Hi,

generally instructions for growing tomatoes tell you to stop the plant
after the fourth truss.

In the past I have seen plants in late August in a nice warm greenhouse
with no leaves and the last few tomatoes ripening on the fourth truss.

I have never seen a reason to restrict a plant to only four trusses,
especially when the prospect of frost is still some months away.

My outdoor tomatoes (cherry) are currently averaging between 8 and 12
trusses and look to be on the way to setting and ripening them all (given
two more frost free months) so why the four truss rule?

I can see that in a short growing season this gives the best chance of
ripening all the fruit, but these days you should expect a medium to long
growing season - that is from last frost to first frost.

With a cool greenhouse you could even survive the first few autumnal
frosts.

I admit I have been spoilt in the past - in Felixstowe the first frosts
can be close to Christmas - but even in Berkshire we have a reasonable
frost free period.

So how many trusses do you grow on a plant?

Cheers

Dave R

"David WE Roberts" wrote in message
news
Hi,

generally instructions for growing tomatoes tell you to stop the plant
after the fourth truss.

In the past I have seen plants in late August in a nice warm
greenhouse
with no leaves and the last few tomatoes ripening on the fourth truss.

I have never seen a reason to restrict a plant to only four trusses,
especially when the prospect of frost is still some months away.

My outdoor tomatoes (cherry) are currently averaging between 8 and 12
trusses and look to be on the way to setting and ripening them all
(given
two more frost free months) so why the four truss rule?

I can see that in a short growing season this gives the best chance of
ripening all the fruit, but these days you should expect a medium to
long
growing season - that is from last frost to first frost.

With a cool greenhouse you could even survive the first few autumnal
frosts.

I admit I have been spoilt in the past - in Felixstowe the first
frosts
can be close to Christmas - but even in Berkshire we have a reasonable
frost free period.

So how many trusses do you grow on a plant?

Cheers

Dave R

Six in the greenhouse and four on standard tomato plants grown outdoors.
You can add to that if you want to make lots of chutney.

Regards,
Emrys Davies.

On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:35:30 +0100, "Emrys Davies"
wrote:


"David WE Roberts" wrote in message
news
Hi,

generally instructions for growing tomatoes tell you to stop the plant
after the fourth truss.

In the past I have seen plants in late August in a nice warm
greenhouse
with no leaves and the last few tomatoes ripening on the fourth truss.

I have never seen a reason to restrict a plant to only four trusses,
especially when the prospect of frost is still some months away.

My outdoor tomatoes (cherry) are currently averaging between 8 and 12
trusses and look to be on the way to setting and ripening them all
(given
two more frost free months) so why the four truss rule?

I can see that in a short growing season this gives the best chance of
ripening all the fruit, but these days you should expect a medium to
long
growing season - that is from last frost to first frost.

With a cool greenhouse you could even survive the first few autumnal
frosts.

I admit I have been spoilt in the past - in Felixstowe the first
frosts
can be close to Christmas - but even in Berkshire we have a reasonable
frost free period.

So how many trusses do you grow on a plant?

Cheers

Dave R

Six in the greenhouse and four on standard tomato plants grown outdoors.
You can add to that if you want to make lots of chutney.

Regards,
Emrys Davies.


I understand that tomatoes won't begin to ripen if the temperature
spends much time under 55 F. Unless we get an Indian Summer, much of
October is just too low. Under that temp the flowers aren't fertile
either. So it's not just frost dates that spell the end.

Fewer trusses mean larger fruit or bigger trusses. The balence of leaf
area and root size also play a major part in final yield. For that
reason I plant them deep even though that slows top growth for awhile.

Usually allow two stems. The second coming from above the first truss.
That gets stopped at two or maybe three. The main one at four.
Incidently the pruned side shoots can be easily grown into plants. Put
the shoot into a glass of water and it'll thickly root in a week. If
it's a bit late in the season either greenhouse or pot. Not enough
time for a six foot plant or course, but useful if you've got fewer
than planned of a favourite variety. Or want to make more chutney ; )
One use for those shoots that you're loathe to prune 'cos they've
already got little flowers on.

Some of the early tomatoes like Stupice and 4th July are also known
for ripening in lower autumn temps as well. They could be allowed more
trusses as a result. First year with them, also Glacier (determinate),
so we'll see.

On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:16:12 +0100, tony newton wrote:

On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:35:30 +0100, "Emrys Davies"
wrote:


"David WE Roberts" wrote in message
news
Hi,

generally instructions for growing tomatoes tell you to stop the plant
after the fourth truss.

snip

So how many trusses do you grow on a plant?

Cheers

Dave R

Six in the greenhouse and four on standard tomato plants grown outdoors.
You can add to that if you want to make lots of chutney.

Regards,
Emrys Davies.


I understand that tomatoes won't begin to ripen if the temperature
spends much time under 55 F. Unless we get an Indian Summer, much of
October is just too low. Under that temp the flowers aren't fertile
either. So it's not just frost dates that spell the end.
snip
Usually allow two stems. The second coming from above the first truss.
That gets stopped at two or maybe three. The main one at four.
Incidently the pruned side shoots can be easily grown into plants. Put
the shoot into a glass of water and it'll thickly root in a week. If
it's a bit late in the season either greenhouse or pot. Not enough time
for a six foot plant or course, but useful if you've got fewer than
planned of a favourite variety. Or want to make more chutney ; ) One use
for those shoots that you're loathe to prune 'cos they've already got
little flowers on.
snip

Thanks - I have one plant with two stems at the moment (an accident where
I didn't spot the shoot until it had started setting a truss) and the
plant with two stems seems to be the best performer so far.

I have noted that for future years as it makes a lot of sense - grow two
shoots in parallel and you get your trusses earlier than having them grow
serially behind a single growing tip. Hmmm...three shoots to a plant and
reduce the number of plants?

I grow cherry tomatoes outdoors - they seem more reliable and the larger
tomatoes are dirt cheap in the shops just before the home grown ones start
producing. However this year I have finally got a greenhouse in use
(having replaced all the broken glass and taken out 50% of the staging)
and am growing Moneymaker and Beefsteak (one plant each).

The Moneymaker is producing well and the ripe tomatoes remind me of those
you can buy in the Med. They are soft and full of flavour when ripe, and
still have some greenness inside. Completely different from the pale,
uniform stuff you get in the supermarkets.

In Felixstowe, on a South facing sheltered patio I used to be able to
ripen tomatoes well into November in a good year. Inland I expect a much
shorter frost free season.
The compensation is hotter summer days to bring the plants on more quickly
and ripen the fruits (Hah!!).

Cheers

Dave R