Tomatos - how big do I let the plants get

xxvickixx

I have been pinching out my tomato plants and there are several bunches of tomatos on each plant which are slowly getting bigger. What do I do about the height of the plants though, they have now reached the top of the cane and are about 5 ft. They are also getting really wide. Is this a problem, should I be cutting it back?

As you can probably tell this is my first proper go at growing veg and any help is really appreciated.

Thanks

Vicki

Rikki

I believe you should allow four trusses of tomatoes, well I do and then I pinch out the top.

edit: you should have pinched out any side shoots that grow out from the leaves and stem.

xxvickixx

Hi, Sorry would you mind explaining what a truss is and how would I pinch out the top? I have been pinching out the middle shoots from the stem and the other side shoots, like a shoot that grows out of the elbow looking joint. Is that right? I'm so confused!

misskool

A truss is a shoot with flowers that will form tomatoes.

To pinch out at the top just snap the top and it will stop growing. Keep pinching out side shoots as they will keep trying to grow.

Rikki

Thanks misskool. :T

So much easier with pictures. :cool:

knoxy

The picture make it very easy to see. As far as hight goes it depends on growing conditions. In a green house they can grow well in excess of 15 feet and still produce lots of fruit.Outdoors I would snap the top off after about 6 trusses as too many trusses will result in poor sized fruit. Equally if the plant is just growing leaf and not producing flowers/trusses snap thetop off so the growing energy goes into the fruit that you have got.

xxvickixx

Thank you. It seems I have been removing the right bits, I just need to snap the top now I think as I have enough trusses. My DH is very impressed with the picture it all makes sense now, thank you.

level200

i have lots of toms on mine but none seem to be going red yet, is it too early for this to happen?

Cheers
John

Rikki

level200 wrote: »

i have lots of toms on mine but none seem to be going red yet, is it too early for this to happen?

Cheers
John

Depends on the amount of sunshine and which part of the country you live in.

Mum's down south and has just started picking hers, I'm 100 miles further north in the Midlands and mine are still all green.

Farway

level200 wrote: »

i have lots of toms on mine but none seem to be going red yet, is it too early for this to happen?

Cheers
John

I'm in Hampshire and had my first couple the other day, more to follow shortly, just at "orangey" stage with majority at the sort of translucent skin stage just before they turn

All outside BTW

leo56

Bought some tomato seeds from Aldi a while ago, they have just grown and grown. I have never had so much fruit from one packet of 99p seeds a real bargain. Ive just let them continue to grow pinching out the odd side shoot.