[Headgardener22]

Marmande is described as Semi-Determinate.

What I think this means is that it generates a lot of sideshoots and doesn't grow very tall. Unlike a Determinate variety, the flowers appear over a period of time and the fruit ripen over a longish time. In general, the fruit of Determinate varieties all ripen within a period of a couple of weeks which is why they are preferred by outdoor commercial tomato growers who use machinery to harvest the tomatoes.

[Growster...]

Interesting comments, HG and JayG!

I've been pinching out the side-shoots up to now, and notice that the last one I took off, was pretty thick!

I think I'll leave the others from now on, hoping for some future sort of bush arrangement - the second truss is forming already so a week's wait is in store, methinks!

Dealing with these heritage varieties is a joy - once you think you know what you're doing - which I don't at this stage in the year with these chaps!

[sunshineband]

Interesting comments about Marmande. I am growing this for the first time this year and have three inside as cordons (so far, as I have kept a careful eye on them) and three for outdoors, where they will be allowed to "bush" if that is what they want.

The trusses on the cordons will be supported just fine, but I am a bit unsure about the ones on the "bushes". I think I shall have to add in extra canes here and there to avoid trusses dragging down onto the ground, as far as I can see. I have assumed large, heavy trusses of fruit of course 

Any other suggestions are most welcome thank you

[Growster...]

Interesting comments about Marmande. I am growing this for the first time this year and have three inside as cordons (so far, as I have kept a careful eye on them) and three for outdoors, where they will be allowed to "bush" if that is what they want.

The trusses on the cordons will be supported just fine, but I am a bit unsure about the ones on the "bushes". I think I shall have to add in extra canes here and there to avoid trusses dragging down onto the ground, as far as I can see. I have assumed large, heavy trusses of fruit of course 

Any other suggestions are most welcome thank you

Some of our Marmande seem to be just stopping after the first or second truss, KC, so I'm really not sure what is going on..;0) They are on strings though.

The flowers are forming, and I bet we're in for a surprise, but these 'new' plants are a challenge well worth considering, especially as we'll keep some seed for next year as well, if they really are as good as they say!

[Growster...]

This is such an interesting subject, I 'had' to Gurgle it, and this fine lady explains all - apparently!

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