Tomatoes - five trusses

[goodolpete]

My tomato plants have a low down truss with flowers, but none of the trusses
above have flowers. Do I wait for the plant to grow more trusses that have flowers,
or do the trusses I have develop flowers later , meaning I can pinch out the growing
point?

[Scoot]

The trusses always start flowering from the bottom first. The flower trusses will further up will start flowering as well though, dont worry.

[Jungle Jane]

What variety are they Pete? It's quite early to be pinching the growing tip of a cordon variety,I'd wait for more flowers you could develop seven or more trusses,it's only June. Tomatoes are growing well in this weather. Have you been pinching out the side shoots but don't if it's a bush variety?

[goodolpete]

What variety are they Pete? It's quite early to be pinching the growing tip of a cordon variety,I'd wait for more flowers you could develop seven or more trusses,it's only June. Tomatoes are growing well in this weather. Have you been pinching out the side shoots but don't if it's a bush variety?

It's Shirley.
Yes I've been pinching out side shoots.

[MarkPelican]

How much height have you got? I personally don't stop the plant until it reaches the top of the greenhouse. Depending upon the variety this can mean anywhere between four and eight trusses on a single cordon.

How many of the trusses produce ripe tomatoes depends upon the weather and the cultivar. In 2013 I was picking Pink Brandywine right through until late November.

I also let some sideshoots grow which generates more trusses. You have to be willing to strip off the leaves to let the sunshine on the fruit and make sure that there's plenty of air movement.

I think the reason that we grow indeterminate varieties on a single cordon in the UK is because of the lack of sunlight and growing them up high in greenhouses. If you look how they are grown in the USA, they tend to grow them in cages without any pruning.

[goodolpete]

"You have to be willing to strip off the leaves to let the sunshine on the fruit "
Could you explain which leaves you strip off please? At the bottom, at the top?

[bramble]

You always strip the leaves below the fruit that has already ripened. Although I do tend to thin out the foliage if its very dense. Its a learning curve really.
Tomatoes are tough so dont be afraid to experiment.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I stopped my first one today 5 trusses 6ft high a Sungold

[vixylix]

Once they start looking more like a jungle than a cordon - I start taking branches out with gay abandon. It doesnt seem to make a difference to them, it just encourages more!

[magicmarigold]

Sorry for jumping in the thread, but I'm meant to remove all branches below the first set of tomatoes? I have Alicante and gardeners delight if that's makes any difference and all have tiny tomatoes starting to form. Thanks!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Your not forced to, but many people myself included remove them once they start to turn brown it really helps the air flow and this keeps pests to a minimum.

[MarkPelican]

As most people say its personal opinion as to how many/which leaves you take off and when. Here's my approach:

For Indeterminate cultivars:
As the plants get older, take off the lower leaves up to the first truss.
Take off yellowing/diseased leaves - they've done their work.
To thin further, leave the leaves on either side of a truss, they provide the most sugar to the truss and take off any others (some cultivars seem to have two leaves between trusses (in which case you can't take any off) others have three or more (in which case leaves can be taken away without affecting the truss).

For Determinate Cultivars:
Do your best, they're going to be growing in a mess anyway.

[Jungle Jane]

Everyone's tomatoes sound way ahead of mine,I've got a few flowers but only about 3 ft tall plants,they're growing fast though. Well done everyone who has tomatoes now!
I remove the bottom leaves then once the first truss of tomatoes have all been picked,I'll start removing more leaves under the next ripening fruits at the bottom of the plant. Same as what Mark just said

[BUFFS]

Just to see what would happen, last year I let one shop bought plant, ambrosia, carry on putting out trusses and after an early start we had 17 trusses, up one side of the greenhouse, across the top and three quarters down the other side, with some flowers that were too late to get a crop from. So I saved some of the seeds from this and I have three plants growing away, with some toms now reaching full size, they just need to change colour now,they are only average size but have a good taste..

[magicmarigold]

Ok, dodgy looking lower leaves removed. Also tied them up a bit better as it's meant to be a bit stormy later apparently. Tbh if I get one tomato from.the lot I'll be happy...