From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Grittyville, WA

I have some that will bloom soon that barely have any secondaries. Others are bushing out. The bushing out doesnt seem to detract from the blossom so I probably wont prune until a week or two after I set a good blossom.

Any thoughts on why some plants are getting bushy (secondaries growing vigorously) while others are spindly, very little secondary growth?

Phosphorous/potassium?

The same thing happens in pumpkins. Maybe for the same reason. I can post pics of what I mean, this weekend.

6/22/2019 3:24:37 AM

Grittyville, WA

*Side shoots??? Am I cheaply borrowing pumpkin terminology to call them secondaries?

6/22/2019 3:26:51 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

Could be the phosphorus.
What do the leaves look like ?

6/22/2019 11:15:56 AM

Lebanon, Oregon

Hormones, nutrients, and temperature. A combo of these three. I know when I add the solar mulch I get great side shoot growth. The soil is warmed 8-10F down several inches. Otherwise without it the soil is cooled with night time evaporation. That's my thinking. I'll post a photo. Marv probably has a better explanation...if he is still checking in.

6/22/2019 12:45:22 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I have no idea why this occurs. I am sure one factor is the variety of the tomato. Cooler temperatures might also have an effect in that temperature does have a lot to do with the internodal spaces. Are you seeing this with one variety versus another? What have your temperatures been? Cold or warm?

6/22/2019 2:28:25 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

It has been warm and dry here in Oregon(65-85F) for the last month. My eating tomatoes (San Marzano) have been slower to develop. I put some photo's up but it may take a while for them to show.

6/22/2019 2:48:52 PM

Grittyville, WA

I will second bnot noticed strong side shoots on a brutus although the overall growth was a bit weak. I figured that one was genetic. The rest of them I am in the dark as to specific factors... I think roots, nutrition, soil temperature, sunlight/hormone production all could be factors.

6/22/2019 7:52:34 PM

Grittyville, WA

Oops I mean Marv! Small font couldn't read... Weather has been variable. I think warm sunny days probably help overall growth but I do wonder to what extent favoring shoot growth is hormonal or nutritional.

It's an even bigger leap to say whether this could help grow a bigger tomato.

6/22/2019 8:01:28 PM

Grittyville, WA

Short tour posted. I am fighting one battle at a time so forgive the disaster.

6/22/2019 8:36:27 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Glenoma, here is an article about the space between the nodes on tomato plants. When the intranodal spaces are smaller the plant will look bushier. As you will see the temperature effects this with cold weather making the spaces longer and other things like amount of water and the amount of nutrients available chiming in.
https://www.maximumyield.com/what-a-plants-internodal-spacing-reveals-about-its-health/2/3701

6/23/2019 8:26:28 AM

Grittyville, WA

Thanks Marv.

6/23/2019 1:35:04 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Your plants look great otherwise Brandon! The bushy ones.

6/23/2019 2:15:51 PM

Grittyville, WA

Good for hobby level... Id wouldnt be too happy if I was going for 10 lbs. Check your spam folder gonna email u buddy...!

6/23/2019 4:20:51 PM

Wixom MI.

To me it seems like Your 2 bigger plants have more direct sunlight compared to your spindly one. also each veriety will fill out with branching at different rates.it looks like you have a nice bud on that spindly one ?

6/23/2019 4:43:35 PM