Tomatoes

[nikkie]

Anyone elses plants flowering?

I've only got one tiny little tomatoe

grow dammit grow!!!!

OK new competition, that I can play - only allowed to enter if growing outside.

15 tomatoes on one plant so far (I only have one plant).

Go on beat me, but at least I can enter

P.S. this is actual tomatoes not potential tomatoes

Debbie - I ahve 15 on one as well - some of them are tiny though - smaller than a petit pois

Some of mine are tiny as well, but definately a tomato

Arrrggggh. I've killed it

how?

Sorry the thread, not the tomatoes - though I should water the tomatoes, before they go the same way

phew

Can I join in. We are growing tomatoes for first time this year and have Tumbler & Gardeners Delight. Have quite a few toms on my tumblers but not much yet on the Gardeners Delight.

Have been doing side shoot pinching although not needed for Tumbler.

We have already eaten about 6 of our courgettes (only have 2 plants in pots on patio) and our whole broad bean harvest - 5 plants gave us one dish of BBs.

We are just trying a few things out this year but so far it seems that you need quite a lot of space to be self sufficient in veg.

Im so sorry ks, but i measured mine today, and 3 are 10.6, 10.5 and 10.7 cms.....

They are beefsteak variety....but, im still impressed.

Finally staked them today too.

Also measured my first courgette.....9 cms long!!!

Mine are onlly just flowering but they're starting to get a bit of blackfly I think. IIRC you're not supposed to spray insecticide on fruiting plants while they're in blossom - does anyone know whether I can spray them with soap or tobacco solutions? Both of which I've used quite effectively on blackfly in the past, but always on ornamental plants.

I'm coming back to this thread because I have a number of clusters [ooh missus] but one ENORMOUS single tomato. I'm going to measure it tonight. I was going to do it last night but DH got home from work to relieve the nanny and put the currently very high-maintenance DCs to bed because I was Working Hard at my Important Job. I really did not have the nerve to turn up at 9pm and say - quick, got to measure my tomatoes becuase we are having a competition on Mumsnet.

PC - marigolds are supposed to deter blackfly. As are Summer Savoury's (herb).

A soap solution seems like the most "friendly" idea though.

ok I'm growing veg for the first time this year ,my tomatoes have just started flowering.....am I behind everyone else?
Do I have to pinch the tops of the plants or something?

what does that mean?

I have a big branch growing off the main plant ,is that bad?

Sounds like a sideshoot that got away - you should take it off, otherwise the rest of the tomatoes wil not grow as big as it takes energy away - or leave it and get more, smaller ones!

Have you still got the seed packet? The variety of tomatoes I am growing this year do not have to have the side shoots removed - this is stated on the packet.

It normally depends on whether you're growing a bush type like tumbler which don't need sideshoots removing, or an upright one, which do (she thinks!!)

I've just removed side shoots that were about a foot long....hope that's right.I bought these plants from garden centre so don't know what variety they are.

GGirl - Some plants need sideshoots pinching out. Some also/or need the tops need pinching out. This is as someone else said, to make sure all the energy goes into producing lots of big fruit. Its not a disaster if you dont do it tbh, it just makes them better.

I have a type called Ildi that requires no sideshooting and and no pinching out top growth either.

I have a plant that is only 12 inches high atm, let alone flowering. I wouldnt worry - the ones that i have that have lots of developing tomatoes on were started early on in the greenhouse and i planted them out when the first flowers appeared.

Make sure you feed them too with tomato feed or, i use seaweed extract. Which i pretty much use on EVERYTHING in my garden.

KS.....