Novice alert... giant tomato plants

[GKP]

Hi! New to the forum but have read a lot and have enjoyed it so I'm happy to be here.

I wondered if I could get some opinions. I know they can be divided on tomatoes so I'm prepared for a bit of debate...

Like the novice that I am, I bought a variety pack of seeds and did what it said on the back of the packets... sowed tomatoes in January and February and now have giant plants.

One is an Azoychka. It's pretty huge, shoulder height to me (I'm 5ft8). I was pinching out side shoots but the leader split and I have two leaders now and seem to have missed a couple of side shoots on each side so how have four stems each with trusses on. Flowers are opening...

So my question is... how many trusses are reasonable at this stage if I want any fruit to ripen? Should I cut some of the stems and use them as cuttings for new plants? (Never done this... never grown from seed before.... But have read it's a good way to go And am happy to experiment). I had too many plants in my small house and tiny garden so only kept one of each variety and don't want to lose it now

https://ibb.co/k4N3b7

Hopefully that is a picture!

Thanks in advance for your help, advice, opinions and encouragement

Gemma

[nickdub]

First off that's a lovely looking v healthy plant which any really experienced gardener would be proud of.

If it was mine I'd leave all the flower trusses in place that you have now.

Going forward a few points :-

1) make sure you get adequate support in place to carry the weight of fruit, the plant itself won't cope with the weight so with a large crop you either need a strong framework of stakes and/or v strong pieces of string tied to an overhead pole. It needs to be able to carry about 5 Kg.
2) as long as the roots are adequate the tomato plant can develop a LOT of fruit - its difficult to be sure in your case, but the fact that your container is not that big leads me to think that somewhere around 8 trusses might be a working maximum. I'd probably let a few more than that start and get past the flowering stage, but be prepared to take the top ones out if the plant seemed to be struggling.
3) once the fruit starts setting your plant will need a lot of feeding and watering as its dependent on that for producing new growth. unless you can rig up some sort of automated system your probably looking at at least twice a day to keep pace with it - may be more frequently in hot weather. If using liquid feed follow the directions on the container, but don't stint on the amounts.

[burnie]

Welcome Gemma, I agree with what nickdub said.

[ESBkevin]

Welcome.

Stopping tomatos (taking out the tops) is a bit of an art form re the timing. In a greenhouse environment where extended late ripening can take place, I go to about 10th August and then stop new trusses setting. For outdoor where there is a higher risk of blight and a shorter ripening season much earlier at about 5-6 trusses, then stop the growth, trim back the lower leaves and feed the plant to get the best fruit. Commercial tomatoes start to look silly in August as they are just cordons with a few leaves around the top. But the plant concentrates of fruiting.

HTH.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Gemma and welcome to the Vine
I'm impressed with your tomato - are the others as big?
Azoycha is a new variety to me so I had a little goggle Azoychka - Tatiana's TOMATOBase
A few comments about the speed of growth and size of plant.
Let us know how it tastes please.

[Chris11]

Welcome Gemma

I'm also growing Azoychka, although my plants are still very much smaller than yours. Look forward to seeing your progress reports.

Mark Pelican has also grown Azoychka, and my seeds originally came from him:
Azoychka | PelicanPlants


Here's one of my Azoychka fruits from 2016:

[GKP]

Ah thank you for your kind comments and encouragement and for the advice... I obviously need to think more about support and the two holidays I am planning. I have been wondering about some kind of irrigation system but imagine it's tricky in pots (or bags). Any recommendations welcome! I'm currently at home during the day so watering twice a day when I'm here is fine. Actually it's rather nice. But the thought of a week away in early June and late June is a bit much at the moment!

To answer the question about pot size, it's a 40L bag but not completely full at the moment. I plan to top it up once the plant is permanently outside but it's too heavy as it is to be carrying it back inside every night and I'm not sure how many times my partner will be willing to do it for me

Off to Google tomato supports and irrigation systems... so much to learn!

Thanks again!

[GKP]

Hi Gemma and welcome to the Vine
I'm impressed with your tomato - are the others as big?
Azoycha is a new variety to me so I had a little goggle Azoychka - Tatiana's TOMATOBase
A few comments about the speed of growth and size of plant.
Let us know how it tastes please.

Hi!

One is even bigger! The Tigrella. I have a Green Zebra, Black Krim, Ponderosa Pink, and Banana Legs. It was an impulse purchase of seeds I bought thinking that a bit of growing would be fun with my toddler. And suddenly I have a garden (courtyard at the back) full of plants, a lean to greenhouse and so many plants out front (more sun) that if both if fruits I will be ashamed to show my face to the neighbours ever again

And I love that you want to know how they taste as it assumes that I will make it and there will actually be tomatoes on this one at some point! And I will be sure to let you know, if that is indeed the case. Fingers crossed, eh?!

[GKP]

Welcome Gemma

I'm also growing Azoychka, although my plants are still very much smaller than yours. Look forward to seeing your progress reports.

Mark Pelican has also grown Azoychka, and my seeds originally came from him:
Azoychka | PelicanPlants


Here's one of my Azoychka fruits from 2016:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]80150[/ATTACH]

Hi! Ooh, it's so pretty!! Did it taste good? Can't deny feeling nervous about it now though. I should also read up on saving seeds, shouldn't I?

[nickdub]

Ah thank you for your kind comments and encouragement and for the advice... I obviously need to think more about support and the two holidays I am planning. I have been wondering about some kind of irrigation system but imagine it's tricky in pots (or bags). Any recommendations welcome! I'm currently at home during the day so watering twice a day when I'm here is fine. Actually it's rather nice. But the thought of a week away in early June and late June is a bit much at the moment!

To answer the question about pot size, it's a 40L bag but not completely full at the moment. I plan to top it up once the plant is permanently outside but it's too heavy as it is to be carrying it back inside every night and I'm not sure how many times my partner will be willing to do it for me

Off to Google tomato supports and irrigation systems... so much to learn!

Thanks again!

You're very welcome.
A couple of extra points with reference to the info you provided and about what others have written. :-

1) blight is a serious issue for plants outdoors from late summer onward say mid-August - Any overhead or side protection that can be given is helpful in preventing blight starting (there is no cure) - so putting the plants against a house wall for example from early August is advisable
2) irrigation - probably one of the simplest and most cost effective ways is to use capillary matting and a water/feed reservoir. This acts as a wick to draw water from the below the level up to the underneath the roots of the plants (they suck up as much as they need if you like)
3) holidays - as you are away for a week at a time I'd be inclined to ask a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on the plants. If that's not possible then moving them somewhere out of direct sunlight - say a shed or garage would be my next choice - moving by dragging on a sheet say is easier than lifting when the plants get big, still a two person job, one to be the donkey, the other to support the top of the plant.

Happy gardening :-)

BTW the supports don't have to be anything fancy, a pack of bamboo stakes and some string should be enough to get the job sorted.

[GKP]

Marvellous. Thank you. I have cane and string and am usually pretty good with DIY so I reckon I can knock something up. Shelter to protect from blight. Got it. I'll probably have to take it round the back. And I love the sheet trick. Used it for a very heavy washer dryer that decided to pack in not so long ago and thankfully have hard floors downstairs which makes it a bit easier to go through the house.

Marvellous. Thanks again. I will do my best to put all of this very good advice into action and report back on productivity and taste!

[Chris11]

Hi! Ooh, it's so pretty!! Did it taste good? Can't deny feeling nervous about it now though. I should also read up on saving seeds, shouldn't I?

Yes, taste for me was as I'd seen described, noticeably more citrus than most tomatoes.

It looks like you've got a particularly strong vigorous plant there, so definitely think about saving seeds

[GKP]

Well, that just makes it even more exciting! Thank you.