To trim or not to trim

[Chanjet]

My plants are over 9 feet tall. I only have one tomato. Should I cut the tops off and maybe get some more growth ?

[Spartanburg123]

Hmmm, yes. You seem to have too much vegetative growth, and not enough flowering/fruit. The suckers from below will begin to fill out the plant down low and in the middle. While you're at it, I would consider the use of a high phosphate fertilizer- I use Scott's Superbloom (12-52-6). It is water soluble, will get to the roots quickly, and will promote flowering and reproductive growth. Good luck!

[My Foot Smells]

a 9 ft plant in ny, ny on the island before july 4th?

what are you feeding that thing, Wal-Mart stock tips?

i'd like to see a pic next to an authentic ny island girl for location verification.....

[oakley]

Only one tomato? Do you know the variety?.

I have an 8ft CubanYellow and a 6ft SunGold. City location 6b. But they are weedy vines
in driveway 7 gallon pots. They always go tall but not at all full. It has been hot in NY...
certain parts.

I just let mine go up, tie up, and let them find their way down. They don't get much
attention, just snackers.

A pic would be nice.

[My Foot Smells]

Originally Posted by oakley

Only one tomato? Do you know the variety?.

I have an 8ft CubanYellow and a 6ft SunGold. City location 6b. But they are weedy vines
in driveway 7 gallon pots. They always go tall but not at all full. It has been hot in NY...
certain parts.

I just let mine go up, tie up, and let them find their way down. They don't get much
attention, just snackers.

A pic would be nice.

Maybe a 9 footer is possible - figure youse guys would be lagging in height this time of year compared to zone 7-8. But if you also claiming some Abdul-Jabar....

Thought this was a ghost writer, maybe not now?

hmmmm

[Dewayne mater]

Topping is not a strategy for more production in my experience. You have other reasons for lack of productivity than height. The fact of height alone is difficult to make a helpful suggestion. Pictures might help, but we need to know more.

[Chanjet]

As soon as I figure how to post a picture i will

[oakley]

Originally Posted by My Foot Smells

Maybe a 9 footer is possible - figure youse guys would be lagging in height this time of year compared to zone 7-8. But if you also claiming some Abdul-Jabar....

Thought this was a ghost writer, maybe not now?

hmmmm

I had some early starts that i put out early...they survived temp fluctuations and i just
let them go having no room inside for fussy tending. CubanYellowGrape is a frilly vine
type. Shoots up as always. Sometimes un-attended plants not so precious, left alone,
can provide a healthy harvest. And these are my standard varieties and i have a dozen
of each...some here, on black-top driveway, some up-state in-ground, main garden.

We have had hot day temps well above my sister in Miami. Cool-ish nights. Unusual for
June here. Not one year is like another....

Why i asked about the variety as it is unusual for me to have some that height. My main
garden in the Catskills mountains has maybe knee high heirlooms, 5a.

[zipcode]

Topping will definitely help with flowers setting.
Something is odd though, 9 feet is a lot of feet. Are they getting enough light?

[Chanjet]

These are my plants2017 Tomato plants.jpg

[Chanjet]

The leaves are not yellow. That is a reflection of the sun

[oakley]

Wow. That is NY right now but much more robust than i expected.!

May have some foliage fertilizer overload as i do not see bloom or fruit forming...

You can remove the bottom foliage, a foot up.
Lets see what the experts say, as i am far from that...

Last time i saw that much foliage growth was a neighbor that used an over-load of
MiracleGrow. Maybe your planting mix is heavy in fertilizer?

[zipcode]

You should start by cutting some stems to improve the light in there.
If there are flowers or buds, you can top them to convince them to produce some fruit.
What variety is that? I don't see any flowers there.

[Chanjet]

There are some flowers but most of them have fizzled out. The plants are hand me down seeds from Europe . I have been growing these plants for over 30 years at my old house. But now I am in an apartment and had to build a garden in the back. I know I don't get enough sun,but that is the best I can do.

[gorbelly]

Too much nitrogen is my guess. That will produce giant plants and no fruit.