Mamande toms continue to confuse me

[jackarmy]

Sooooooo

After searching and reading loads about these toms it still seems apparent to me that actually, no one knows if their cordons or bush and that includes me .

Mine seem intent on growing two major stems which would suggest to me that they are a bush, or do they simply have two mains, maybe more ?, i just dont know.

All i know for a fact is after treating mine like cordons and cutting off the ( second main ? ) the poor buggers look like theyve been mistreated, will try and add a decent photo tomorrow but next year im gonna let one or two go with two main stems and see how they flow.

[Bohobumble]

I am growing marmande, I am letting shoots grow until I can identify if it's going to have flowers on it or not.

If it is just going to end up as another stem taking energy from the main then it gets nipped out.

I'm taking a few tips from James Wong's recent article this and so not trying to grow too may cordons on a plant.

[jackarmy]

Got flowers on mine but as they hit the two foot mark is, it seems they want to split into two main stems and i dont mean side shoots here, i mean big strong butch stems lol, i dunno,just seems they would be better treated as a bush, will see next season i guess, but such a long time , there again, maybe i can find a plant somewhwere

[Penellype]

My roma are giving me the same sort of puzzle. The seed packet says they are cordons, but they look much more like bushes to me.

[jackarmy]

Also having the same sort of problem with this "new" crimson crush variety, that one just seems to have stpped at the first trusse

[kris1960]

Mine too, glad its not just me!

[Bigmallly]

Marmande is a cordon Tomato but I can't see any harm in running 2 cordon branches from the same plant.

[veggiechicken]

A few years ago, several of us were having trouble with http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...oes_65737.html
Maybe this is another "forking"year?
I have 3 Crimson Crush toms that look like bush - not sure what they're supposed to be

[sparrow100]

A few years ago, several of us were having trouble with http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...oes_65737.html
Maybe this is another "forking"year?
I have 3 Crimson Crush toms that look like bush - not sure what they're supposed to be

My Katja and Sandpoint toms are forking away...was a bit concerned till I read the forking thread you posted.

Crimson Crush is a cordon according to Suttons.

[kathyd]

I think they all just make it up as they go along! I'm having forking issues here too, I thought it was just because I didn't check them fast enough, but it sounds as though I'm not alone! I'm nipping off side shoots if they've not got too big, but leaving them if they look like big stems. I often end up with a sungold or two with more than one stem but they still seem to do fine. As for the marmande, I've given up with it and am letting it make up its own mind! Had the same problems when growing roma in the past too, so I let it run away with itself and it seemed perfectly happy .

[jackarmy]

Ah, thanks for all thr replies, glad to know its not something ive done lol,

so best bet is just to let them get on with it then, just removing side shoots.Glad to know im not the only one with crimson crush issues also, guess just let them go their own way also, trouble is i only have one so cant experient with other plants, sure someone will tho

[unclefudgly]

I have noticed that the seed offered by some selling on ebay is either mislabelled or purposely misrepresented. I bought six varieties of Toms from one big seller and two are looking nothing like they are supposed to. Wonder if something like that might not be happening here?

[roitelet]

I have down Marmand in the past as cordon plants and they were fine. Roma, now that's another matter!!

[marchogaeth]

I grow Amish Paste, the fork to Olympic standards. After a few years, this is my approach:-
Arm pit rigorously - if you let these go they do seem to weaken the plant.
If it forks and I can't stop one early because it looks weaker ie I can't tell then let both grow on and stop one after one flower truss.
Be very wary of going in too early on shortening one side of the fork because sometimes one side doesn't go very far.
I don't have much joy from letting this variety grow on with two stems.

It does seem to be a forking year (Stupice and Ruby having a go, also bizarre, wide flat leaf stems, much like the old thread). I've also got that thing where the flower trusses then grow out of the end and become great long leafy branches - cutting them off on the basis I want the food in the fruit.

[Nicos]

I've asked some of our locals what they do with their Marmande.

Apparently most peeps leave them to grow as a bush, and if they become too dense, rip off a few leaves or chop off a few side stems if they get too crowded and could encourage spores to get a hold. ( depends on the weather apparently)