Let my Toms get out of control

[gadgetman]

My Toms have gone wild and now are out of control.

They are Sungold, Super Sweet 100, Gardeners delight. But I got overwhelmed with picking out growth, and the last week they're gone mental.

How can I get them under control etc, or are they fine to leave wild? With the Toms grow and ripen ok?

First year growing, and a little lost how to go about recovering without killing the plants which are very heathy - unless I can leave as a bush?

Pics -

[BumbleB]

You could gently tidy them up with clipping off the side shoots and lower branches. Add some canes or strings to hold the weight. If left wild they will not grow straight and then you are at risk of branches snapping under the weight of the excess shoots. I have left some of mine to go wild in the past and still got quite a few fruits from them but they will do better with a tidy up and support system.

[gadgetman]

Thanks.

Still ok even though the side shoots are now some heft branch type affairs?

Also is there a limit on how many truses I should have at any time?

[BumbleB]

I would still take off the side shoots even if big as these will only zap all the water etc away from the plants. You need to encourage more trusses from the main stem and allow some light and sunlight to ripen the fruits that you have. Take off the thick green shoots at the bottom, then all the shoots coming from the elbow of the main branches. I think most limit their plants to 5 or 6 trusses but if you have more already and you want to keep them you will just have smaller fruit. I would tidy up to ensure the plants do not snap with the weight.

[Incy]

This picture posted by a more experienced grape might help guide you

[gadgetman]

Big thanks BumbleB and Incy.

[kerryp]

im glad someone else asked this as i didnt know which bit to cut off at first & my tomatos have now got fairly thick stenms coming out of the elbows & i didnt feel right taking these off as some have flowers on so it feels like a waste.... but if it is for the "better good" i might go out & be ruthless

[Alison]

If they're fairly thick stems then you can root them in compost for another plant rather than wasting.

[kerryp]

can i? how do i do that then? im glad u suggested that... was about to cut them down & throw them & i hate doing that. some stems are nearly as thick as the main stem.

[Alison]

Never done it myself as I always grow too many plants in the first place but I think you basically you cut the stem nice and clean and just shove it in some compost. As it's the same age as the original plant it should start fruiting quickly. Am sure others who have actually done this will be along soon to tell you in more detail.

[taff]

that's basically it. Just keep the compost damp, and don't let it dry out, they'll root quicker

[Galileo]

The side shoots of Tomatoes root really really easily.

Just stick them in some potting compost and you will have a new plant which will come to fruit very quickly as this is not a seedling. In fact some growers just grow one or two plants of each variety and root the side shoots for lots more plants.

This year I had 100% success with rooting side shoots in fact it is hard to fail if you give them compost and water. Put each one in its own pot so you do not have to disturb the roots later.

[bramble]

I nip out the shoots from the axel of the plant and pop it in water When it shows roots i pot it up. Less chance of it rotting in the soil if it has already grown roots.

[Scottishnewbie]

Can I ask what are the 'elbows' please?

[teakdesk]

Can I ask what are the 'elbows' please?

You'll get a couple of different answers to that!!

I call the joint that you break to take the ripe tomato off the truss an elbow.

What is being referred to here is what I call a node or "armpit" as I show in this picture.