How many tomato plants?

[Sambucus]

This is my first year with a greenhouse and I was looking forward to lots of home grown tomatoes - maybe even too many. Despite having 6 plants (5 cherry variety and 1 moneymaker type) I am still only harvesting around 5 cherry tomatoes per day. Did I underestimate how many plants I needed? I feel underwhelmed by my harvest!

Are you feeding them ? Last year I had 40! They all ripened very late . I have got 12 this year. Only two of them are in the greenhouse and I’m probably getting 6 to 10 tomatoes a day.

I’ve got 3 plants and am innundated!

I have eight plants (plus a few more at the allotment which are a little bit behind. I’ve only really started getting any ripe fruit last week: l am in the south with a sun trap garden but grow a mix of more heritage/slower to ripen varieties. They’ve ramped up fast and I am probably be harvesting 10-12 a day now - I do find tomatoes start slow then all come at once!

And agree that they are hungry and thirsty plants - they need regular feeds (weekly) and lots of water

I’ve got six plants and I’ve had tons of tomatoes. I’ve given lots away.

I've got 12 plants and only two green tomatoes! Only one plant had flowers so I think that's my lot.

Thank you for the quick responses. It sounds like 6 plants isn’t an unreasonable number for a small family. But where am I going wrong? I give them lots of water, tomorite weekly and there are a few very small unripe fruits. I don’t think I have space for many more plants so I really need to up the yield.

Are they in really roomy pots and in the sunniest spot you can find? Can the pollinators get to them? (they are mostly self fertile but I find they like a little help). What varieties have you planted?

Yeah, that was going to be my question - could the pollinators get in? Did you get a lot of flowers but few turned to tomatoes?

Ah yes, pollinators, that could have something to do with it - there was a point where it was very windy and the windows were shut a lot. There were a few trusses which died off. I think the varieties are moneymaker and gardeners delight from the garden centre and then a couple of cherry tomato plants which I grew from (packet) seed. They are a bit later so I shall keep my fingers crossed for them.

Ive grown one which I think is called Sungold this summer and it’s been prolific. I will be growing more of them next summer

Go for one of the varieties that claims it crops prolifically. Also make sure you’re removing green branches and properly pinching out side shoots. If all the energy goes into leaves you won’t get much fruit.

I have 20(!) plants and today I got 500g of tomatoes off them.

Anyone want some tomatoes...?

I’ve dabbled with growing tomatoes for the first time this year (outside) in a west facing raised bed. It took time to get green fruits but they’re ripening now - maybe half a dozen ripe toms a day for three plants. I agree that feeding the plants, lots of water and getting rid of unproductive leaves (ones with no flowers) does help.

I’ve dabbled with growing tomatoes for the first time this year (outside) in a west facing raised bed. It took time to get green fruits but they’re ripening now - maybe half a dozen ripe toms a day for three plants. I agree that feeding the plants, lots of water and getting rid of unproductive leaves (ones with no flowers) does help.

I like gardeners delight in the greenhouse -hmmm could be misread - good flavour and prolific but small fruit this year.

I normally grow two waves of tomatoes, the first starts fruiting in May and the second in August. This year all the first wave plants were a huge disappointment and barely produced enough to keep me going, let alone provide giveaways or freezing. The second wave however are looking fantastic. I think the growing conditions this year have been really unusual and you haven't necessarily done anything wrong at all.
To make the most of what you've currently got, be ruthless about taking off side shoots, take off the top of the plant when it has 5 or 6 good trusses, and take off the lower leaves as they start to look manky. That way all the energy will go into ripening what you've already got. If you can't bring yourself to be so brutal then try it for half your plants. That would bring some on a bit quicker and also hopefully leave some for later.

Thank you for all the reassuring messages. Yesterday I had a decent ‘harvest’ for the first time. Around 20 cherry sized tomatoes - which are delicious - so almost worth the hassle! I am going to try the stripping off redundant leaves approach and I guess I need to top a couple of the plants now. Thank you again, all tips very much appreciated.

Mine have n’t even flowered fully yet!

Some types are more heavy fruiting, what does google say about the types you planted? The cherry types usually come first and the big ones quite a bit later. When did you plant them? I planted seeds in February indoors (six types) potted 12 plants into small pots and moved to a heated tray in the greenhouse in March then potted on as necessary. You need to get them started early for early crops. Have been picking the cherry types for since June and bigger ones last few weeks.

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Ah, It seems that I have been a bit late to the planting…. I didn’t really get started until early April so maybe I’m just impatient. But it’s a steep learning curve - next year I will definitely start earlier.

5 plants
about a pound a day since July
outside on a south facing wall in balcony boxes, coir mixed with chicken manue pellets

I start from seed late feb early march, plant out mid may depending on weather

8 tumbling cherry type here, the first ones are just ripening now. I kept them in the greenhouse till about a fortnight ago but realised they were probably not getting enough sun and pollination and moved them to a sunny table. Hundreds of flowers but not many fruits setting. Hoping for a late burst.