My tomato plants are getting a bit out of control!

Shoxt3r

Hi there,

I planted some tomato plants some time ago and just recently they've gone nuts! They are growing up to about 6ft at the moment, as well as sideways. I think I have roughly 20-30 stems from just three plants.

All areas are producing fruit at the moment but I've read online that leaving tomato plants to their own devices can cause problems like disease and the fruit not maturing until much later in the year, if at all as the sugars needed to mature the fruit are spread thinly.

Does anyone have any advice?

Cheers,

Andrew

Last edited: 07 July 2017 20:47:07

Shoxt3r

Image at the link below:

https://ibb.co/hS2jqF

Last edited: 07 July 2017 20:55:33

hoeglory

take the tops off and pinch the side shoots. 

Fairygirl

That looks like the problem. If the sideshoots aren't removed,  you end up with too many stems and too much growth at the expense of flowers and therefore fruits. Plants are more prone to disease too.

Nipping out the top when they get to about six trusses high is the norm, as the plant won't have time to ripen more fruit either. If you can tidy them up a bit  (the weight might cause stems to bend and break) and make sure they have enough support, that should help  

Iamweedy

Does this apply to bush tomatoes.?  I grow Gardeners Delight outside against a south facing wall and I have never really removed side shoots. With good weather I do get loads of small tomatoes.

hogweed

Bush tomatoes by their very name don't need the side shoots removed. You're fine.