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Time to Stop the Tomato?

Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
edited August 2021 in Fruit & veg
May ask two questions?

Firstly I have pinched out the tips, but there are a couple of trusses of flowers which either have no tomatoes, or the latest tomato on the bunch being very small. Should I remove any of these at this point?



Secondly, I am getting a bit of browning where the first toms are starting to ripen. I should this usual? if not, what can I do to mitigate this at this stage? Watering has been quite even and consistent.

Thanks.

F
“Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
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  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    I’m not sure about the browning, but someone else will know. As your toms are outside,  I would be inclined to remove the flowers now. It’s an educated guess when to stop allowing new flowers, because it depends on where you live, and what the rest of the season will be like. Where I am, South West Wales, I’m hoping for another month of ripening weather. Early October would be a bonus if it’s mild, but I don’t bank on it. My toms are in a polytunnel. I’m going to pinch out the tops of my plants in the next day or so. After that I will remove flowers. You do have to keep coming back and repeating this process, because they will try to keep going for a while yet.
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You'll have to make the judgement re taking out flowers, as @Emerion says. I stopped mine a while ago, and they're under cover. No chance of getting everything to ripen and it's a waste of the plants' energy. 
    Splitting is often caused by inconsistent watering, but it can also be from overfeeding. May simply be weather. Not something I often get, although I get the odd one splitting. 
    Someone who grows outdoor may be able to advise with that though.

    There looks to be a lot of black on the foliage, and a lot of damage,  in that 2nd photo- is the rest of the plant healthy? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
    edited August 2021
    Fairygirl said:
    You'll have to make the judgement re taking out flowers, as @Emerion says. I stopped mine a while ago, and they're under cover. No chance of getting everything to ripen and it's a waste of the plants' energy. 
    Splitting is often caused by inconsistent watering, but it can also be from overfeeding. May simply be weather. Not something I often get, although I get the odd one splitting. 
    Someone who grows outdoor may be able to advise with that though.

    There looks to be a lot of black on the foliage, and a lot of damage,  in that 2nd photo- is the rest of the plant healthy? 

    generally they seem fine.




    “Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Outside tomatoes will have two to four weeks left of ripening time in the Midlands, so anything not already set here is a waste of plant energy. South of us they may have a week longer, north maybe not as long. This is only for outside ones, not those in a greenhouse or pollytunnel.
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    Mine are outside and have been topped.
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
    purplerallim said:
    Outside tomatoes will have two to four weeks left of ripening time in the Midlands, so anything not already set here is a waste of plant energy. South of us they may have a week longer, north maybe not as long. This is only for outside ones, not those in a greenhouse or pollytunnel.
    Can you help me by defining "set"?

    Does that mean nothing will get larger so small (say <golf ball sized) toms should be removed? Or that anything still a flower should be removed?
    “Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Outside if they are not small fruits by now, they won't have time to finish before it gets too cold. Mainly night temperatures will be the deciding thing as toms won't thrive under 13 to 15° , so at the end of the season fruit that have made the size (depending on variety) can be brought inside to finish ripening on the vine.
    Any flowers or growing stems should be taken off, so the plant can put all its energy into finishing the fruit already there.
    Hopefully we will get a last warm spell sometime in September to finish off the ripening. As I write this it's raining and only 13°, so I'm hoping tomorrow is brighter and warmer .🤞Hope this helps @Ferdinand2000
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The temps are key. If you don't have enough consistent warmth, and if you have limited space inside, it could also be worth rigging up a shelter of some kind. As you have a wall there, and a frame in situ, it wouldn't be too difficult. 
    As @purplerallim says - the night time temps in particular are important, as are the size of the fruit, which depends on variety. 
    We often have single fig temps through August here, so it's not possible to have them outside - some parts of Scotland were at frost levels last night. All about getting used to your local climate.
    If in doubt, have some extra measures in place for next year so that it's easier to get your crop through to it's end result.  Perhaps you could advise @Ferdinand2000 re those damaged fruits @purplerallim?

    I think you're doing fine though, with what you have there. All a learning curve, but very rewarding when you get some toms  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    I too have some split skinned tomatoes this year, mainly on my Sunchocola cherry toms. I can't blame the watering as both outside and in the greenhouse have split. I do wonder if the skins have set before ripening ( because of the fluctuating temperatures) so that any more moisture uptake into the fruit just pops them. I have started picking my toms a little bit earlier to try to avoid this.
    This has been another odd year for growing @Ferdinand2000, with alot of people noticing problems they usually never have, so I'm sure it's nothing you have done that caused it ( unless you drowned them😆)😁
  • PrettyFlyForACactiPrettyFlyForACacti Posts: 8
    I’ve ended up picking some of my gardeners delight toms to ripen indoors as the weather is being unpredictable
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