance that the original poster of the info will beat me to it. He sez

Edit: There's a thread here that has at least one of your answers.

apprentice_tycoon · 22 July 2005 at 11:00PM

Pinching out the side shoots keeps the plant a neat and tidy shape and stops it growing in all directions. The side shoots appear between the main stem and a leaf, just nip them with finger and thumb.
If a plant is outdoors the insects should pollinate the flowers without any help
When each plant has 3 bunches (trusses) of flowers that you can see are turning into tomatoes then you pinch out the growing tip at the top of the stem, that way it then puts all it's effort into growing the fruit
Feed with tomato food as directed on the bottle
Hope this is what you needed!

Trying2Save_3 · 22 July 2005 at 11:22PM

I only pinch out side shoots on normal tomato plants never cherry as they are more of a bush than a plant. This way I get loads of cherry toms!

N9eav · 23 July 2005 at 6:26AM

If you have a large side shoot, you can pot it into some wet sandy compost and it will grow into a new plant. keep it well watered until it takes hold

Jet · 23 July 2005 at 10:21AM

Trying2Save wrote:

I only pinch out side shoots on normal tomato plants never cherry as they are more of a bush than a plant. This way I get loads of cherry toms!

I didn't know this - I've grown cherry toms for 2 years now and have been pinching out with fury and now I learn that I didn't need to worry!

Bennifred · 23 July 2005 at 10:57AM

Also, with the cherry bush or trailing tomatoes, you can cram 3 or 4 into pots/hanging baskets so you don't waste all those seedlings, and as long as you keep them well fed and watered they do just fine! I'm already picking mine :j yummy!

Alison_B · 23 July 2005 at 7:00PM

amghiggs wrote:

I'm already picking mine :j yummy!

Should I have fruit on them now then?

Trying2Save_3 · 24 July 2005 at 9:29PM

N9eav wrote:

If you have a large side shoot, you can pot it into some wet sandy compost and it will grow into a new plant. keep it well watered until it takes hold

This reminded me, one year I planted cherry toms in grow bags on the lawn and didn't get round to tying them up and as they grew over the sides they rooted into the lawn, I had loads of plants and loads of tomatoes. Maybe I should try that again next year.

churchmouse_3 · 25 July 2005 at 4:21PM

Here is a money saver for your toms, dont buy Tomato food but take a pair of ladies tights and fill with sheep droppings, either gathered from a jolly walk over the moors or from an understanding farmer, then hang said bulging tights in a water butt and leave to steep. The resulting liguid manure gives the toms and cucumbers excellent flavour.

spendaholic · 25 July 2005 at 4:34PM

My cherry toms in hanging baskets are doing very well at the moment, and they've always been outside. We can't keep up with them. I pinched out the leaders to make them bush more.

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Tomato plants

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