Tomato growth spurt

purplerallim

Is it just me or do the toms this year seem to be growing fast? Mine already have up to three trusses per plant, at this rate I will hit the target of picking the first by the end of july ( weather permitting) 
Just a question for those who have grown Roma before are they naturally shorter and so thick leaved? In the pictures you can see they are significantly smaller than the rest, is this normal? It's my first time with this variety. 

Lyn

Roma are short and bushy, you don’t pick the side shoots off of those.
the others are ok, don’t feed too often or they’ll grow and grow and grow and....😀

purplerallim

Would you believe they are yet to be fed! They have only just started to fruit, about four have pea sized and one has a golf ball sized fruit, so just about to start feeding. They are off to a good start aren't they @Lyn .😁

Lyn

That they are😀 well don, you’ll get a nice crop there. 

Janie B

Another quick tomato question... my OH is growing loads of Gardener's Delight (from seed), and they are already very tall, but the stems seem quite thin. He swapped some for some Alicante, which seem much sturdier. Anything he can do to bulk up the GD stems? (They have tiny buds on them atm, no flowers as yet).

purplerallim

They have probably just shot up too fast. The second photo ones had to wait an extra week to go in and looked weedy to the others, but have filled out quite a bit since then. So just make sure the side shoots dont take nutrients  away from the plant and keep watering till the fruit sets then feed weekly and they will fill out as you can see @Janie B .😁
Good to see us  Lincolnites growing well.😁

mrtjforman

looking great. You make it look easy with those pictures whereas I am always put off with the constant watering.
I am curious if you don't mind me asking, do you use fresh soil every year and what do you do with the old? It's always what puts me off tomatoes myself.

purplerallim

From the photos you can see I use tubs, and I alternate between removing the top compost in the first year and changing it all in the second. This way I try to keep diseases at bay. The used compost goes on the garden to help my heavy clay soil, so little goes to waste. I only water once in the morning and will start feeding once a week next week.