Tomatoes....

[uncle Alan]

I ordered 2 tomato tree plants from the roto section in our paper. Got 2 small packaged containers & planted them.

Weeks later seven tiny plants emerged . Transplanted them,managed to get 4 plants to survive. They grew slowly until we found they were root bound in 1/2 gallon containers.

We bedded them & jury-rigged a shelter to protect them from this fierce Florida sun. Giving them a bit more sun each day,we weaned them & they are amazing !

Info sheet said keep cutting lower branches to promote height growth . Cut a few & stopped because who wants 3# tomatoes ? Well ,blossoms are popping out ,no green fruit yet. Patsy measured them today & the taller is almost 4" &
& the others are very close.

Anyone plant that type too ?
What are we doing wrong ? We are anxiously awaiting BLTS .

Uncle Alan

 

[65535]

tomato plant's are usually on the order of 3 feet or so, can be even taller.

 

[bobofish]

Have you fed and fertilized them?

I highly recommend...shoot I can't think of the name right now....Maybe Dr Benner's Root and Bloom? Or Dr. Bonner? Or some such. Anyway, "Root and Bloom." It's safe, not filled with chemicals, works very very well, and once the plant kicks into high gear you can spray it on the plant, including the fruits. A word of caution, never ever use it in an aquarium or koi pond. I know you're not an idiot, but just in case.

Might be too late to properly fertilize them, as you've had to transplant them a couple times, and their roots might be too fragile to dig up. There are some good organic cow manure based fertilizers that you can gently sweep into the top inch of soil and not hurt the plants though. I'd stay away from the main trunk, just in case you risk burning it.

 

[HomeBru]

Root and Bloom is good stuff, Tomatoes like lots of Nitrogen and water.

They're 4" and blossoming!?! That's pretty amazing! Do you recall what variety tomato they are? I'm guessing that since they're sold as a "tree" and the directions said to prune the lower branches they're an indeterminate variety which means that they begin to blossom and set fruit when young and will continue to set fruit for as long as they grow. Some of these can get over 10' tall/long if well cared for! (The other varieties are determinate which means the fruit all comes on at once)

The fact that they were root bound may have stunted them a bit, but given time and some good fertilizer, they should get going pretty well.

my $.02

J-