"stop" outdoor tomatoes

[daisygrubber]

I was just reading through my online gardeners almanac ( I am keen) and it says in the second week in August that if I haven't already done it to "stop" my outdoor tomatoes.

Can anyone enlighten me please as to what this means.

Thank you

[taff]

it means taking off the gorwing tip so you force the plant to put it's energy into ripening the tomatoes on it.

[daisygrubber]

That makes perfect sense, thank you.

Why didn't they just say that

[Florence Fennel]

"They" like to keep things mysterious Kaye so that you think you'll never learn. On here, we like to make things simple. Simples.

[daisygrubber]

On here, we like to make things simple. Simples.

JUst the way I like it, thats why I thought I would post it. I knew I would get a straight answer lol

[Flummery]

I usually stop outdoor toms after 4 trusses rather than at a particular time - it must vary up and down the country. I leave the greenhouse ones - theoretically to 6 trusses but in practice, I forget. Poor old dear!

[chris]

I wasn't aware it's good to stop them.. first year I grew a tomato from a plant bought from the garden centre, it took over a blowaway greenhouse (literally). After the first few tomatoes I was a bit worried i'd have an 'Audrey II' on my hands. It was enmourmous.. it was even beginning to throw out arial roots.

I feared for my house foundations so decided to get rid of it.. but I think that was the moment that got me "hooked". If I could grow tomatoes purely on neglect, surely it was win win. Sadly, I've realised this isn't the case