Sad tomato plant - help

Mojisola

elf06 wrote: »

Not sure. They were only planted this year as teeny wee sprouts. I'm keeping an eye on my soil acidity for the blueberries which seems to be ok but I wonder if my pots are maybe overcrowded. Both look nice and healthy just no flowers or fruit.

What size pots do you have them in?

elf06

Not sure of the size but they are in large rubber pots - you know the bendy, colourful ones with the handles......not sure what they are called sorry.
One of the blueberry plants was pretty dead on arrival. planted it but it was apparent pretty early on that it was not going to make a recovery so it was taken out and disposed of

elf06

in fact there is no maybe about it when it comes to the goosegoogs. They are definitely overcrowded I just havent had the time to sort them yet!

robin58

Farway wrote: »

He could try growing something else with your help, like sow an apple or an orange pip from one he has just eaten?

Apple may even fruit in a few years

Could try runner beans next year. Once you build the wigwam of supports, they basically grow themselves.

elf06

Robin58 I'd never thought of them! Might give them a bash. Thanks.

Farway

robin58 wrote: »

Could try runner beans next year. Once you build the wigwam of supports, they basically grow themselves.

Remember to start them indoors or the slugs will have them and may knock enthusiasm out of him

tiz

Toms are tough, that plants looks savable to me. What you need is a big deep pot e.g. a bucket. Strip off the dead leaves from around the bottom and plant it as deep as you can in the pot. Literally, put an inch of soil in the bottom of the bucket, put the tom in the bottom and then fill with soil covering it up. If the stems are bendy enough you can even curl them around inside the pot and just leave the top healthy looking section above the soil.

Most plants would hate this but tomatoes love it and will then send out roots from the buried stems giving you a nice sturdy plant with access to lots of soil with lots of nutrients. It will soon perk up.

Alternatively, or in addition, you can take (one or more) of the tops off and plant those. Again, they root very easily from the stems so you literally just chop a section off the top with at least two leaf joints, take off the bottom leaf and stick your cutting in the soil - it will wilt initially (don't panic) and you can help by covering it with a plastic bag or plastic bottle with the top cut off. It will get going and you'll have backup tomato plants that are less leggy.

They are perennials if you keep them frost free so if you have somewhere to keep it inside you could be eating tomatoes at Christmas.

malebolge

Your gooseberries will probably only fruit when they are about 3 years old. Your tomato - you could try to save it but I wouldn't be hopeful of a decent crop. Why not try a variety designed for tubs next year. As well as my greenhouse toms, I grow a variety called Tumbling Toms, outside at first then bring them into the conservatory. Had Christmas toms the hast 2 years.

elf06

Apologies had missed the last 2 replies.

Malebolge thanks for the info re the gooseberries. I need to thin them out for sure - they are definitely overcrowded. We don't eat toms it was purely as this was DS's first attempt at growing from seed (through school).

I wasn't quite ready to give up on the tom plant yet so I've cut it right back and popped it outside. If something happens then great, if not I know I've, at least, tried something

Silvertabby

Not sure of the size but they are in large rubber pots - you know the bendy, colourful ones with the handles......not sure what they are called sorry. Posted by elf06

Have you drilled plenty of drainage holes in them?