Tomatoes keeling over under the weight help

rms1

As you can see from the picture, my tomato plants are keeling over under the weight. I am worried that they are going to break. I have tried putting more canes in to support them but it's not helping. I have 6 plants like this that are struggling
If they ever go red it looks like a bumper crop and I don't want to lose any, we have waited so long. Any ideas?

rms1

I just tied some string round one of the canes and I have tied the other end to a hook in the wall. Maybe that will do it, will have to get more hooks unless there are any other ideas.

parsonswife8

We have tied a cane across the top and also tied some of the tomato plants on to other near by plants. Seems to be holding.

Lotus-eater

What sort of tomatoes are they? They normally grow straight up a cane, because you take off all the sideshoots.

rms1

Lotus-eater wrote: »

What sort of tomatoes are they? They normally grow straight up a cane, because you take off all the sideshoots.

Newbie I'm afraid, I don't know what variety they are.

morg_monster

my alicantes are keeling over a bit, too, with a bumper harvest. I have a massive tangle of canes and string around them which is just about keeping them upright, but with all the tomatoes on it they are really struggling! Hoping they will stay up long enough until the fruit turns red and their load starts to lighten! I did take off the side shoots but missed a couple on each plant and now they are a bit mental... Attaching the string to fenceposts or other sturdy plants or trees is a good idea.

kazwookie

I've given up, mine now trail, even if they shouldn't! doesn't seen to be doing them much harm

kippers

I take some of the leaves off at this time of year as it helps the toms ripen better as the sun can get to them better and also it it helps the air to circulate around the plant better. This may help lift the weight off the plant

lizzyb1812

If you don't know the variety they might be bush tomatoes. Are they tall plants that have now flopped over in one direction or are they flopped over all round? If the latter then they are bush and are OK. And if they are not bush tomatoes just watch out for any point where the stem might break, otherwise they will probably be fine.

Lizzyb

olly300

morg_monster wrote: »

my alicantes are keeling over a bit, too, with a bumper harvest. I have a massive tangle of canes and string around them which is just about keeping them upright, but with all the tomatoes on it they are really struggling! Hoping they will stay up long enough until the fruit turns red and their load starts to lighten! I did take off the side shoots but missed a couple on each plant and now they are a bit mental... Attaching the string to fenceposts or other sturdy plants or trees is a good idea.

A neighbour, who knew better, did that for me last year. He made a lattice of yarn between the fences and canes.

It worked.

I did have to save the majority of the crop from blight by spraying it with copper sulphate (or whatever it is called.)

Lotus-eater

rms1 wrote: »

Newbie I'm afraid, I don't know what variety they are.

Well may I suggest you go and have a look at how you are supposed to train tomato plants, because it doesn't look as if yours have been trained at all.
Then your next year plants can be sorted out properly.

I can see what looks like lots of ends of side shoots coming out of your small bush, it may be that it's supposed to be grown as a bush, but I suspect not from the size of the tomatoes on it.