Black Russian toms

**TEB** · 02-07-2009, 10:49 AM

Hi Helen,
Its my first year with Black Russian and I think that must be the norm as all of mine are like that, however the trusses are starting to produce fruit so you may have to leave it a bit longer, I have just taken a photo and attached to see if its what you mean.

Attached Files

Black Russian tom.jpg (0, 410 views)

**murphy99** · 02-07-2009, 11:01 AM

Hello

Thanks for your reply. The one tomato I have is on a single stalk coming from the main stem low down on the plant, no truss. I then have trusses forming higher up as you have shown, but with flowers and no tomatoes yet.

I will just leave them for a while as I may be concerning myself over nothing. hopefully I will get a few more fruit in the next week on one of them

Cheers
helen

**TEB** · 02-07-2009, 11:04 AM

They do sound the same, is it huge almost like a beefsteak tomato, you might want to give the plant a slight shake or mist with water to aid pollination

**Jerryfb** · 02-07-2009, 11:13 AM

The beefsteak tomatoes often produce a fasciated flower (massive misshapen growth) as part of normal growing. The tomato that comes from them is generally to twisted and wierd to be of use. I generally pluck off the first big mutant flower and let the normal ones develop in peace.

**TEB** · 02-07-2009, 11:36 AM

Originally posted by Jerryfb View Post

The beefsteak tomatoes often produce a fasciated flower (massive misshapen growth) as part of normal growing. The tomato that comes from them is generally to twisted and wierd to be of use. I generally pluck off the first big mutant flower and let the normal ones develop in peace.

Thanks for that because I was wondering whether to nip it off but when it started happening on every plant I thought it might have been the norm, the first tomatoes are hugh almost as big as a cooking apple

**Jerryfb** · 02-07-2009, 12:07 PM

Originally posted by TEB View Post

Thanks for that because I was wondering whether to nip it off but when it started happening on every plant I thought it might have been the norm, the first tomatoes are hugh almost as big as a cooking apple

I only ever grew Black Russians once

as the cropping was so poor. They were growing outside though. As we love beefsteaks so much this year I'm growing Costeluto Fiorentino. They had much less of the wierd flower problem. The plants have grown HUUGE! The toms are just coming on now.

**TEB** · 02-07-2009, 12:16 PM

Originally posted by Jerryfb View Post

I only ever grew Black Russians once

as the cropping was so poor. They were growing outside though. As we love beefsteaks so much this year I'm growing Costeluto Fiorentino. They had much less of the wierd flower problem. The plants have grown HUUGE! The toms are just coming on now.

Ah I grew costeluto last year but didnt have much luck but that was probably down to the weather

**sarraceniac** · 02-07-2009, 12:16 PM

I hope you guys are going to keep us informed on these. I was going to try them this year but discovering that I had loads of seed for other varieties and being a gardening cheapskate I put it off. I don't know anyone round here growing them so would be interested in what you have to say about them in a few weeks when it is all over. (Sob).

**murphy99** · 02-07-2009, 12:31 PM

yep thats right , its like a huge beefsteak tomato

I think I will pull it off some of my plants and see how they go.

It would be a shame if I pulled off the only fruit the plant was going to produce especially when I have happily watched it grow thinking I was getting huge tomatoes

It all very scary and can be full of disappointment this growing lark

Oh well its all a learning curve getting steeper by the day.! thought once I had got past the seed stage and had them all in their final homes it would be plain sailing

silly me !

I am now having to move them all and spread them out as they are taking over the world, its like a jungle on my patio now! We used to have a nice little sunny corner to sit in , it's like sitting in the middle of the amazon now

I am also growing Costeluto Fiorentino and yes they are huge plants but mine don't have any fruit yet though. Maybe I will go and have a rummage in case I have a similar fruit hidden among the foliage!

Glad I have some people to compare notes with though... thanks

**Jerryfb** · 02-07-2009, 12:48 PM

My two penneth on beefsteak growing. They make masses of leaves. You can cut the leaves off up to the first bunch of toms. This helps get more light and air to them. Water from the very top of the plant every week or so as the pollen can drift down the plant and pollinate any flowers. You can also be brave and cut the top off the plant when it gets too big. That way it will focus on the fruit and not the plant. Likewise you can reduce crop numbers to increase fruiting size. My philosophy is to avoid artificial feeding as much as possble but these beasts do get hungry so you'll need to make sure that you have something to give them. Gro-bags in my experience are just not enough. Ok for the moneymakers and other standard toms but Beefsteaks are much harder work.

**murphy99** · 02-07-2009, 12:58 PM

when you say "cut off the leaves" do you mean the braches with all the leaves , I assume you do and I am asking a stupid question

Do you have to wait until you actually get toms or can I trim the bottom bit now when I just have flowers.

Sadly mine are in growbags, but the are cut in half and on their sides so hopefully that is something positive! I am feeding all my plants tomorite once they have set their first fruit, should I not do that with these or do I need to compensate for the growbag and feed anyway?

I will try the watering from the top tonight, I am doing that with the tomatillos (the packet said to.... wasn't sure why!)

Thanks for the advice

Cheers
helen

**Jerryfb** · 02-07-2009, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by murphy99 View Post

when you say "cut off the leaves" do you mean the braches with all the leaves , I assume you do and I am asking a stupid question

Do you have to wait until you actually get toms or can I trim the bottom bit now when I just have flowers.

Sadly mine are in growbags, but the are cut in half and on their sides so hopefully that is something positive! I am feeding all my plants tomorite once they have set their first fruit, should I not do that with these or do I need to compensate for the growbag and feed anyway?

I will try the watering from the top tonight, I am doing that with the tomatillos (the packet said to.... wasn't sure why!)

Thanks for the advice

Cheers
helen

I'll try an post some photos tonight if i can. Assuming you are thinning out the side branches (which you'll need to) you cut the whole leaf back to the main stem to the point of the first truss. I'd wait until you get your toms as it is to bring light to the fruit at the bottom.

Gro-bags are fine; as is tomorite. It's just a personal prerefence of mine to be as organic as possible even so far as feeding my plants. I rely on bonfire ash, bone meal and manure

**murphy99** · 02-07-2009, 02:31 PM

Thanks

Assuming you are thinning out the side branches (which you'll need to) you cut the whole leaf back to the main stem to the point of the first truss

yes thats what I meant, but I will now wait a while until I do anything

maybe next year I will think organic , this year will be just happy to get a tomato or two... first time, so dipping my toes carefully

**bramble** · 02-07-2009, 09:53 PM

I have given up on growing beefsteak tomatoes as i find they are more trouble than they're worth.
Tons of foliage and not enough of a crop to make it worthwhile.
I grow regular sized and cherry ones and am more than happy with that.
I would'nt remove your leaves just yet as you need them to nourish the toms that are coming.
Wait until they are a good size and then consider removing some of the foliage.
Not telling anyone what to do, just my opinion.

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