Tomato grower, I have a question

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Are we supposed to trim the leaves when they are budding. flowering, fruiting or not at all?

 

[Levito]

"Tomatos" eh?
I don't have a garden right now, but when I did, I didn't trim anything. I mainly grew plum tomatos.

 

[howze01]

It depends on the type of tomato your growing. If they are determinate (all the fruit comes out at once), you don't want to prune them. If they are indeterminate (produce fruit throughout the growing season) you can trim the "suckers". The little leaves that grow at the "V" between the main stem and branches. Not totally necessary though.

 

[Sumbub]

Leaves on the lower part of the plant should be trimmed when the plant has grown bigger. When watering, there are possibilities of water splashing up on them and that can lead to fungus growth on the plant.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Leaves on the lower part of the plant should be trimmed when the plant has grown bigger. When watering, there are possibilities of water splashing up on them and that can lead to fungus growth on the plant.

is fugus like "the hairy things" I have seen in the past or just yellowing of the leave?

1)I saw some of my plants have yellow lower leaves

2)AND ONE particular tomatoe plant that has a lot of tomatoes on it drying from tip to toe.

1) or 2) may not be related though.


BTW, where have you been?

 

[e.muehlbauer]

I never prune my tomatoes, unless a growth is damaged. The problem your describing with your tomatoes is called "blossom end rot", where the lower half of the tomato stops growing, and turns black and disgusting. The top part usually ripens normally, but who will eat a tomato like that? I find that its only a problem with the first tomatoes of the season, all others come out OK. I have heard that it is due to either fluctuations in soil moisture, or calcium deficiency. Not sure if either is correct, but I did give my tomato plants a watering with calcium nitrate a few weeks ago, and, in fact, I have only had 2 or 3 tomatoes with that problem. Aside from calcium nitrate, I am strictly organic...with only supplemental fish emulsion as a fertilizer, spiked with a little vodka to increase sugar production. (Actually, methanol is much more effective than ethanol for that, but ethanol is what I have.)

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I never prune my tomatoes, unless a growth is damaged. The problem your describing with your tomatoes is called "blossom end rot", where the lower half of the tomato stops growing, and turns black and disgusting. The top part usually ripens normally, but who will eat a tomato like that? I find that its only a problem with the first tomatoes of the season, all others come out OK. I have heard that it is due to either fluctuations in soil moisture, or calcium deficiency. Not sure if either is correct, but I did give my tomato plants a watering with calcium nitrate a few weeks ago, and, in fact, I have only had 2 or 3 tomatoes with that problem. Aside from calcium nitrate, I am strictly organic...with only supplemental fish emulsion as a fertilizer, spiked with a little vodka to increase sugar production. (Actually, methanol is much more effective than ethanol for that, but ethanol is what I have.)

Vodka dosing for tomatoes too! What would we do without vodka? :beer:

My problem is not with the tomatoes, it's one of the tree that starting to withered. The tomatoes continue to ripe as you mention so it may still fall in the same category of "blossom end rot".

Is your fish emulsion SW or FW? If SW, would it be too salty, just curious?