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Western PA

I started my plants at the beginning of June to have a fruit for a 2nd week of Oct weigh off. My plants were around 3 ft 2 weeks ago and each on has a nice meg blossom, now with nice fruits going. Plants are 4 ft now and the biggest tomato is around 2 inch diameter.

What is the ideal plant size before you want your keeper ?

8/14/2013 1:14:21 PM

Allentown, PA

Zappa,

At the time of my transplanting into the ground on May 6th of this year my plant size was approx 12 inches in height.

After trenching and laying the plant horizontally in the trench I had approx. six inches that was above the ground.

Shortly the first fruit truss appeared at around three to three and a half feet.

If a mega bloom appeared on that truss I allowed it to remain.

This was the case in both of my tomatoes that were over four pounds this season.

By the time the bloom matured to the pollination stage the overall plant height was close if not already at four feet.

According to Marv Meisner's book you should top your plants at six feet in order to focus the plant's growth on the tomato itself.

SO to summarize, with a mega bloom on the first fruit truss my plant's were approx. three to three and a half feet high and not allowing the plant to grow any taller than six feet.

So Zappa it sounds like your growth and pollination time frame was the same as mine.

So far so good.

Good luck with your monster!!

8/14/2013 6:12:47 PM

Western PA

Thank you !

8/15/2013 8:32:30 AM

Ontario, Canada.

I believe one must take several factors into consideration. Weather and transpiration rates are a huge factor. If you have a hot spell going and it is consuming the plants resources than I would say off with its head.

However if the weather is cool would there be any harm in trying to keep a section growing. As long as you remove developing trusses. My view is new sinks help to delay senescence of the entire plant.

8/15/2013 10:00:37 AM

Allentown, PA

Your welcome!!

8/16/2013 8:08:59 AM