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A Novice/Beginner in Desperate Need of Help!

2

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Do you know what variety of tomato[s] you have there?
    It's normal for cordon types to produce little sideshoots, which appear between the main, central stem, and the side branches/stems which carry the fruits. Those need to be taken out regularly, so that energy isn't wasted on them.  :)
    If you have photos, someone will be able to guide you on that. I've just removed mine, so I don't have a pic to show you!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ForknerForkner Posts: 7
    @Fairygirl There are Ailsa Craig, Red Cherry, Minibell and I'm sure there's a fourth but that one has eluded me at the moment. A few look okay but a few others' leaves have turned a purple colour mainly towards at the bottom of the plant. I'll take some photos when I go down to the house to check on them.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    How funny - I was just thinking earlier that I should take a photo of the new side shoots appearing on my toms, in case you need a clue as to where they are on the plants!  :)
    Leaves can go a bit purple if they've been warm and then get cold, so I wouldn't worry too much. 
    I'll sort out the pic for when you take yours, and hopefully we can help you through the general care  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ForknerForkner Posts: 7
    Okay thank you that would be great :). I actually had to repot them myself a week or so ago as well. They were still at the very early stages in those little starter pots when my Dad passed and they'd grown a fair bit since. I'm no expert, but they appeared to be getting too big for them so I placed them in some bigger pots he already had prepared, which I'm assuming he did so for the tomatoes. I hope that was the right call lol.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    I am putting together a short 'how to' for my neighbour who is taking surplus off me with no experience. Don't know if this will help?

    (1) side shoot to be removed
    (2) truss forming

    And if they are parsnips spacing is fine for now and that tub looks to be deep enough to be their permanent home.  Parsnips do not appreciate being messed about  :D

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Oh that's good @herbaceous :)
    I just did the photos showing where the side shoots appear - mine are not as far on as your pix, so both our posts will hopefully help  :)






    Yes - pot on as they outgrow the pots they're in @Forkner. Mine are in approx 5 or 6 inch just now, and are ready to go in the final big pots, which are boxes, and take two plants. I've just been prepping those in the greenhouse. 
    I meant to say Ailsa Craig is a cordon type, so take out the side shoots,  and Minibell is a bush type, so you don't need to do anything to those. The red cherry one could be either unless you have an actual name, but I wouldn't worry too much about that just now  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Mine aren't that far either @Fairygirl last years pics for daughter in similar situation  :)
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I kinda thought that @herbaceous, I probably didn't word my post very well  ;)

     
    Yours are much more arty than mine with the arrows etc!  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    I don't know about 'arty' but the conversation with next door led me to think 'essential' at the very least!

    They bought the house after my lovely gardener neighbour passed away last year apparently for the garden (but that's another story) so have a greenhouse which I thought they might like to use. That's where the conversation started to get a bit iffy  :D 
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • ForknerForkner Posts: 7
    Ah yes I can see what you mean now from the image. So those need to be removed, got it. I've just been to my Dad's house to check on the plants, took a couple of photos of one or two other things that I'll be posting about eventually, got sidetracked while there and then totally forgot to take photos of the tomatoes like I said I would! I go down pretty much every day any way so I'll make I sure I take some snaps tomorrow :).
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