Bush Tomatoes

Millymollymandy · Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:13 pm

As opposed to cordons, i.e. the type where you pinch out the side shoots.

I'm growing some bush cherry toms, and they are starting to shoot out and have flowers all over the place. It's quite wierd as I'm so used to pinching out the side shoots.

So my question is, do you ever "stop" the flowering at any time to let the plant put its energy into ripening the toms? Or just let them get on with it and hope that you will get enough fruit eventually? I do have some small ones forming but it's getting a bit late in the summer and I do want some of them to ripen!

wulf · Post: # 5209Post **wulf** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:47 pm

This is my first year with cherry tomatoes, too. No idea what the answer is but I'm listening carefully! Based on the description, I think mine are at about the same stage as yours.

Wulf

2steps · Post: # 5217Post **2steps** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:18 pm

I have bush tomatoes this year. To save space I have them in a hanging basket, though they don't seem to be doing much hanging

they are starting to get flowers

Wombat · Post: # 5226Post **Wombat** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:49 am

I have grown bush type and cherry type, I just let 'em go and get good crops anyway!

Nev

Millymollymandy · Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:44 am

I thought so, mind you it's getting so that I can't walk down the row anymore. Thankfully I only planted 2 rows but then again, the courgettes behind are getting BIG....

Worth noting for the future that they are not a good idea if space is tight!

wulf · Post: # 5239Post **wulf** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:48 am

I was disappointed by how small mine looked - little plants and lots of bare ground. Then I went away for a week and a half....

Maybe next year I'll space them out a bit further, although that then raises the perennial question of where I'll find the space!

Wulf

Magpie · Post: # 5249Post **Magpie** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:36 pm

It depends on your climate, whether you pinch out flowers, and prune bits off. Here in the south of New Zealand, we get relatively short, cool summers, so they need all the help they can get. If you are in a hot sunny climate, you can just leave them to go for it.

Millymollymandy · Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:13 pm

All 7 of mine planted in the veg patch got blight and have been dug up today. I guess it's because they got so big and spread out that no air could circulate around them - it certainly isn't the humid or moist weather (dry as a bone here).

What a bummer.

I just hope the plum tomatoes don't catch it.

wulf · Post: # 5691Post **wulf** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:45 pm

Oh... sorry to hear it.

Wulf