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tomatoes - first-time advice?

pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
in Fruit & veg
Hi all,
I'm growing indeterminate (think that's right, i.e. cordon type) tomatoes for the first time in pots.   Outdoors as don't have a greenhouse.    
All seems well - they seem to be loving this weather and first fruits now beginning to set.

Just wanted to check something - 2 out of the 3 plants seem to have developed a 'second stem' so to speak...and I'm not quite sure how?     I've been religiously pinching out side shoots, but one plant - I've only just discovered - has a complete second stem growing from the base!   How I missed that I've no idea.   And the other again has forked out about half way up.

Is this normal?   If not then what should I look out for?   Are these new stems likely to have developed from side shoots that I missed?    Is this a good thing, or not particularly desired?

Also, I believe when 5 trusses have set, it's time to 'stop' them.    But should I include the trusses on the second stems when counting these, i.e. total trusses no matter how many main stems?

Posts

  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Outside the season is shorter, you can't expect enough warm sun past September, as long as you are in uk, so that is why 5 trusses.  Also strong winds might knock a taller plant. Sounds as if you are doing a good job but have been caught out as has happened to many of us.😁 You have a couple of choices leave two stems if there is room, let the second stem get as far as a truss and then pinch out or remove now, none are wrong just your choice. As fruit set hope you are feeding too. Hope this helps.
  • pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
    Thanks for this - I was going to ask when I need to 'stop each stem....   so each one would not support 5 trusses then?    It's probably set 5 on each already, so what do I do?    When I say 5, only one or two have fruitlets developing.   Some are just clusters of tiny buds yet to open, not sure if that counts as set (ie truss only an inch or two long or so)?


  • pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
    Is it better to remove the whole second stem then ?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree with what's been said Pierre. Just go with your instinct. The plant will struggle a bit to produce ripened fruit on all the stems in the time it has during the season. You could take the second stem out, but it might be better to just see how many fruits develop, and then remove anything that may not make it. I have to grow undercover, but when it gets to later in August, I take off anything that looks unlikely to mature into a proper fruit. Sorry to be vague- but it's one of those things where you often play it by ear.
    Perhaps others may have better advice for outdoor growing, but it will also depend on your own conditions and also the variety you have. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
    edited July 2018
    Gardeners delight.    South wall, sheltered.
    Can anyone else advise?   
    I'm going to probably remove the second stems otherwise.
  • Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
    It’s probably time to pinch out the tips of your cordons and stick to how many trusses you’ve got. I’d keep the side shoots as they are if they’ve already got fruit on them. Feed them weekly while the fruit are swelling. As the tomatoes get bigger you can start to cut back some foliage. If there are any trusses that haven’t got decent sized fruit on them come end of July/early August then probably cut those off so the plant can focus on ripening the existing fruit.

    Good luck and hope you get a good crop.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Well just use canes to support the stems. Nip out all tops as one plant can not support too many sets of fruit. You must be doing right for it to have grown so well. Feed once or twice a week and water maybe morning and night in this very hot weather. Hopefully the season will be long enough to ripen all your fruit, if not there is always green tomato pickle!😁
  • seyfadesseyfades Posts: 146
    I’m growing a number varieties outside and every now and again I get some side shoot popping from the base, I cut this off to focus the plants energy into fruiting. Also this afternoon, I went round to nip off the growing tip of most of the plants that have 4/5 trusses including baby truss. Veg growing is a matter of trial until you find the best approach that suit your growing condition. 
  • pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
    Thank you to everyone - much appreciated here.  I'll keep a closer eye for side shoots becoming a stem next time.  Interesting learning curve.   I'll go and nip off the tips now and reduce the second stems also to one truss. 
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