Out of control indeterminates

[akgardengirl]

I must have started my seeds way to early as I have 12"+ ind. plants with blossoms forming. They are in 3" pots and I plan to put them in larger grow bags today. Is it harmful to the plant to remove the lower leaves to repot deep so that I can "shorten" the plants some? Also, do I pick off the blossoms since I still have approx. 6 weeks until I can start to harden off? They are now residing out in the much cooler shop in hopes of slowing things down some.
Sue B.

[amideutch]

AKgirl, Check out this site. Ami
http://www.kdcomm.net/~tomato/Tomato/trench.htm

[missionrandy]

AKgirl,

What varieties are they?


Randy

[akgardengirl]

Thanks Ami, but I live in Alaska and don't plant in the ground, just containers. What if I was to cut off the bottoms and reroot them? Or the tops to shorten them?

[akgardengirl]

Randy,
They are all indeterminate including your BFT. The det. plants are fine.
Sue

[missionrandy]

Hi Sue,

You could use the recommendation from above and get larger, taller containers, pick some leaves off the plants and bury the stems in a light soil mixture. The plant stems will develop roots over a few weeks, and control the leggy growth some bit. At least you will have a very good root system!

Your Aurora Siberian is able to handle our cooler spring nights out in the garden, just as Black from Tula, Stupice and Sophies Choice. looking forward to tasting the tomato's. Looks like a great recommendation from you...

Thanks,
Randy

[amideutch]

Sue, I plant most of my tomatoes in containers as well. Just plant them deeper. What type of containers do you use? Last year mine were a bit leggy as well but did fine when I planted them deep. Right now I have some that are 18" tall. I will be planting out in the next week or two. Ami

[amideutch]

Sue, Here is part of my seedlings which is turning into a forest. Ami

[akgardengirl]

Ami,
Looks like mine. Okay to pluck off some bottom leaves so that they are not buried when planting deep?
Sue

[mresseguie]

Ami,

Your starts look healthy. I really like the background. It's all green and beautiful. That's just how my view looks. There's only one little problem with my area-the last frost date won't be for 2 or 3 more weeks, so I dare not put my plants outside yet. Poor me.

My starts are about 6" tall now. I take them out during the day, but return them to a protected shed at night.

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AKgardengal,

Go ahead and pinch the bottom leaves when you plant deep, you'll get a better root mass, and the plants will thank you. (Mine thank me......all summer long...)

[korney19]

AK, I grow many of my plants in 4 gallon containers about 12-13" deep. On the tall ones I use a bulb hole digger and cut a hole almost all the way to the bottom, (maybe 8-10" deep) and plant it. It'll grow roots anywhere the plant's covered with soilmix.

[amideutch]

mressequie, Yes it is beautiful. In the next days I will post some photo's of my neck-of-the-woods in the photo gallery. From what I have read our climates are similar. Ami

[CLa]

Hey Akgirl
You could cut off leaves and bury them on up to the neck, bad idea to cut the bottom, that is where your roots are, you need all that you can get. If you cut the leaf stems, make sure the scissors are clean, or just don't cut them at all, and just bury them, they will just die off, should not affect your plant. Keep a fair amount of leaves though, I try to balance it, cut too much leaf off, and you slow down photosynthesis in which case there is no point in having lots of root if they are not getting enough energy to expand but a few sets of leaves should be fine, I prefer at least 3 sets (6 stems) but 4 will work. If you have too much leaf and hardly any root, your plant strives for water to keep moisture in the leaves or your root system is simply off to a slower start and is not as sturdy to support and feed a larger plant.