[Broadhaven]

Hi

First time tom grower.... My Gardeners Delight have just started to show flowers. Should I feed now? How often should I feed? 

Could someone tell me what the trusses are on tomatoes?

Thanks

[Elcie]

Hi Broadhaven.  You should begin to feed once the first truss has set.  This means when the fruit begins to show.  The flowers will die off and from each of those you get a tomato.

Basically, feed when you see the first tomato!

[janeheritage]

The trusses are the little stalks that the tomatoes grow on - the bits that in the shop ar "on the vine". So a whole stalk with fruit is a truss of tomatoes.

Are you growing them in the ground or in pots or growbags? It will make a difference to the feeding.

[Broadhaven]

Hi Janeheritage

I am growing in growbags but have put a large plantpot with the bottom cut out in it. Not sure what the correct name for this is. Why does this matter?

Thanks for the answer for trusses, I thought they were the branches that grew off the main stem.
I learn something everday thanks to this site. 

[janeheritage]

If the tomatoes are in the ground, as opposed to in growbags, they will be able to get a lot more nutrient and water from the soil. If they're in growbags, they will only have about a month's worth of food (and a day's worth of water), and feeding and watering are much more important.

How you're growing them is called "ring culture". It's supposed to be excellent. Don't know myself as mine have always been in the ground.

Glad you got that sorted about the trusses. As you're growing tall tomatoes - Gardener's Delight are called "cordon tomatoes" - you should be pinching out the side shoots and giving them a stake or string to climb up.

They are my favourite tomato. Good choice!!! 

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, an after thought the little side shoots in the leaf axils, NOT THE TRUSSES, need removing and when the plant is tall enough pinch out the tip.

[Broadhaven]

Ah I have been pinching out the side shoots, so guess I have been doing something right  .

How tall is tall enough?

Can't wait to taste them, approx how long will it be before I am sampling them if the first flowers are just showing?

Just sat down now after spending most of another day in the garden ( with a nice cold beer) This veg growing is really addictive....... just hope all my produce is edible.  

[janeheritage]

I've never figured out if the addiction is more to do with the beer than with the veg  .

You'll have a while to wait - I reckon a month from little toms showing to eating them. You think they're never going to ripen, and then they all go at once  .

Good move on the little side shoots, it took me ages to get that sorted. Enjoy

[janeheritage]

How tall is tall enough?

Oh and for me, tall enough is when they bump against my greenhouse roof  .

For most people I believe it's between 5ft and 6ft. Heaven knows in metres