Topping bucket grown indeterminates

jmsieglaff · July 10, 2015

In addition to some dwarf tomatoes, I'm also growing some indeterminate tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets. The indeterminate tomatoes include two currant types, Stupice and a Eva Purple Ball x Big Beef cross. The Stupice is about 4' tall and loaded with tomatoes. The tops of the plant are to me showing slight signs of P deficiency, which means I need to increase frequency of fertilizer; similar story with the EPVxBB, although the plant is less tall. I'm thinking about topping these plants so the plant does not continue expend energy on continued vertical growth, but maturing the many fruits already set. Any thoughts? Or do I just need to really amp up the fertilizer--e.g. at every watering ala AKMark's green house tomatoes? I know the indeterminate tomatoes will become root bound in the 5 gallon buckets, so that was another thought for topping and allowing them to focus on maturing fruits.

Worth1 · July 10, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

In addition to some dwarf tomatoes, I'm also growing some indeterminate tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets. The indeterminate tomatoes include two currant types, Stupice and a Eva Purple Ball x Big Beef cross. The Stupice is about 4' tall and loaded with tomatoes. The tops of the plant are to me showing slight signs of P deficiency, which means I need to increase frequency of fertilizer; similar story with the EPVxBB, although the plant is less tall. I'm thinking about topping these plants so the plant does not continue expend energy on continued vertical growth, but maturing the many fruits already set. Any thoughts? Or do I just need to really amp up the fertilizer--e.g. at every watering ala AKMark's green house tomatoes? I know the indeterminate tomatoes will become root bound in the 5 gallon buckets, so that was another thought for topping and allowing them to focus on maturing fruits.

Even if you top the plants the roots will still grow.
Worth

jmsieglaff · July 10, 2015

Good point. Maybe just fertilizing them more is the answer. First stupice should be turning soon, it's the first time I've grown it. Loaded with fruits.

Gardeneer · July 11, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

Good point. Maybe just fertilizing them more is the answer. First stupice should be turning soon, it's the first time I've grown it. Loaded with fruits.

Yeah. I would fertilize more often with much diluted fertilizer ( ~ 1/3 strength).

As long as they get what they need (moisture + nutrients) consistently, a 5g bucket should be fine. But you have to attend and provide care for them.

Topping becomes an issue when you cannot manage to support.
And I believe in pruning in a backyard container growing environment, to some extent.

Gardeneer.

luigiwu · July 10, 2015

Can you post a pic of your bucket plants?

Tall Tier · July 11, 2015

I grow in five gals and fertilize often depending on how hot the season is (how much water is being put through the bucket) the colour of foliage is a sign to feed or not. Also I add fine dolomite lime.

jmsieglaff · July 11, 2015

Here they are:

In order: fruits on Stupice, close up of top leaves of Stupice (a bit of curl and slight purple color making me think of P deficiency, Stupice and EVPxBB in buckets, and dwarfs in buckets. In general they are healthy plants (the dwarf tomatoes are doing very well, but are more suited to those sized containers).

I'm thinking in addition to fertilizing more often with a water soluble product, I may also add some granular ferts that will wash into the soil when I water without other fertilizer.

Curious to other thoughts.

bower · July 11, 2015

jm, for sure, fertilizer is a good bet especially with smaller containers. I grow in buckets and tubs, you can keep them happy by feeding on a regular basis although eventually they will be potbound.

I do top my indeterminate plants, but only because they grow too tall, up to the glass in my greenhouse, and up there it is scorching when the sun shines and wet when it doesn't. Hard place to set fruit but great for developing mold.... I would need a ladder just to tend on them anyway.

Your plants are not even to the top of the cages, so I'd feed em up and let em grow as big as they can without being a nuisance to care for.

I do sometimes top a plant and cut it back pretty hard if it is all suckers and no fruit, to get it to set something. That's because the conditions in my situation promote vegetative growth instead of reproductive... varieties that need lots of sun don't do so well here.

jmsieglaff · August 5, 2015

Increased fertilizing (manure based granules and water soluble) have did the trick. My bucket indeterminates are going strong. Thanks all.

July 10, 2015	#1
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Topping bucket grown indeterminates In addition to some dwarf tomatoes, I'm also growing some indeterminate tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets. The indeterminate tomatoes include two currant types, Stupice and a Eva Purple Ball x Big Beef cross. The Stupice is about 4' tall and loaded with tomatoes. The tops of the plant are to me showing slight signs of P deficiency, which means I need to increase frequency of fertilizer; similar story with the EPVxBB, although the plant is less tall. I'm thinking about topping these plants so the plant does not continue expend energy on continued vertical growth, but maturing the many fruits already set. Any thoughts? Or do I just need to really amp up the fertilizer--e.g. at every watering ala AKMark's green house tomatoes? I know the indeterminate tomatoes will become root bound in the 5 gallon buckets, so that was another thought for topping and allowing them to focus on maturing fruits.

July 10, 2015	#5
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	Can you post a pic of your bucket plants? __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

July 11, 2015	#6
Tall Tier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 24	I grow in five gals and fertilize often depending on how hot the season is (how much water is being put through the bucket) the colour of foliage is a sign to feed or not. Also I add fine dolomite lime.

July 11, 2015	#8
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	jm, for sure, fertilizer is a good bet especially with smaller containers. I grow in buckets and tubs, you can keep them happy by feeding on a regular basis although eventually they will be potbound. I do top my indeterminate plants, but only because they grow too tall, up to the glass in my greenhouse, and up there it is scorching when the sun shines and wet when it doesn't. Hard place to set fruit but great for developing mold.... I would need a ladder just to tend on them anyway. Your plants are not even to the top of the cages, so I'd feed em up and let em grow as big as they can without being a nuisance to care for. I do sometimes top a plant and cut it back pretty hard if it is all suckers and no fruit, to get it to set something. That's because the conditions in my situation promote vegetative growth instead of reproductive... varieties that need lots of sun don't do so well here.

August 5, 2015	#9
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Increased fertilizing (manure based granules and water soluble) have did the trick. My bucket indeterminates are going strong. Thanks all.