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| Hi friends, This is my second year balcony/container gardening. I'm growing a blush Tiger grafted tomato, and its...well....growing! I was single-stem pruning it, but somehow several stems have shot up from the base of the plant, and it's becoming slightly unmanageable. I think I have about 5-6 stems in addition to the main stem. So I have two questions: 1. I'm thinking I have to cut the growth tip off several side stems to curb some of the unwieldiness. Is this right? 2. The main stem is about to reach the top of the stake -- can I just everything after this go unsupported. I love my tomato plant, but I'd also like to still have somewhat of a view over my balcony!! |
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| I think you can manage that healthy looking plant to almost any shape you want. Sometimes very heavy pruning can stress the plant and roll leaves. It seems like this is another recommendation for me buying an Earthbox. They sure seem to work well. |
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| There are two classes of gardeners: Ones who are dictated by the nature/plants how to grow AND then the others who are the dictators in their garden . |
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| but somehow several stems have shot up from the base Clarify please. Are these stems coming out from below the graft or above the graft point? With grafted tomato plants anything that sprouts from the rootstock, from below the graft point, needs to be removed. Stem growth that develops above the graft can be kept or removed as you choose assuming you don't mind the lost fruit production and that you don't get carried away removing large branches all at the same time. Also Blush Tiger is an indeterminate cherry variety and is a huge plant by nature. So an extensive support structure needs to be planned for prior to planting it. The more you prune it the taller it will try to grow so your choice is wide or tall. If you remove the side branches you will need much taller stakes, if you leave them and instead cut off the central top growth you can keep it shorter but wider. Your choice. Dave There are two classes of gardeners: Ones who are dictated by the nature/plants how to grow AND then the others who are the dictators in their garden . Actually there are many classes of gardeners. But at the very least there is a third group - those who are aren't so class-conscious, the moderates. They are the majority, the gardeners who are tolerant of all the aspects of gardening. They don't subscribe to any form of dictatorship and are successful at creating a democratic garden that benefits both the plants and the gardener. |
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- Posted by brokenankle 5a (My Page) on Sat, Jun 28, 14 at 16:10
| Thanks for all the advice so far, folks! I'd say I'm trying to be a benevolent dictator. ;) I'm attaching a photo of the base of my plant. I didn't graft the plant myself, I bought a seedling already grafted. The main stem is the big one in the middle, so yes it does appear, but I think the side stems are still coming out of the main stem... So I'm hoping that okay?? |
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| Cut the lower stems that might be coming from the rootstock, but also realize the cherry tomatoes can be large plants and that is normal for them. |
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| I can't see the graft point in your photo. Hopefully it is well above the soil line somewhere. If not it should be. If it is then the choice of what to remove as I outlined above is yours. Assuming your balcony railing is of average height then your plant is still relatively short compared to what it would be normally. Next year pick a determinate variety instead or plan on a much better support system then what you have now. Dave |
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- Posted by brokenankle none (My Page) on Sun, Jun 29, 14 at 9:54
| Thanks for the advice guys! I admittedly got over excited at the prospect of growing a grafted tomato, that has apparently won all kinds of taste awards. I'm going to have to plan this one better next year! These things better taste good! :-) |
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