LEARN HOW - 'stopping-off' tomatoes
Tomatoes are really vigorous and this is part of the reason we have to stop them growing at some point.
If we allow tomatoes to grow unchecked, not only will they make lots of side shoots, they will also grow up and up. The plant will produce masses of growth and leaf at the expense of the flowers and fruit, so to get a good crop, it is necessary to constrain the plant.
As the days grow shorter now is the time to cut all new growth and leaves and flowers off your tomato plants. This means all the plant's energy goes into ripening the existing fruit. It's too late in the year for any flowers to grow into tomatoes so remove everything until all that is left is the stem and the fruit.
In around August / September it's necessary to "stop off" the tomato plants. This means pinching out the growing tips at the top of the plant to stop the plant growing up any further. Stop off at the top of the plant when there are 3-4 (outside grown) and 4-5 (greenhouse grown) trusses, which are layers of flowers. The exact timing of when to stop the plant growing depends on when it has set enough trusses, which depends on growing conditions.
Continue taking out the growing points as the plant will strive to keep growing. This means once you have cut off the top of the plant to stop it growing, you will need to do this again, and again, as it will keep trying to grow through the greenhouse ceiling. If some fruit fall off bring them in the house to ripen.
Later in the season, thin out the tomato foliage which will divert the plant's energy into making fruits and not more and more leaves. The plant shouldn't have masses of leaves on it - Be bold, cut them off. At the peak of the growing season, try to remove lots of leaves each week when checking the tomatoes (i.e. every week to 10 days). This also aids ventilation, which helps to reduce the risk of diseases.
Be careful disposing the cuttings as they are high in acid - consider placing into different compost bays so as to spread the mix.
If we allow tomatoes to grow unchecked, not only will they make lots of side shoots, they will also grow up and up. The plant will produce masses of growth and leaf at the expense of the flowers and fruit, so to get a good crop, it is necessary to constrain the plant.
As the days grow shorter now is the time to cut all new growth and leaves and flowers off your tomato plants. This means all the plant's energy goes into ripening the existing fruit. It's too late in the year for any flowers to grow into tomatoes so remove everything until all that is left is the stem and the fruit.
In around August / September it's necessary to "stop off" the tomato plants. This means pinching out the growing tips at the top of the plant to stop the plant growing up any further. Stop off at the top of the plant when there are 3-4 (outside grown) and 4-5 (greenhouse grown) trusses, which are layers of flowers. The exact timing of when to stop the plant growing depends on when it has set enough trusses, which depends on growing conditions.
Continue taking out the growing points as the plant will strive to keep growing. This means once you have cut off the top of the plant to stop it growing, you will need to do this again, and again, as it will keep trying to grow through the greenhouse ceiling. If some fruit fall off bring them in the house to ripen.
Later in the season, thin out the tomato foliage which will divert the plant's energy into making fruits and not more and more leaves. The plant shouldn't have masses of leaves on it - Be bold, cut them off. At the peak of the growing season, try to remove lots of leaves each week when checking the tomatoes (i.e. every week to 10 days). This also aids ventilation, which helps to reduce the risk of diseases.
Be careful disposing the cuttings as they are high in acid - consider placing into different compost bays so as to spread the mix.
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