Determinate tomatoes

Cincinnati 4/22/2012, 8:20 am

I have not tried determinate tomatoes until this year when I bought two by mistake. I planted them in adjacent squares. They are getting unruly in a hurry.

For my indeterminate varieties, I have a string that I train them around as they grow. I cut all the suckers keeping one main stem growing around the string. The are growing very well.

Does anyone cut suckers on bush type plants, or do you let them all grow? I haven't checked the book, but I'll bet I was supposed to use more than one square for a bush tomato plant.

**camprn** 4/22/2012, 8:34 am

Cincinnati wrote:I have not tried determinate tomatoes until this year when I bought two by mistake. I planted them in adjacent squares. They are getting unruly in a hurry.

For my indeterminate varieties, I have a string that I train them around as they grow. I cut all the suckers keeping one main stem growing around the string. The are growing very well.

Does anyone cut suckers on bush type plants, or do you let them all grow? I haven't checked the book, but I'll bet I was supposed to use more than one square for a bush tomato plant.

I am going to recommend the Florida Weave type of trellis to get those shrubs contained within the space above the box. Typically you don't prune determinate tomato plants, but with the FW you can weave the stems into a mostly vertical contained area.

Cincinnati 4/22/2012, 10:10 am

camprn wrote:...I am going to recommend the Florida Weave

Thanks Camprn. I have seen that method and thought it was unique. If I grew tomatoes commercially, I'd use this method, but never have tried it. I think I will try it today. My determinate plants are quite bushy but I don't see any other better alternative.

Does anyone out there remove the suckers of a bush type tomato? I have a three or four main stems on each plant.

curio 4/22/2012, 10:21 am

I wonder if large bamboo colms would work as the posts for the weave? The reason I ask is that I have a group of determinates to plant, and was going to use the weave. I have a huge pile of 1.5-2" diameter bamboo that we cut down, and only three of the fence posts to use. I'd sure like not having to buy yet more "stuff"

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Determinate tomatoes

Determinate tomatoes

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