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Allentown, PA

Hi!! Your tomato set looks great!! In my opinion it's from a three fused bloom. At first I thought it was from a double but I see additional lobing on the tomato that indicates to me that you had a third bloom that did not quite get fully pollinated but still grew thus adding to the size of the tomato.

7/5/2014 12:34:05 PM

sevierville, Tn

thanks julia, thats what i thought it was. That helps me alot. Now how many can i set on a plant ?? on a single stem and a double stem plant. i have many set and they are starting to grow rapidly. Do i cull at egg size or apple or just when ever i think they aren't a contender. Are there benchmarks at certaing days like in pumpkins & melons? Thanks so much !

7/5/2014 1:49:29 PM

sevierville, Tn

My plant is starting to look like halloween and the neiborhood kid came by and rolled it with all the white sheets on it ! LOL

7/5/2014 1:51:25 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

It is at least three. Could tell more with a picture of the bottom.

7/5/2014 2:08:50 PM

sevierville, Tn

ok marv, i posted anothe pict of the bottom and top

7/5/2014 2:50:13 PM

sevierville, Tn

a link helps .. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=221517

7/5/2014 2:51:02 PM

Allentown, PA

I saw your newest photo and I say it's a three fused bloom.

It looks like it's going to be a nice one too.

Concerning how many tomatoes you can have on a plant; If you have two good blooms that set, then allow the tomatoes to grow for a week or so then see which one is larger and growing more rapidly.

Cull the other.

I currently have a plant with two tomatoes that are both growing from triple blooms. It's been a little over a week since they set and are both growing at the same rate.
I'm going to give it another few days then see. I might just end up having to cull one due to just having one tomato growing on the plant.

7/5/2014 3:31:11 PM

France

I agree, It looks like 3 fused bloom.
To go for a record, leave a single fruit ( I'm not allowed lol)

7/5/2014 3:34:46 PM

sevierville, Tn

thanks, wow only 1 or 2... this will be harder to decide then culling melons !

7/5/2014 4:11:44 PM

sevierville, Tn

do yall think it matters where on the plant the tomato is. like on the main stem or on a terminated branch ? Am i correct in guessing that everyone feels that the fruit structure is the most important factor in final size...

7/5/2014 5:33:12 PM

Allentown, PA

The sweet spot on a tomato plant that has historically produced the largest tomatoes is on a truss somewhere on the first three feet of the plant.

The theory behind this is that there is less of the plant that is taking the nutrients before reaching the tomato itself than if it was higher up on the plant. The closer to the roots the tomato is the better.

With that being said there have been very heavy tomatoes grown higher on the plant. The most important thing is obtaining a very large mega bloom.

If you get a very large mega bloom that has developed on the first three feet of the plant then your chances have just increased that the tomato you have will be notably heavy.

7/5/2014 8:57:48 PM

sevierville, Tn

I understand what your saying, its just that its different from the pumpkin/melon world i come from. Yes i know they are not the same kind of plants. I just have to change the way i think about tomatoes. You have been a big help, thanks so much Julia.
I noticed that my plant as it got taller didn't seem to have the vigor that it did when it was smaller. I.E. the stem was smaller as it got taller. I guess thats what you mean. As i have pruned the plant it seems to have improved.

7/5/2014 9:54:21 PM

Ely Mn

I didnt understand it my first year(last year) chris,untill i grew my biggest tomato on a tiny little plant and my smallest tomato on a huge plant.
It is very hard to think this way when you come over from the pumpkins.

7/5/2014 10:05:14 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

It looks like three. This looks like a good tomato as there is very little deformity. Is your other tomato smaller or larger and does it look "healthy." The higher one would have been the last to set and so it should be the smaller of the two. I would keep both for awhile and watch the percentage increase in size and then choose the one increasing by the greatest percentage.

7/5/2014 10:31:14 PM

Corbin, KY

Great looking Mater. go Chris go!

7/5/2014 11:02:53 PM

sevierville, Tn

Marv, its the 2nd set up. The one below it is a double & growing rapidly. Bothe look great.
Tim, thanks, i should have used some of that Dunkels stuff. I'd probally be doing better. Next year !

7/6/2014 12:19:20 PM

Ely Mn

Never too late to use dunkels;)it will keep that plant healthy and mater growing!once all my blooms are set i will start feeding it again.

7/6/2014 1:06:43 PM

Glendora,N.J.

Master P,Do you use dunkels once a month or do you use it more.also I measure my 4.57 for the first time and it is 17 inches My biggest so far.

7/6/2014 2:53:03 PM

Ely Mn

Great to here Rick!
Early in the season I was doing once a month.
Once my tomatoes are set I will start using it every two weeks.

7/6/2014 3:25:20 PM

Glendora,N.J.

Thanks Dan, I quest i have to order more.

7/6/2014 4:18:02 PM

Corbin, KY

I foliar feed weekly along with fungicides. Good luck Rick!

7/6/2014 10:15:26 PM

Glendora,N.J.

Thanks Tim

7/7/2014 6:00:36 AM