Grow Your Own Magazine

My tomato bush plants are now laden with heavy fruit which is brilliant. We had heavy winds at the weekend and my unsupported tomatoes really suffered. I have now staked up the plants but a few of the trusses have partially ripped off the main plant. Do I take them off the main plant to stop disease getting in through the rip, but loose all the fruit on that truss, or do I leave it connected to the plant and hope that the fruits ripen before the truss dies off?

Any advice much appretiated.

Thanks
Rosy B

That has happened to me before and i put elastoplast around the rip and it held until the fruits ripened. Good luck whatever you decide.

If they are fully formed they will ripen off the plant if you stick them near some ripe bananas as these give off Methane(?) which causes the fruit to ripen.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

I had the same problem a few weeks ago when we had summer storms. I planted the broken trussel into a bucket on its own, for a week or so it looked like it was giving up and going to compost bin hell, but then it picked up and is even flowering again now. The fruits that were then still small, green, and unripe have come on wonders and we had hem for dinner last night.

Take it off and put it in a dark shed, hanging them from the roof, they will ripen in the dark. Similar, if you have loose ones, just shove them in a drawer and they will go red.

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

Thanks for that andrewo - I've just had the same problem with one of my tom plants this afternoon due to the high winds. Will pop the toms that fell of into a drawer to ripen them.
Does anyone have any ideas for strengthening the stakes I've tied my plants to? should I add another stake or has anyone any ideas? with the strong winds we are having the north-west at the moment, I would rather be safe than sorry. thanks in advance for your advice. dexterdog

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