Collapsing Tomato Plant d/t fruit weight

My Foot Smells · June 12, 2017

Has anyone had a tomato plant collapse due to weight of tomatoes? Got one I have tied up, but still sagging. A branch that has about 12# of tomatoes on it just crumpled to the ground.

Maybe all the rain and overcast skies has made the plant soft and too flexible. Only one plant has done this, others are managing. The TTC I use seems too big at times until late stages, as the plant had room to flop with a batch of 6 (approx. 1lb) tomatoes on the ground.

Worth1 · June 12, 2017

Yes I have and I have to tie the plants as they grow in the big cages.
Worth

clkeiper · June 12, 2017

we cage our tomatoes in the concrete re-enforcing wire cages if they aren't strung in the hightunnnel otherwise they are not going to yield anything on the ground. bugs and mold will waste them before I can find them.

Father'sDaughter · June 12, 2017

I stake so heavy branches can be tied directly to the stake for added support.

In my first year growing tomatoes, I did not lash the stems up tight to my stakes and did have quite a few crumple under the weight. Now I leave just enough slack in the twine to accommodate stem thickening. Now if a plant gets too big and heavy, my only concern is it snapping the stakes...

June 12, 2017	#1
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	Collapsing Tomato Plant d/t fruit weight Has anyone had a tomato plant collapse due to weight of tomatoes? Got one I have tied up, but still sagging. A branch that has about 12# of tomatoes on it just crumpled to the ground. Maybe all the rain and overcast skies has made the plant soft and too flexible. Only one plant has done this, others are managing. The TTC I use seems too big at times until late stages, as the plant had room to flop with a batch of 6 (approx. 1lb) tomatoes on the ground.

June 12, 2017	#3
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	we cage our tomatoes in the concrete re-enforcing wire cages if they aren't strung in the hightunnnel otherwise they are not going to yield anything on the ground. bugs and mold will waste them before I can find them. __________________ carolyn k

June 12, 2017	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Yes I have and I have to tie the plants as they grow in the big cages. Worth

June 12, 2017	#4
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I stake so heavy branches can be tied directly to the stake for added support. In my first year growing tomatoes, I did not lash the stems up tight to my stakes and did have quite a few crumple under the weight. Now I leave just enough slack in the twine to accommodate stem thickening. Now if a plant gets too big and heavy, my only concern is it snapping the stakes...