Strange Tomato growth

Crag30

Since the loss of my dad I've been finding I've a lot to learn in the garden and greenhouse.

It was for the first time last year that I've had to grow the tomato for mum without dad around and had planted them in growbags in the greenhouse.

All went well and she had a good crop of tomatoes, but the plants were very odd. The branches would continue to grow past where the vine was, and maybe another vine will grow.

Being a total novice, I tied the branches up to stop them snapping off.

This year I have one side of the greenhouse with grow bags, and I convinced mum that the other side the tomato plants would go straight into the soil as dad did.

The plants that have been planted in the grow bags again have branches that continue to grow past the vine, yet the ones planted straight in the soil are as I would expect them, a vine then end of branch.

Can anyone tell me what's going on here. Are the grow bags too rich. (They are the extra thick Tomorite type)

TonyMMM

What varieties are you growing and are they cordon or bush types?

if they are a cordon, are you pinching out the sideshoots ?

Silvertabby

I always pinch the tops of tomatoes when they reach a certain height (5 foot) as they hit roof of GH and take the lower leaves off to about a foot above growbags to allow air flow reduces chance of fungus, also pinch the sideshots you can often miss them

Ditto.

If you want to continue planting toms straight into the soil border, you'll need to dig out the top layer and refrest with new top soil each year - or you'll build up infections.

My greenhouse has a hard base, and I grow my toms in 12" pots (1 plant per pot). I've tried growbags, but find growing in pots makes it easier to water the plants evenly.

Waterlily24

We always pinch the top when there are four trusses plus pinch the small side shoots as they start to grow.

elaineruk

When removing side shoots from greenhouse tomatoes, I’d always suggest using your fingers to do this, rather than a knife, firmly ‘snapping’ the sideshoot out reduces risk of damage to the main stem. Then once the plants have reached the height which you want, you can ‘stop’ them using a sharp knife to cut out the main growing shoot. Cut this back to a leaf joint just above a fruit truss.

davemorton

Why type of toms are you growing. One type I am growing this year is doing the same, think it is a sort of plum tom that is doing it.

Mnd

I've got 3 varieties growing in the greenhouse, all cordon varieties, and what you describe seems to be happening on the Shirley especially if I understand you. .that is a flower truss forms then new growth starts from the end. I don't worry about it, just trim it off..I just can't seem to get any to ripen ��

Crag30

Thanks everyone. It seems I need to trim after the trusses by the sounds of it.
I have 6 Alicante and 2 Gardner's Delight (3 Alicante, and 1 Gardeners Delight each side of Greenhouse). Regardless of variety, only the ones in the grow bags have stems continuing past the trusses. Those planted straight into the soil of the greenhouse are not doing the same. In fact at this stage I'd say the ones in the soil look to have the healthiest looking leaves.
Depending on this years crop, I may not bother with grow bags next year.

Mnd

I've got my 3 gardeners delight in a tomorite grow bag, the Shirley and alicante (or Alienate as my crazy wife named them) in pots of the same compost. To be honest they all seem to be doing well loads of fruit and good sizes but won't ripen