Last week when I told you the tomatoes in my greenhouse were about 6 inches from hitting the ceiling, you chimed in and told me to trim them. But did I listen? NO. And now I’m in trouble. One of my tomato plants has fallen over, and I can’t avoid the tomato dilemma any longer.
I need your help {again}. What should I do? Remove the glass ceiling? Or trim them?
This time, I promise I’ll listen.
~Mavis
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alliegator says
With the plants being in pots, there may not be enough depth to get enough support. Normally I’d say put some rebar in to support your cage.
Chop off the top of your plant, and then put some sort of tie system in to support the cage.
It’s hard to chop off your plant, but it will be better that way.
Tanya says
I chop my back pretty regularly in the summer when they start to get out of hand. If there are already a bunch of tomatoes I pretty much chop off any branches that don’t have any yet.
Jenn says
I think you should just chop them off 🙂
Krista says
Mavis…I have no idea what the answer is, but I got such a kick out of the video! You cracked me up and made my day. Good luck!
Sarah C says
For God’s sake, Woman, get a grip!!
Just kidding…mostly. I’d chop some off, string up, and when you can’t avoid it any longer, go ahead and remove the ceiling. You’ve gotten the plants through the cold season already, and might have a bit of a problem with pollination and/or overheating at this point anyway.
Kari says
I learned from listening to the gardendoctor on am radio here… in portland area…
when you bring the plant home, trim off the bottom leaves and bury the plant UP to the bottom leaves to encourage fruit growth. i would look up and see if you could transplant into deeeeeeeeep holes, and transplant them! you might see a substantial increase in fruit on that plant! MAYBE ????
kari
Misty Hill says
I think you should put a stake in beside the tomatoe and tie it up. Removing the glass seems like alot of work. Maybe you could just do the support and trim the thin vines at the top 🙂 Do you sucker your tomatoes. (It gets rid of some excess stems.) I always have-it makes them produce more/bigger tomatoes 🙂 Best of luck in whatever you choose!
Lucky L says
You would be altering the greenhouse environment by removing the glass. Not to mention maybe inviting additional critters to find a new home.
Hack away. And tie off the tomato cage to the corners with wire or rope.
Heidi says
Hi there Mavis,
I think this one of the reasons that determinate hibreds became popular-to control the height. Most of the heirlooms are in-determinte and just keep growing taller and taller. The trough you have these planted in looks too small, Dig them up carefully and transplant them outside deep like one of the other commenters mentioned. Then, if necessary (meaning it never warms up in the Seattle area this summer-again) create a smaller green house using sticks and plastic. To grow heirlooms in a green house, you need a MUCH taller green house. Minimum 12 feet head room. So just use it to get an early start and them plan on moving them out. Tomatoes in our climate are TOUGH! No wimps!
Mavis says
Hmmm… I wonder how well it would go over if I told the HH I wanted a 12 foot tall greenhouse. LOL.
Cynthia says
I have 2 of the same greenhouses that you have and love them. Every year I tie up a support system using the 4 cross bars that run from side to side. I kind of make a sling looking thing. This gives the plants support and doesn’t hinder the plants growth.
On another note, are you doing the GH Garden Tour this weekend?
Mavis says
We {The Girl and I} are going to try and go. Will you be attending?
Cynthia says
Still up in the air about going on the garden tour, I want to but we are having a big fourth of July BBQ and I have a lot of work to do to get ready. We have 5 acres in the Point Richmond area and I have a lot of garden areas that need attention so Saturday is a family “Let’s all work in the yard day!” followed by groans from the kids.
Hey, have you removed any of your side greenhouse windows yet? I know we haven’t really had any heat yet but hopefully we will.
Have a great day!
You Can Call Me Jane says
I have no idea what you should do with your tomatoes, but I loved the video and hearing your voice again. I miss you!!
lili says
Same here…cant give her advice on her dilemna but i finally know how Mavis talks.
Saralie says
Me too, haha so happy to hear your voice… does that sound weird? Personally I would totally clip the plant. Just add another variety of squash somewhere in your patch to compensate for your potential tomato loss!! Good luck ‘mother-hen’.
Mavis says
Miss you too!
Desi says
Mavis I would go with a good trim on the top, stinging it up the way they did on your that you tube video you posted a while ago and trim off some suckers. Best of luck!
Deanna says
LOL!!!!! I dont think I had some formulated idea in my head of what I “thought” you would sound like, but found myself chuckling in listening to you. The whole time going……. “THAT’S Mavis”!!!
As for your tomato plant, crop it. Unless you want to get a ladder to pick the fruit! Some just get out of control, especially with a funny lady fluttering around the garden all day.
Love you Mavis!
Mavis says
I have the voice of a 12 year old lol.
Deanna says
You can’t be a day over 11!!!
Sarah says
I’m nervous for you and your tomato plants. Hurry up and post your solution! 🙂
Michelle says
I just watched this!! What a fun video…you’re a natural. I loved hearing your voice.
As for the tomatoes…the whole ‘not enough room for the roots’ makes sense. But also, I had no idea that heirlooms grew taller. Who knew? I just learned something!
Mavis says
Yes Figgy, I am a natural dork. lol 🙂
karen says
Hi Mavis. I was watching this video tonight and thought about this post you made a while back. Have you ever seen this guy? He likes to tie his indeterminate tomatoes to a string that he lowers as the tomato plant grows taller. I have never seen this before and think it’s very clever. Love your blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq9iXvkgrMA&feature=plcp
(it’s toward the end of the video).
Mavis says
Holy cow, his guy has quite the set up! I hope he gets his 7 pound tomato. I’ll have to look into making some compost tea. Thanks for the video. 🙂