Johnart, hope you don't mind me starting this. I went to post on the Pt. 2 thread only to find that that was no longer an option.

My cherry tomato plant is out of control! It seems like it grows 8-10 inches a week, especially since we've been alternating with rain then sunshine. It's got to be at least 5 feet tall now. I have to water it every day with at least 8 cups of water. Today I've already given it a gallon of water, literally. I'm going to be out of town for a week in late August and am worried about how to make sure it has enough water while I'm gone...

[img:$uid]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/jone70/Balcony%20Garden/1751dc4d.jpg[/img:$uid]

I counted at least 20 baby cherry tomatoes in various stages of growth. Just waiting until they are ripe enough for salad!

[img:$uid]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/jone70/Balcony%20Garden/8aad3470.jpg[/img:$uid]

Sweet !

i really need to plant a garden, i better get to work!

Looks great! I wish we would get some rain. It's been nearly a month since it's rained here and it's been in the 90's the last few days. I spend a lot of time watering in the evenings. Our corn is doing great though!

I have canned 3 jars of sweet bananna peppers

The Blueberries & Strawberries were FAB !

I have had a dozen beautiful red maters

the herbs are off the chain this year

my spring sweet peas are STILL putting out

Machaela said:

my spring sweet peas are STILL putting out

jone70 said:

Johnart, hope you don't mind me starting this. I went to post on the Pt. 2 thread only to find that that was no longer an option.

My cherry tomato plant is out of control! It seems like it grows 8-10 inches a week, especially since we've been alternating with rain then sunshine. It's got to be at least 5 feet tall now. I have to water it every day with at least 8 cups of water. Today I've already given it a gallon of water, literally. I'm going to be out of town for a week in late August and am worried about how to make sure it has enough water while I'm gone...

[img:$uid]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/jone70/Balcony%20Garden/1751dc4d.jpg[/img:$uid]

I counted at least 20 baby cherry tomatoes in various stages of growth. Just waiting until they are ripe enough for salad!

[img:$uid]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/jone70/Balcony%20Garden/8aad3470.jpg[/img:$uid]

Very nice! But i would suggest pinching off any new growth especially so it doesnt grow higher... you want the plant to concentrate on producing fruit now and not in growing any taller..

tinaz said:

Very nice! But i would suggest pinching off any new growth especially so it doesnt grow higher... you want the plant to concentrate on producing fruit now and not in growing any taller..

Thanks for the tip -- I have been pinching off the "suckers" but I'm not sure which other leaves I should prune and which should stay. How do I know? I've tried to google "pruning cherry tomatoes" and things like that but it's not that clear to me. The other thing is that the new growth at the top has a lot of flowers, much more than the rest of the plant so I didn't want to cut those because I wanted more tomatoes. I also read that the plant needs the foliage because that's where the photosynthesis takes place.

jone70 said:

tinaz said:

Very nice! But i would suggest pinching off any new growth especially so it doesnt grow higher... you want the plant to concentrate on producing fruit now and not in growing any taller..

Thanks for the tip -- I have been pinching off the "suckers" but I'm not sure which other leaves I should prune and which should stay. How do I know? I've tried to google "pruning cherry tomatoes" and things like that but it's not that clear to me. The other thing is that the new growth at the top has a lot of flowers, much more than the rest of the plant so I didn't want to cut those because I wanted more tomatoes. I also read that the plant needs the foliage because that's where the photosynthesis takes place.

Yor plant will get plenty of photosynthesis because instead of growing tall and spindly, it will become fuller and more lush... You really cant hurt the plant by cutting off like an inch or so off the tops of the whole plant... Ive had them get split in half at the stalk and still survive and produce tomatoes...

If you allow all your flowers at the top to bear fruit your plant will be top heavy and may snap off in half... Once you pinch off the top growth, you will start to see tons of flowers through out... Its blooming so much at the top because the plant is putting its energy into growing tall..

Plants really arent as fragile as we think they are but if you are nervous about lopping off the top you can go to your local nursery and talk to them, but Ive grown tomaotes for years and have never had a prob pruning the tops off..

And YEAH for your tomatoes! I didnt grow any this year and im totally jealous!!!

Michelesky said:

Machaela said:

my spring sweet peas are STILL putting out

Sluts !