[lazza]

Have never made chutney either so would like to grow suitable verities if anyone has any  suggestions?    

Any varieties are good for chutney. All our remaining unripe tomatoes go into chutney every year!! In a good year, we get a couple of jars... last year we got 6 jars! 

[GreyScales]

A few tomato related questions if I may?



I was inspecting one of my ripening beefsteaks when I noticed it has almost completely rotted on the plant. I of course removed it swiftly, but is this anything that can spread to the others? I see no signs of infection on the leaves or elsewhere on the plant.



Regarding my out of control alicante. I know you can prune small suckers without any issue, but are there disease or any other concerns about lobbing off the ends of branches? There is a nice truss here on one of the grown suckers, and I would rather the plant concentrated on that than lengthening and producing more flowers further down the branch; making the plant more unstable. I'd like to lob off the branch above the truss, but any objections?



Just a novelty. Has anyone ever seen a branch growing out the end of a truss before? I haven't, it's a new one to me If the above is ok, I'll be cutting this off as well as I would rather not have an entire branch plus flowers/toms threatening this truss.

[mumofstig]

The top one may be a bad case of blossom end rot, caused by irregular watering. Could also be botrytis - so keep your eye out for any more mouldy bits you see 

You can prune them a bit, usually below the truss that is ripening - but pinch of the leaves growing from the end of the fruit truss.

Sorry, I'm not sure I understand this

There is a nice truss here on one of the grown suckers, and I would rather the plant concentrated on that than lengthening and producing more flowers further down the branch; making the plant more unstable. I'd like to lob off the branch above the truss, but any objections?

can you try to explain again so this dim-wit can understand, cos the photo doesn't seem to help me understand either 

[GreyScales]

can you try to explain again so this dim-wit can understand, cos the photo doesn't seem to help me understand either 

Sorry! 

I missed some suckers on one of my alicante plants a while back and they grew too big for me to be comfortable removing them, without causing too much damage. Rather annoyingly these are growing sideways, so the plant is unbalanced and is reliant on its surroundings to support it.

On one of these suckers is the truss shown, but of cause it's still growing longer and producing more flowers further along. I'd like to prune the end off it so that the plant can concentrate on that truss at the end of the branch, rather than growing it even longer and becoming even more unbalanced; as well as draining more nutrients from existing tomatoes.

I was just checking if it would be ok to do this without impacting the plants health too much, as cutting a piece of branch off is a bit more serious than just pulling a sucker off.

-edit

Know what, this is probably a silly question. There is always the risk of infection when taking off anything including suckers, and I know what will happen if I don't nip the ends off.

Thanks for the answers mumofstig

[strider84]

not bad bit of leaf roll due to the temp.

Cherry tomatoes looking great lots of flowers and very bushy growth..... Beef tomatoes looks more bare only really getting flowers towards the top.

[Sparkyrog]

Cut it off after the truss that will stop it 

[mumofstig]

Rather annoyingly these are growing sideways, so the plant is unbalanced and is reliant on its surroundings to support it.

it's now a double cordon.............. you should give the extra stem its own cane, and turn it gently upwards so it grows like this..........


If you feed and water it enough it will produce a lot of fruit.

You can prune it but leave one set of leaves above the truss, so the sap continues upwards 

[Totty]

I have a Shirley plant that has gone double. It split at about 3ft and the two tops are growing identically. I'll get some pics.

Totty

[Fairy Plotmother]

Hi GreyScales  re 20.06 I've done the same with my Alicante but have staked the sideways growth and pinched it out above the 1st truss. I must get the pinching out right!!!!!!!

[Annen]

My 100s & 1000s have gone mad

[mumofstig]

My 100s & 1000s have gone mad with flowers, just like that, but no sign of actual tomatoes  Gartenperle last year were much better.

This morning I have the first red tomato  on a Kibbitz and that's outside  c'mon you spoilt greenhouse tomatoes - get a move on!
 

[strider84]

On closer inspection yellowing of the lower leaves?

Magnesium deficiency? or virus? or something else...

Rubbish pic but any help would be appreciated.

[mumofstig]

Yellowing of lower leaves is usually just old age  Nothing to worry about - just remove bottom leaves 

[strider84]

Phew !

Thank you

[polly nator]

Answer to Grey Scales question three. Yes I have had branches growing out of the end of trusses. Several last year but I've forgotten what variety they were. Tomatoes can do all kinds of crazy things. Thats why I love growing them.  Never a dull moment.