tomatoes just set - homemade feed and pinching out

[schw]

Our tomatoes were started very late this year as we were away, and they have just started to set fruit. They are outside, in a slightly crowded bed. I have a couple of questions:

Can I use banana peels to make a potassium-rich feed for them? Would it need fermenting or could I just make a sort of smoothie? How much might I need?

Should I pinch out the growing tip earlier than usual (in the plants' growth, that is) to make sure I get ripe fruit? The second truss is just flowering now.

All suggestions gratefully received.

[Flobalob]

Maybe go for 3 trusses. Its still earlish yet. Cannot help on the banana/feed. Never heard of it to be honest. I have heard how the skin helps ripen the fruit.
I use a nettle brew with a mixture of tomato feed.

[rustylady]

I would suggest 3 trussed per plant outside. Never heard of banana feed. I use tomorite. Comfrey water is supposed to be good fertiliser

[schw]

Flobalob, rustylady, thank you. I will pinch out at three trusses as you agree! As for the bananas idea I got it into my head that they had lots of potassium so must be useful. I might try it on half of them and see what happens. I would prefer not to have to buy a bottle from a shop if possible.