What happens when you stop a tomato plant?

[Snoop Puss]

Some of my tomato plants are now much taller than I am and it's getting to the point where I need to decide whether to try and stop them or just let them flap about at the top of the canes.

I think stopping them is the safest option, but some of them (especially the Gardener's Delight) are absolutely covered in flowers and tiny toms. And I don't know what to expect when you stop a plant. Do the toms ripen all at once? I hope not. Thought I'd ask just in case. Any other advice welcome.

[Thelma Sanders]

They do ripen a bit quicker than if you leave the tops on, but I've not noticed them ripening all at once.
They do try to make side shoots all over the place, so keep an eye on them, snipping off any extras that grow lol

[ESBkevin]

I agree with Thelma, nature wants to reproduce and so will put all it's energy into the fruit (and more side shoots if it can). So keep on top of the side shoots and watch the fruit mature to a good size and then ripen. Normally I would stop my indoor plants 2nd or 3rd week of August above the latest truss. Outdoor plants would be stopped by the end of July to avoid too much fruit being lost to the early cold wet weather or blight on the allotments.

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

I'll try and keep an eye on all the sideshoots, I have to admit they're already a bit out of control as I've had quite a few trips away this spring and early summer. They're growing outdoors and it can get quite windy here, so stopping them is by far the best course of action..