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Ireland

I'm trying giant tomatoes for the first time this year.

I would be interested in finding any techniques used to maximize yield with a focus on plant pruning techniques/burying of nodes/planting depths etc.
Micheál

4/4/2017 1:41:09 PM

Mn

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Attachments/GVGO_Growers_Vine_Vol2_Issue5.pdf

This is where I started there are two articles- one from Dan MacCoy and one from Bill Foss. Both are great mater growers.

4/4/2017 2:37:35 PM

Mn

Also fruit set at nipple height is key for some growers.

4/4/2017 2:38:18 PM

Central NY

Agree!!...here's a pic of the plant that grew my "nipple high,,,7.05"... I removed all the leaves so you can see what the plant looked liked(There's some good tomato photos from that year as well)...
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=246964
Or you could site search "crunch some numbers"....you'll find it a few entries later....good luck twinnie!!!..I'm sure you'll grow a monster...

4/4/2017 3:09:48 PM

President - GPC

Twinnie you got two of the best helping you here... Qtip is that Scott Holub nipple height or maybe like a Glen Martin nipple height?

4/4/2017 3:51:13 PM

Ely Mn

Yep,what Q tip and porkchop said!
And if you need any seeds let me know
Dan MacCoy

4/4/2017 8:21:35 PM

Mn

Lol wizzy!!! I'm guessing somewhere inbetween ...maybe wizzy nip height

4/4/2017 10:48:29 PM

Ireland

Nice one folks! Really good articles in the first link Qtip

You have a catapult shaped plant Porkchop, that's interesting as I thought it would be just one main stem.
I think pruning will be crucial so lets keep on top of that from the start.

Dan, I'll be sure to ask for a couple seeds when I can do them justice. I got a couple at auction so lets hope they do the business with a bit of TLC.

One last question; Do any of you bury the first node on the main stem/ place the plant sideways in the planting hole?

4/5/2017 7:39:25 AM

Ely Mn

I plant mine at a very young age like a month or less so the plans aren't that big. I would just take the first cot leaves off and bury them up to the first true leaves.

4/5/2017 9:34:01 AM

Central NY

I'm with maSter p on this one...it always tough judging timing to go into warm soil...I'm gonna shoot to get them in the ground June 1st at 6-8" tall...if they get too tall, I would still bury them right up to the top leaves...can't go deep enough?... Dig yer trench and lay them in...give them a day or so to bend up toward the sky and bury

4/5/2017 3:51:42 PM

Aurora, Il

I also trench my plants up to the first true leaves. In the trench, I am adding 2 Wow Wallace starter packs. I keep Daconil and Companion along with Biomin Liquid Calcium on hand. Found it best to use these from the start rather than waiting for something to appear.

4/11/2017 2:37:06 PM