So the question is, should I top them? I'm pretty sure in a few weeks they're going to be five feet high, and hanging over the rims. They are indeterminate, so I'd like to believe if I top them, they'll start filling out with the suckers down below.

In my climate, there is an advantage in not being too far off the ground, because when the temps hit triple digits, the higher the water needs to be pumped, the harder it is for the plant. So forcing it to bush out makes sense.

Sounds as if better cages are needed especially since it is normally a much taller plant ranging 8 feet easily and most of us just let the extra growth drape down over the outside of the 6' cages and keep on growing. Circulating the needed water and nutrients poses no problem for the plant. It just grows more back up systems. :)

Many discussions here about 'topping' and what happens to the growth if you do it. Unfortunately "bushing out" isn't what happens with indeterminates as those lower nodes are already sealed off. it just stimulates new top growth - usually doubled from the nodes just below the cut.

Dave

As I said, there are no incentives in this climate for letting the plant grow very tall. When the summer heat gets fierce, it's the heat that effectively "tops" the plant. I see that on many plants.

With my hybrid cages, I can manage 6 feet, which is probably where I'll lop them off.