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Number of trusses? - Printable Version

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Number of trusses? - JJB - 03-07-2020

I believe the recommended no. of trusses on indoor tomatoes is six and outdoors four.  How many trusses for a  a double stemmed GH plant?  Still six?


RE: Number of trusses? - Small chilli - 03-07-2020

I never restrict number of trusses.


RE: Number of trusses? - JJB - 03-07-2020

In practice neither do I but the gh roof does. Just wondered whether there was a school of thought.


RE: Number of trusses? - Mikey - 03-07-2020

If you force the tomato to grow horizontally along a cane to start with about a foot is sufficient this brings the first truss just above the ground. You should now get at least one extra truss. If you then tie the tomato into the angle of the roof you can get at least another two trusses.

How come it’s double stemmed did it split early on, some cordon toms are prone to doing that. They get a bit messy looking Though so I generally cut out the weakest branch:


RE: Number of trusses? - JJB - 04-07-2020

Its 2 stemmed because I missed an armpit while it was waiting to be transplanted and it developed fruit, so like a numpty I let it grow on. Now it has two growing stems both with trusses. It's an oxheart so don't expect huge number of trusses but just wondered if it would benefit from me stopping one stem and letting the other have all the energy. I'm not hugely bothered either way, I expect in the end it will make it's own mind up.


RE: Number of trusses? - Mark_Riga - 04-07-2020

I would leave both growing if they are looking good, you can support them both and it won't cause any overcrowding.


RE: Number of trusses? - Veggie - 04-07-2020

(03-07-2020, 08:48 PM)Small chilli Wrote: I never restrict number of trusses.

(04-07-2020, 03:56 PM)Mark_Riga Wrote: I would leave both growing if they are looking good, you can support them both and it won't cause any overcrowding.

Same here. Let the plant decide.. Smile


RE: Number of trusses? - JJB - 04-07-2020

Sounds like a plan....do nothing and hope for the best, my type of result. Thanks.


RE: Number of trusses? - Scarlet - 04-07-2020

I often do double stemmed cordons in the GH, they will usually grow similar amount of trusses as the main one, though I start it as low down as possible.

I don't stop my plants either.


RE: Number of trusses? - Mikey - 05-07-2020

This raises an interesting question, how much space do you give between plants?

The reason I pinch out is I find it easier to see what the plant is upto. They are always growing new armpits, sprouting off the end of trusses. My plants are about a foot apart and they will cross over in the greenhouse, so I cut back the branches by half. These often sprout New growth as well.

You could say I do extreme topiary on my tomatoes, in part because I want all effort concentrated on the fruit and not growing extra limbs. It gets harder and harder the taller the plant gets.

I’m doubtful of your ox heart JJB, one limb will be weaker, and you will have to support the fruit more as the limb not growing vertically could snap under the weight of the fruit. I’d be interested to know if you get more fruit or smaller fruit as a result?