Monster tommy flowers

[brownfingers]

My Black Russians are producing the odd monster flowers again this year. Is it advisable to remove them?

[veggiechicken]

They're megablooms and their tomatoes will be odd shaped. I used to leave them just for the fun of it - now I remove them!

[Small pumpkin]

I have no idea brownfingers sorry, but I'm about to go out and look at my Black Russian flowers. See if I have any odd monsters!

[veggiechicken]

Megablooms have lots of petals - more like a calendula than a tomato flower. They seem to be on the heritage type tomatoes mostly and be the first to open in a truss.

[brownfingers]

Megablooms have lots of petals - more like a calendula than a tomato flower. They seem to be on the heritage type tomatoes mostly and be the first to open in a truss.

Yup. That describes these to a T.

[veggiechicken]

Is that T for Tomato?

[Scoot]

I have noticed some of these on my black pineapple tomato plants. I think i might remove them tomorrow after reading this.

[Thelma Sanders]

Personally I love the big ugly tomatoes that these produce

Though I wouldn't want them all to be like that IYKWIM

[Snadger]

I'm just leaving mine on my Black Russian, in case I get no others!

[MarkPelican]

My understanding is that Megablooms are caused by the fact that its cold when the flowers are formed, that's why they tend to be the first ones as by the time the other flowers form its warmed up somewhat. Personally I keep them and use the tomatoes that form. I find they have more flesh and fewer seeds/gell than the "perfect" tomatoes so if you're using them for cooking you get more tomato for your buck.

I don't think you get more tomatoes if you take them off.