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Tomato gigantomo

RubyLeafRubyLeaf Posts: 260
in Fruit & veg
I want to try growing this massive variety this year. Any tips?

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Hi RubyLeaf, I've grown them for the last couple of years and my tip is to give the plants plenty of support;  Even the individual trusses need it because of the weight of the fruit.  I tie the main stem to a cane and then add loops of soft twine tied to the cane and looped around any trusses which look like they may be torn off by the weight.  Other than that, treat just like any other cordon tomato.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    To get the size of fruit you want you need to thin the fruit to one per bunch, then the plant can put all of its energy into producing the very large tomatoes.
  • RubyLeafRubyLeaf Posts: 260
    Joyce Goldenlily said:
    To get the size of fruit you want you need to thin the fruit to one per bunch, then the plant can put all of its energy into producing the very large tomatoes.

    Okay, but what about per plant? Should I limit the amount of tomatoes?
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I do not know this variety but I think the general rule is to let each plant develop 4 trusses, so 4 fruit per plant in total, one tomato on each truss. Pinch out each growing tip after 4 have developed, retaining the 4 strongest shoots.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Yes, certainly pinch-out the tops out after 4 or 5 trusses have set fruit and keep removing any side shoots which appear at the leaf axils.  A few of my plants also developed new growing tips at the end of the trusses (lots of similar varieties do this) so nip those off too.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • RubyLeafRubyLeaf Posts: 260
    edited February 2020
    Joyce Goldenlily said:
    I do not know this variety but I think the general rule is to let each plant develop 4 trusses, so 4 fruit per plant in total, one tomato on each truss. Pinch out each growing tip after 4 have developed, retaining the 4 strongest shoots.
    BobTheGardener said:
    Yes, certainly pinch-out the tops out after 4 or 5 trusses have set fruit and keep removing any side shoots which appear at the leaf axils.  A few of my plants also developed new growing tips at the end of the trusses (lots of similar varieties do this) so nip those off too.
    Thanks so much for the advice!
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