Tomato Jungle! HELP!!!

robbie2red

Hi,



We have an out of control tomato greenhouse! Please help?!

so this is our first year trying to grow anything. I followed everyone’s instructions (pinched out top, pinched out side shoots), but the trusses we left have just gone too strong. There’s very little fruit either yet.

would my problem be that I started feeding them too early?? The grow bag said they only had nutrients for I think 6 weeks, so I started feeding them then with Tomorite, but this was before there was fruit! Was this my problem do you think???

Can I do anything to help fruit success, or have I nacad it for this year?! I’ve really enjoyed the gardening so far, but this has frustrated me a little as we were well happy with them after bringing them on from seed! Basket Tommy’s are coming on nice though! Had some nice courgettes too, and beans are coming on! We were a little late with most things but we’re happy to have anything for our first year! 

BobTheGardener

You are doing very well for your first year!  I think you have diagnosed the tomato problem perfectly as this is exactly what happens if you start feeding too early.  Best thing to do now is nip-out the main growing point at the top, so the plants put all of their energy into the fruit instead of more leaves and flowers.

Helix

I’m a tomato novice too, so no advice to offer.  But your courgettes look as if a spray with a tea made from mare’s tail would help control the mildew before it saps strength from fruiting. 

robbie2red

Thanks @BobTheGardener that’s really nice of you to say that! 

I’ll try that! They’re really thick stems, will using a secateurs be ok?? 

Thank you!

PS: I only put the rose pic on as it’s my first rose I’ve owned, my wife bought it me for Valentine’s Day! I’m really pleased with it, it’s called ‘True Love’ and it has loads of buds on it and looks really healthy!

:-)

robbie2red

The white mildew looking stuff on the leaves of the Courgettes, do I need to be worried about it?? Thanks

purplerallim

Any harvest is a good harvest! Just think of the good quality fruit you will get, and the experience for next year. We all need to learn how to grow things( mine is peppers and Aubergine this year) and what likes your garden also comes into it, not everything grows well in every garden. So enjoy your first year, nip the tops of those toms and then let them romp away, mine are jungle like too.

robbie2red

Thanks @Helix and @purplerallim we’ve had some lovely fruit off the courgettes already! Really strong flavour with them! I’ll google that about the mare’s tail to spray the courgette leaves with! Yep you’re right purple, we’re going to dig our potatoes this weekend so that’s exciting! :-)