[DadBear]

hello folks, a quick question. I am growing 'alicante', 'shirley' and 'moneymaker' toms. at present they've grown really well in growbags in my greenhouse and are about 3 feet tall. How big should i let them go before stopping them? they have lovely thick stems and I am hoping for great things  

[stompy]

They usualy say 4 flower trusses.

I didn't stop mine last year until they hit the roof, i got about six trusses.

[philmay]

I think you should normally stop them after 6 trusses for greenhouse toms, and 4 trusses for outdoor ones.

[David.]

If you get a horizontal support parallel to the underside of your greenhouse ridge, grow right up to this then along it. (Also useful for hanging fruit/veg to dry).

For growing outdoors I would suggest ignoring book recommendations (if we're going to have another heat wave) and going for the maximum number of trusses.

[shaun]

outside i have always been told to go for 4 trusses but on the cherry(gardeners delight) just let them grow.
 
got a couple of the big beef toms in the greenhouse,how many trusses would you leave on these ?

[richyrich7]

Never stop mine in the greenhouse grow them up to the top and along like david says. Outside it's never been an issue they don't seem to get that high in my experience.

[Ann]

Last year my moneymaker toms were stopped after 5 trusses, however I was always pinching out new trusses which kept appearing and found it hard to keep up with nipping out the side shoots, they were grown outdoors

[richyrich7]

Last year my moneymaker toms were stopped after 5 trusses, however I was always pinching out new trusses which kept appearing and found it hard to keep up with nipping out the side shoots, they were grown outdoors

Yes that is a problem when you nip out the tips, the tip produces a hormone called auxin which keeps the side shoots in check, no tip no hormone.

[DadBear]

thanks all, good advice again, i think I'll leave them be and see how they do. I wonder if they would be better in big pots or left in the grow bags ?