Tomatoes Gone Mad, what should I do?

[Witherthumb]

Hi all

After returning from holiday I discovered the toms had shot out from the base and I was wondering if I should cane them up or leave them be.




Also I was hoping for some help with my bugs I found what I believe is a Potato Capsid or a Common Capsid (can't make out any spots near its head).

I found a small black flying beasty with a long body and wings, there is one spot near the end of each wing. (these where on the spuds) And in the soil of one of the toms was a large black beetle, he's a fast mover and has strong back legs.

I was just wondering if any of these are a big threat?

Regards

[Capsid]

If you are growing the toms as cordons then you should remove those shoots so that the plant focusses it's energy into the fruit trusses on the main stem. The plants you have look like they should be grown as cordons. As you can see the plant has many long thin stems rather than one big fat stem which can supply the fruit trusses.

What variety is it?

If you only have a few bugs and there is no sign of damage on the plant then I wouldn't worry too much, just pick them off. The black beetles are goodies and predate the pest bugs.

[rustylady]

These look like overgrown sideshoots or "armpits" as they are known on the Vine. I would remove them. The bugs you describe are not a threat.

[Flummery]

Looks like a whip and a chair's the only answer - lion-tamer style!

Seriously, I'd do as Rusty advises and get chopping a few sideshoots off.

[lacysue2]

looks like you growing you plant in a pot that is to small.

[Witherthumb]

What should I do, part II?

Hi all, many thanks for your responses. I did cut those off shoots away and things are looking good. I did want to ask some advice on a few specifc plants.


This off shoot is pretty thick and long and has fruit on it, i'd be inclined to leave it. is that right?


As you can see this one is developing short and bushy with lots of flowering.



These two pics are the same plant, I just held the main vine up in the first pic as its fairly kinked. Haven't a clue what to do with this one.

Generally with the toms I'm just not sure what to cut and when, if its better to leave thick off shoots after a certain point. I'm worried about being to brutal and lopping of perfectly viable plant.

I suppose in a nut shell I'd like a brief on what to cut and what not to cut off the main vine at any given time.

They are gardener's delight btw.

Regards

[rustylady]

Gardeners Delight are what is known as a Cordon tomato, and really should be grown upright, supported by a cane, and have all sideshoots removed as soon as they are big enough to get hold of. Yours have gone a bit too far. The one that has a thick sideshoot with fruit on I would be inclined to leave but do tie it in to a support.

[teakdesk]

Rustylady is quite right that Gardener's Delight are normally classed as a cordon type but they are often treated as a semi-determinate (bush) when grown outside....

...which is how I grow them, or at least I tend not to fuss over my outdoor plants and don't remove all sideshoots. So if you want to leave some, especially the ones with flowers then do so. I often stop sideshoots after one or two trusses though.

The most important thing Rustylady says is the sideshoots are notorious for breaking off the plant and you must support them very well.

[Tomatoking]

Rustylady is spot on, I always seem to get a bit of flack sometimes for telling people to remove side shoots on cordon plants, but the last picture shows what happens if you do not.
At this stage I would leave any shoots on that have trusses on them, just cut them after the truss and a few leaves.
Then train the main stem up only.
Mr TK

[womble]

Rustylady is spot on, I always seem to get a bit of flack sometimes for telling people to remove side shoots on cordon plants, but the last picture shows what happens if you do not.

To be fair, I don't think you've ever had flack, but maybe a discussion.

I've grown GD as a bush outside before and it works quite well, although you do have to restrict it a little, otherwise you just end up with too many flowers and fruit for the plant.

And the other problem is that I find GD a bit of a bugger for blight, if it gets into a GD bush, it's almost impossible to sort out and spreads like wildfire.

[Tomatoking]

Its OK Womble, it was just a tongue in cheek comment.

[catkeeble]

I'm growing one of these....I'll have to get a picture put up....can someone tell me what you mean by 'when the truss is set' please? Also, how do you tell when the Tom has blight? What are the signs?

[Tomatoking]

Catkeeble

Setting means basically when the flower has germinated and turned into a tiny tomato then starts swelling. In some cases you will get the tiny tomato, but this might not swell, because it has not set properly.

As for blight, there is quite bit of info on my blog, which some pictures and links to more info.

Mr TK