Single stem issues

pershing · June 8, 2014

Growing single stem this year. I am running into an issue with weight of the branches. If a branch has heavy tomato weight it snaps off the main stem. What am I missing here? Do we have to keep the branch cut short or do we have to support the weight of the heavy loaded branches? Thanks...

- Pershing

kath · June 8, 2014

I'm not sure why the heavy weight of a fruit cluster would be less of a problem with a multi-stemmed plant, but it seems to me that some varieties seem much better able to support the weight of their fruits than others. Most of the hundreds of varieties that I've grown on stakes so far have been able to do that just fine, while others do not. I don't automatically tie extra supports on them but wait until the first one breaks and then support the rest on that plant for the season...but that variety doesn't make it back for the next season's lineup.

There are threads here somewhere about methods/devices folks use for support.

TightenUp · June 8, 2014

last season i had some plants like big beef and brandy boy "buckle" on me. they were just in cages with no stake. This season all plants are staked inside the cages

b54red · June 8, 2014

I am using J hooks for the first time this year to support clusters that appear to be putting too much weight on the stem. Sometimes they work out ok and other times I can't get them to reach the string and branch in order to give good support so I use foam wire on those. I lost way too many clusters of tomatoes last year on varieties that I love like German Johnson. I had one German Johnson plant last year that had the first three big clusters of green tomatoes just break off. I also put arches on the first few cluster stems when they were still flowering to give them a more even bend and it seems to have helped reduce that kinking of the stems that happens so often. It is still early in the season and the fruit should get a lot heavier so I'm just waiting to see if it was worth the trouble.

It is funny but some of my single stem plants are having some really huge clusters so I am culling some of them quite heavily because I don't want too many small tomatoes from those varieties. My largest clusters are on single stem plants except for one Indian Stripe Potato Leaf which is putting on some big clusters of fruit.

Bill

kath · June 8, 2014

So here are some of the threads that discuss some options:

http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=31966
http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=29276
http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=18858
http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=2306
http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=23969

pershing · June 9, 2014

Thanks for the links, my wife just mentioned that maybe is happening because of the sucker removal weakining the branch/main stem joint. Can this be a factor?

June 8, 2014	#1
pershing Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Mckinney, TX Posts: 41	Single stem issues Growing single stem this year. I am running into an issue with weight of the branches. If a branch has heavy tomato weight it snaps off the main stem. What am I missing here? Do we have to keep the branch cut short or do we have to support the weight of the heavy loaded branches? Thanks... - Pershing

June 8, 2014	#3
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	last season i had some plants like big beef and brandy boy "buckle" on me. they were just in cages with no stake. This season all plants are staked inside the cages __________________

June 8, 2014	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	I'm not sure why the heavy weight of a fruit cluster would be less of a problem with a multi-stemmed plant, but it seems to me that some varieties seem much better able to support the weight of their fruits than others. Most of the hundreds of varieties that I've grown on stakes so far have been able to do that just fine, while others do not. I don't automatically tie extra supports on them but wait until the first one breaks and then support the rest on that plant for the season...but that variety doesn't make it back for the next season's lineup. There are threads here somewhere about methods/devices folks use for support.

June 8, 2014	#4
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I am using J hooks for the first time this year to support clusters that appear to be putting too much weight on the stem. Sometimes they work out ok and other times I can't get them to reach the string and branch in order to give good support so I use foam wire on those. I lost way too many clusters of tomatoes last year on varieties that I love like German Johnson. I had one German Johnson plant last year that had the first three big clusters of green tomatoes just break off. I also put arches on the first few cluster stems when they were still flowering to give them a more even bend and it seems to have helped reduce that kinking of the stems that happens so often. It is still early in the season and the fruit should get a lot heavier so I'm just waiting to see if it was worth the trouble. It is funny but some of my single stem plants are having some really huge clusters so I am culling some of them quite heavily because I don't want too many small tomatoes from those varieties. My largest clusters are on single stem plants except for one Indian Stripe Potato Leaf which is putting on some big clusters of fruit. Bill

June 9, 2014	#6
pershing Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Mckinney, TX Posts: 41	Thanks for the links, my wife just mentioned that maybe is happening because of the sucker removal weakining the branch/main stem joint. Can this be a factor?