[jaws8]

Morning all,

This might sound a bit odd but can anyone tell me if my tom plants are growing in an odd way! It concerns my Costoluto Fiorentinos which are now about 18 inches tall and although they are looking healthy (there are flowers on them already) there doesn't seem to be a growing main stem on them and I just can't understand how they will get any bigger. I am growing 3 types this year (black cherry & sungold) and they all look the same. It is the first time I have had them in a greenhouse. Last year they grew to about 5 feet tall outside with an obvious main stem to tie to a cane. Anyone got some experience with greenhouse toms.

Cheers.

[KarooPaul]

I'm no expert - others with more knowledge will be along in a minute! Some thoughts: costaluto f is a vine type plant (or at least I think mine are!) and I wondered if you have been pinching off the side shoots? If you haven't, it's possible that it's put effort into those rather than into the main stem and main branches/trusses. Mine are about 2.5ft tall now and are the best looking of my various tom plants. Mine are in the back part of my greenhouse where they get moderate sun. (I would imagine you've either got them in a 10" pot and/or in a grow bag with 2 plants per bag?)

(The least successful for me so far have been the latahs, which all got frazzled, scorched or over/under watered or something. I've left them in place and hope that they pull back from the brink. It's been a good 4 weeks now since the disaster and they haven't died yet! There's some flowering action and some new leaves appearing but I don't hold out much prospect for a good harvest from them.)

Hope this helps!

[Riala]

Pics always help

[jaws8]

thanks for that, I will try and upload some pics although my computer skills leave a lot to be desired!

[gillie]

I think that my Costolutos are doing this too, but not the Super Marmandes which are their bedfellows. 

After the first truss they are growing two branching stems instead of one leader.  I just tie in the best placed branch and cut the other one off.

Cheers,

Gillie

[mumofstig]

I think this depends where you get your seeds from. Real Italian Costoluto Fiorentino is a cordon tomato, but some seed companies are selling seed that they say grows into a 'bush' plant. Would be interested to find out where your seed came from?
As already said just select the strongest of the top side shoots to grow on as the main stem.