10-12 feet.
Indeterminate tomatoes are those that have a leaf bud as the apical meristem. This means the plant will continue to grow taller as you water and fertilize it. You may have seen these plants grow to heights of 10-12 feet.
How tall should you let indeterminate tomatoes grow?
Providing your tomato plants with at least 5 to 6 feet of support above ground will accommodate much of the growth. Ensure the support structure is secured to the ground so the tomato plant does not overtake it. Indeterminate plants may reach the top of these structures, but the majority of the plant will be supported.
Can I control the height of indeterminate tomatoes?
These vining tomato plants trellis well, and produce tomatoes for a longer span of time than determinate tomatoes. When growing multiple indeterminate tomatoes, they must be pruned to a single stem in order to maximize space (at least a foot between plants) and discourage infinite growth.
How tall should indeterminate tomato trellis be?
Using wood or metal posts averaging 6-8 feet high, drive in supports on each end of your row and every 10-15 feet within the row. Connect the posts across the top with a single strand of high quality wire. Next, attach one string immediately above each tomato plant, letting it descend all the way to the ground.
How big do indeterminate tomatoes get?
Tomato plants have one of two growth habits: Determinate varieties grow to a certain height (usually 2 to 3 feet), set fruit, and then concentrate on ripening that fruit. Indeterminate varieties keep growing taller and taller, setting and ripening fruit until they’re killed by frost.
Can I cut the top off my tomato plant?
If you would like your plant to be bushier, cut the top of the plant off. This allows the rest of the plant to redirect energy to other areas which enables it to fill out instead of continuing to grow taller. Topped tomato plants will also, typically, produce larger fruit and increased fruit production.
Should you prune indeterminate tomatoes?
Pruning indeterminate tomatoes improves fruit production by removing extra growth that diverts energy away from developing fruits. Removing extra growth redirects energy back to the fruits and reduces fruit shading, both of which will help fruits mature more quickly.
Can you keep indeterminate tomato plant small?
As a young plant, prune these tomatoes to one main stem, removing suckers as they develop. Because plants are pruned to grow vertically, they take up less space, making this a good option for small space gardening.
What happens if you top an indeterminate tomato plant?
Indeterminate tomatoes can be topped throughout the season as needed as they will continue to grow back. At the beginning of the season, top indeterminate tomatoes to improve growth or prevent leggy stems before fruit set. Mid-season topping can control height and unruly growth when the stems outgrow their supports.
What happens if you cut the main stem of a tomato plant?
Even if a large section of stem breaks off, the plant will continue to produce. The key to successful recovery is to prune the plant to have more than one main stem. When a tomato plant is young, allow its lowest sucker to grow in addition to its original main stem.
What is the best way to support indeterminate tomatoes?
Trellis systems are used to train indeterminate varieties. This system starts with support posts (3-6 inch) that stand 5-6 feet above the soil and are spaced about 15 feet apart. Heavy gauge wire is then strung horizontally across the top of the support posts.
How do you keep tomatoes indeterminate short?
ANSWER: You can prevent your tomatoes from growing too tall by pruning them. Pruning also encourages the plant to grow fruits instead of creating more foliage. Always use clean, sterilized shears when you prune to avoid spreading disease in your garden.
How tall do indeterminate cherry tomatoes get?
All three are what are called “indeterminate” varieties, meaning they will continue to grow taller and produce more until the plants are killed by frost, which — if they really like where they are — means the plants may grow to 6, 8, or even 10 feet tall.
How tall should I let my tomato plants get?
When the plant reaches the desired height–usually no taller than its support, 4 or 5 feet is good–consistently pinch out all new growing tips. In a week or so time, the plant will quit trying to put out new growth at the topmost part of the plant and concentrate on new growth and fruit below.
Can tomatoes grow in 12 inches of soil?
Tomato plants can grow in as little as 12 inches (30 cm) of soil. Shallow plantings need high-quality soil, balanced fertilizer, and a good watering plan. Stake your tomato plants to keep them upright, especially when growing in shallow soil.
What fertilizer makes tomatoes bigger?
Feed Your Tomatoes With Phosphorus
Water-soluble fertilizer formulations like 24-8-16 and 18-18-21 provide phosphorus needed to promote fruiting, but some gardeners on a quest for large tomatoes prefer to apply 0–45–0 triple superphosphate at a rate of 1/2 cup per 100 feet of row.
What happens if you don’t prune tomatoes?
2 If left unpruned, these suckers will eventually grow into full-sized branches, adding lots of foliage and, eventually, a few fruits. This will also result in a tomato plant that quickly outgrows its space in the garden.
How often do you put Epsom salt on tomatoes?
Make up a solution of about a teaspoon of Epsom salts per litre (quarter gallon) of water in a spray bottle. Simply wet the foliage on your tomato plants every two weeks using a fine spray setting. It will quickly be absorbed by the leaves. Avoid spraying on hot, sunny days or when rain is imminent.
What do Epsom salts do for tomato plants?
Late in the season use an Epsom salt spray to increase tomato and pepper yield and keep plants green and bushy; early in the season add Epsom salt to the soil to aid germination, early root and cell development, photosynthesis, plant growth, and to prevent blossom-end rot.
Should you take all leaves off tomato plants?
Remove leaves
Removing some of the leaves will help the sun reach the tomatoes, and they will ripen faster. The plant will focus more energy on growing the tomatoes if you remove some of the leaves too. I remove all of the leaves up to the first tomato bunch on the main stem.
Should I trim off lower branches on tomato plant?
As the plants grow, revisit them regularly and keep the bottom 6 to 12 inches bared. Trim away these lower leaves and stems while they’re small, rather than letting them grow. This conserves the plant’s resources, and a smaller pruning wound creates less opportunity for disease to enter.