Discussion
Shaolin said:
HumbleJim said:
So should I lop off all the side shoots?
No, you'll decimate them now and they won't be able to recover fully. I'd support the stems and restrict them to 5-6 trusses or they'll make loads of tiny tomatoes.jmorgan said:
Cobblers. Mine were planted late. Just a load of foot high stems at the moment. Side shoot removed as per instructions. No hint of flowers yet.
Your not alone... all this talk of fruit and flowers was getting me down, keep going out and looking, not a single flower yet, its the first time I have grown tomatoes, its not going as I had hoped,
I suppose expecting things to grown in the north east, under a small plastic greenhouse was expecting to much, or I do not have the patients for this growing malarky.HumbleJim said:
Okay I've got loads of flowers (trusses?) should I nip these out now or wait till the fruit starts?
The part with the cluster of flowers on grows from a node between a leaf and the stem. These flowers develop into the trusses of fruits. If you take them off now you will have no fruit! However ideally you only want 4 or 5 trusses of tomatoes on each plant. As the plant grows more flowers/trusses will sprout from nodes on the stem so once you got 4 or 5 then start nipping the top off. Edited by RichB on Wednesday 2nd July 12:43
PRTVR said:
Your not alone... all this talk of fruit and flowers was getting me down, keep going out and looking, not a single flower yet, its the first time I have grown tomatoes, its not going as I had hoped, I suppose expecting things to grown in the north east, under a small plastic greenhouse was expecting to much, or I do not have the patients for this growing malarky.
Some of it does take patience, some things take a long time to grow. Tomatoes are not the quickest but they do taste great! Don't even think about cauliflowers or brussel sprouts if you don't have the patience! I suppose expecting things to grown in the north east, under a small plastic greenhouse was expecting to much, or I do not have the patients for this growing malarky.You try a number of other things though, lettuce is fast, as are carrots, courgettes, and a number of other things. New potatoes take 3 months from planting to harvesting.
RichB said:
HumbleJim said:
Okay I've got loads of flowers (trusses?) should I nip these out now or wait till the fruit starts?
The part with the cluster of flowers on grows from a node between a leaf and the stem. These flowers develop into the trusses of fruits. If you take them off now you will have no fruit! However ideally you only want 4 or 5 trusses of tomatoes on each plant. As the plant grows more flowers/trusses will sprout from nodes on the stem so once you got 4 or 5 then start nipping the top off. Did you know that if you put the pinched-out side shoots into a brown beer bottle full of water on a windowsill, they will grow roots and you get new plants for free within a couple of weeks?
I usually buy one or two plants from a garden centre but end up with 5 or 6 using this method, and they all have fruit.
In general though, and definitely if planting in soil and not pots, I agree with this...
I usually buy one or two plants from a garden centre but end up with 5 or 6 using this method, and they all have fruit.
In general though, and definitely if planting in soil and not pots, I agree with this...
Mr GrimNasty said:
It's all a waste of time, you will get blight and lose the lot just as you expect to start picking.
Oh the joys.............
Oh the joys.............
PRTVR said:
jmorgan said:
Cobblers. Mine were planted late. Just a load of foot high stems at the moment. Side shoot removed as per instructions. No hint of flowers yet.
Your not alone... all this talk of fruit and flowers was getting me down, keep going out and looking, not a single flower yet, its the first time I have grown tomatoes, its not going as I had hoped, I suppose expecting things to grown in the north east, under a small plastic greenhouse was expecting to much, or I do not have the patients for this growing malarky.
Brought in expert advice.... my Auntie came round and after lots of looking at me and shaking her head, why did you put 3 plants in the grow bag she asked, me, the grow bag had three markings to put things, more shaking of head, followed by pulling various bits off the plants, then she pointed out the flowers and explained that I would have take a paint brush and go from flower to flower when they open up.....
It was at this point I realised something I had suspected for a long time, I am not very good with things that are alive, those £1 tomatoes in tesco are looking very appealing
It was at this point I realised something I had suspected for a long time, I am not very good with things that are alive, those £1 tomatoes in tesco are looking very appealing
PRTVR said:
I would have take a paint brush and go from flower to flower when they open up.....
Nonsense on stilts!If your toms are outside, the insects will do the work. If they're in the greenhouse, you can, if you wish, give each flower a flick with your finger from time to time to shake pollen from the anthers onto the stigma. That is all I have done, and have plenty of tomatoes.
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
PRTVR said:
I would have take a paint brush and go from flower to flower when they open up.....
Nonsense on stilts!If your toms are outside, the insects will do the work. If they're in the greenhouse, you can, if you wish, give each flower a flick with your finger from time to time to shake pollen from the anthers onto the stigma. That is all I have done, and have plenty of tomatoes.
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