Trimming Tomatoes Sth of Perth

[Gareth]

I think it’s sub tropical here, very warm atm.

I have a slightly raised garden bed and I over planted tomatoes. I love them, but I feel the lettuce and coriander have been over taken.

I would like to know should I build a lattice support, maybe sacrifice some or know how to trim them.

Them are going berserk. I’m happy for any advice. They’ve started flowering they’ve become heavy in the branches and have started fruiting.

Cheers Gareth.

 

[Gareth]

Actually I believe it’s temperate here similar to the Mediterranean

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Welcome to the forum @Gareth !

It looks like you might have too many plants in the one space, so they are definitely overcrowded. I can't even see any lettuce or coriander in the image (on my phone).

Do you want to re-use resources you might already have, or are you intending on investing into supports/lattices? Because bamboo poles can be great as they allow for surdy, yet bendy support. Do be aware they may rot after a (couple of) season(s). But they are cheap and easy to replace. I have bought a tomato trellis from bunnings myself, which came with 3 poles and a number of support bits to go between them. This was ideal when I had the one large plant. When I grew a couple of determinate tomato plants I used the poles individually and loosely strapped the main branch to the pole.

 

[Gareth]

Sorry I replied via email. Not sure if you’ll see it?

Hi,

It’s definitely overcrowded, I’m not so much worried about the lettuce or coriander anymore as the tomatoes are going so well. I have just read a tread by you self diffident me about trimming the bottom branches against disease and lattice for support. I have bamboo in already but I thought this would be better long term, I’m in a new estate and walked out the back and asked some contractors for spare rebar

When it’s cooler this afternoon I’ll install it. I’m now wondering about maybe pulling some trees?

Many thanks,

Gareth

 

[Gareth]

Hi Mandy thanks for the welcome.

I’m not sure after reading that webpage whether I have determinate or indeterminate either. So I’ll have to researched packets which I kept.

 

[Cas JSA]

I think it’s sub tropical here, very warm atm.

I have a slightly raised garden bed and I over planted tomatoes. I love them, but I feel the lettuce and coriander have been over taken.

I would like to know should I build a lattice support, maybe sacrifice some or know how to trim them.

Them are going berserk. I’m happy for any advice. They’ve started flowering they’ve become heavy in the branches and have started fruiting.

Cheers Gareth.

Hi Gareth, All you need do is put a stake in next to each tomato but you should have done this when you planted and you will damage roots if you do it now. I suggest you put a stake at either end of the garden and run wire from one to the other like a paddock fence and weave the tomatoes through the wires.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

I'm not sure how you might've sent anything through e-mail. I don't think it allows for it, if I'm honest.

Either way, that's lovely! Rebar is quite sturdy and can be used in many ways. Just be aware that your soils' PH can affect how fast the rebar corrodes - though I don't know the exact science.
My personal preference is using a stake alongside each tomato plant and wrapping it gently to the support (we have lots of baling twine as we have cows, so that's what I like to re-use). One thing missed is that I like to tie it at multiple heights, as the wind can easily snap the tomato plant in half.

 

[Gareth]

Thanks both of you

I managed to also pick up a roll of some wire to help tie it all up. Then figure the best ones to cull. The rebar I measured so it will slot straight down the longest edges so hopefully won’t damage the roots.

I took Mark’s advice on hugelkultur, can we just call it nature lol

I have old grass trees below it with other charred wood then added the soil with a lot of worms. Mandurah is all sand. I also just throw unused lettuce, greens and egg shells straight on top. Seems to be working too well. I haven’t even gotten my worm farm up and running properly.

 

[Gareth]

Mandy you were right about the email, I read the bottom after I wrote the email lol

 

[Gareth]

Thanks for all the advice here’s the final product.

 

[JP 1983]

I think Mark did a vid on tomato trimming ages ago. Depends entirely on whether you've got determinates or indeterminates.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Looks pretty good! Just know that because the plants are a bit overcrowded, certain areas might now flower and/or pollinate quite as well. Oftentimes people cut certain branches to allow for better airflow between the plants, as moisture getting trapped can cause diseases to set at times. But as your plants grow you might learn what your preferences may be.
I often do like to keep my plants bushy, only removing branches if the plant is too overcrowded which makes it really hard to harvest (depending on the species of tomato).