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Tomato, remove first truss if plant is still small?
Joe Brown2
Posts: 65
in Fruit & veg
I stumbled across this advise, but mention of it doesn't seem widespread, so unsure if it's incorrect/ill-advised.
My money maker tomato has it's first truss, the plant looks very healthy, but is only a smidgen over 2ft tall at the moment. I had read some remove the trusses until the plant is taller, is this necessary or not?
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have never heard of this before, but maybe its only if your plants aren't overly healthy, to promote stronger growth? But surely if the plant is strong enough to put out a truss then its healthy? (Sort of talking to myself there) Sorry can't help
Yeah I seemed a bit unsure of it, i wasn't sure if the point was it would start putting energy into making trusses when it should be doing it at a taller height? I'm going to side towards leaving it though...this is my first year growing anything so I don't want to do anything which will stop tomatoes forming, any produce actually being grown is a success haha.
If it is not a bush variety (which Moneymaker is not) remember to remove the side shoots in the leaf axils, but leave the trusses alone.
Yeah that's why I was hesitant Welsh, I think they were trying to say they weren't letting it put energy into tomatoes until it was taller...I just want tomatoes ASAP haha.
Yeah I know been inspecting for side shoots twice a week.
The time to remove flowers (or trusses) is if they appear before planting out or immediately after. The reason you remove them is to give the plant a chance to establish itself without the added strain of supporting fruit.
If the plant is established, regardless of height, leave things.
Piggy backing someone elses topic again - thanks Italophile, I had just noticed some of my still small plants have started developing flower trusses (actually I noticed last week but haven't had time to visit the forum, 3 are in flower now) and I was a bit unsure but was thinking they should be OK since they are now well established in grow bags with grow rings. I think I may just have let them dry out too much last week when the heatwave coincided with my being away up north all week.
The taller plants have yet to develop trusses, I guess they must have found a bit more water and continued producing greenery.
Interesting point you touch on, Boater. Plants will always produce flowers if they feel a bit threatened. Seeking to reproduce themselves before they expire. That's why I maintain that "tough love" is the way to maximise fruit production. Overwatered and overfertilised just leaves them feeling bloated. Treat 'em mean and enjoy the rewards.
where are the 2 other messages ?