Toms getting too big for greenhouse

[Marb67]

I have some gardener's delight and tigerella toms in the greenhouse but they are too tall and outgrowing the space as its a lean to with limited roof space on one side. Also a lot of leaf s blocking sunlight from reaching the fruits. I have no way of supporting them either as they are also too tall for the canes. Can they grow in a bent position if they are prevented from snapping ? Its a pain as I cant get in there to water properly.

Can anyone advise if I should cut off any leaf etc ?

Thanks.

[bario1]

Marb, they'll happily grow on and on until the frosty weather kills them off - you can bend the stems carefully and tie them to the roof supports there. However, any flowers produced from here on in may not make it to ripe fruit... if you cut the growing tip right off, they will stop producing flowers and concentrate on developing the fruit that's already set, and they'll be a lot easier to manage. It's up to you!

[Paulieb]

Traditionally cordon greenhouse tomatoes are stopped at 5 trusses of flowers. Do this by cutting or pinching the leading stem.

Energy will then go into the fruit, but also extra armpits so keep an eye out for those.

Having said that I can get 6 sometimes 7 trusses in my relatively tall GH, but go with what you have space for.

Also I would remove leaves up to the lowest truss. Then remove leaves further up as each truss finishes.

[Mark_Riga]

I'm in Cheshire as well and gardeners delight carry on ripening till Christmas many years. They look fine at the moment. You could take out any leaves that get in your way as well as any that need removing (can't see any). Just keep an eye out for any moulds developing if they get crowded. Last year finished picking towards the end of November (4 more months).

[veggiechicken]

I grow bush tomatoes on the sunny side of the GH and Vine tomatoes on the shadier side - as the bush tomatoes don't block the sun from the taller ones on the other side.
Something to think about for next year perhaps?

[Marb67]

Thanks. Will cut some stens and leave others perhaps and try and support the plants somehow. I could take some and plant them in the garden but I don't want to risk blight.

[Jungle Jane]

You could add string to the cane to help support the top bits of plant if you can tie it to something above or anywhere helpful. If not you could tie another cane to the cane that’s there to add height,they can grow in a bent way but when the fruit come they’ll bend the stem if they’re not supported. Looks like you’ve got some low down side shoots that have fruit on,it’ll be difficult removing leaves,try to get the whole leaf in your hand before you cut so you know it’s leaf you cut & not flower or fruit. Removing the lower leaves should make it easier to water.

[ESBkevin]

If you get them all to lean the same way, you can get the tops to go down one side and back up the other. As others have stated you can stop further trusses developing anytime you are ready. For us here in the east we can go another 2-3 weeks before stopping them. We can keep them in the greenhouse until october and windowsil ripen the last of the fruit even later.

[Babru]

I was wondering about removing leaves to let the sun hit the tomatoes in my greenhouse, but according to this report from Cornell University in the US, it is achieving the correct temperature that ripens tomatoes, not the sun, ie between 70 and 75 farenheit is what you want https://cvp.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=91

Still removed some leaves to give more air circulation though. It may be that you need the sun to get flowers in the first place of course - and no flowers = no fruit!

[greenishfing]

Marb it is wonderfull to see you so happy with thriving plants as I know that you have had problems with some of your others. I have been known to take my overgrown tomatoes across the roof and down the other side like an arch. The trouble was I ended up having to fight my way into the greenhouse a couple of weeks later.It was like a jungle. In the end I had to cut them back. After all how many tomatoes can a body eat.

[Scarlet]

Thanks. Will cut some stens and leave others perhaps and try and support the plants somehow. I could take some and plant them in the garden but I don't want to risk blight.

I don't plant toms in the garden anymore due to blight risk either.

[lottie dolly]

How nice to see something growing well for you,well done,a tomato plant will just keep on growing,until it is stoped,it can be tied into anything,if you put string about,it can be simply looped around it,as has been said,take out arm pits,and remove lower leaves as the toms are picked,together with any that are dying of ext,if you should get a broken main stem,do not panic,providing it still attatched on parts,ot just a bit crushed,it can be taped up,even if you have to splint it a little,providing you tape it round,to stop the fluid flow,it will still keep giving,good luck,

[robbra]

After all how many tomatoes can a body eat.

You can never have too many tomatoes.

[veggiechicken]

Marb, if you want to try something different - you could take some side shoots off the plants, put them in water to grow roots and pot them up to grow a bit later in the season to replace any of your tall plants because they've finished cropping..

Its good to esperiment and it costs nowt

[welovezig]

Toms getting too big for greenhouse

I've got a couple of these too and very tall by now. When you say remove lower leaves/stems do you just pull them off or cut them next to the stem please?