taxi tomato

[scarfguy]

SO... this is a yellow taxi tomato. It is a full size yellow tomato about the size of a baseball. Documentation said it grows about 18-24".  At 34 days it's now pushing the limits of my bounty. BUT... it looks like it's stopped growing and started producing flowers.

The flowers are just below the top of the trellis. 

SO... my question is, should I prune it, top it, or let it go?

I'm sure the top leaves will soon get light or heat burn being that close to the light.

===

[Sher]

scarfguy, if it were mine, I would leave it alone for now and prune it if absolutely necessary. I'm not saying that's the right way, just my best guess.

I am fascinated by your being able to grow regular size tomatoes in a Bounty. This is a great project!

[lynnee]

scarfguy, I would definitely prune it. In my experience, you can remove the growing tip and leaves right above the stem with the blooms, and the isolated blooms will continue to develop into tomatoes. (Be sure to pollinate the blooms with a toothbrush or gentle shaking.)

Also, I would remove all the growing tips and leaves that are near the lights. Go back to the last Y branch, and take out the straight stem in the middle--but you can leave any stem with blooms. Taking out the growing tips at the top will cause the plant to branch lower down.

[Sher]

I defer to lynnee. She knows more than I do about this!

[scarfguy]

Jul 16, 2022 8:41:09 GMT -5 lynnee said:

Also, I would remove all the growing tips and leaves that are near the lights. Go back to the last Y branch, and take out the straight stem in the middle--but you can leave any stem with blooms. Taking out the growing tips at the top will cause the plant to branch lower down.

That's what I was thinking, lynnee.  I think its about done growing taller but a little "nudge" by cutting the top growing tips should help it along.

Thanks guys!

[lynnee]

scarfguy, Here is a link to one of my posts that has photoes that show what I'm talking about re pruning tomatoes!

aerogardenaddicts.com/post/51161/thread

I'm really looking forward to seeing photos of your full-size tomatoes!

[airscapes]

If it is an indeterminate plant it will keep growing and growing, prune it to the size you want it and keep pinching off anything growing from the Y's in the branches.  It will keep trying to grow.   Also, it will want to eat a lot more, than what  a micro dwarfs or small determinate would need.   

Good luck! 

[scarfguy]

FYI: It's a 24" determinate.  That's why I think its about done trying to grow. 

Yea, all my tomato plants have been ferocious eaters.

[Sher]

scarfguy, I just watched this video. It goes along with what lynnee said, although he is pruning peppers.

Link

[lynnee]

Jul 16, 2022 15:38:44 GMT -5 scarfguy said:

FYI: It's a 24" determinate.  That's why I think its about done trying to grow. 

Yea, all my tomato plants have been ferocious eaters.

It will probably continue to grow branches with blooms, without growing taller. At least that is what the AG determinates do. My AG red heirlooms all start looking like bonsai!

[scarfguy]

That's an outstanding video. Thanks!

His pepper plant is awesome!  His method looks very much like bonsai.

[lynnee]

Jul 16, 2022 21:02:31 GMT -5 Sher said:

scarfguy, I just watched this video. It goes along with what lynnee said, although he is pruning peppers.

Link

Excellent video, Sher! I only wish that he'd talked a little more about dealing with those tufts of thick leaves and blooms that form at the tops of pepper plants near the lights. I've been taking them off, but the plants don't like it much.

[scarfguy]

Jul 17, 2022 8:18:24 GMT -5 lynnee said:

Jul 16, 2022 21:02:31 GMT -5 Sher said:

scarfguy , I just watched this video. It goes along with what lynnee said, although he is pruning peppers.

Link

Excellent video, Sher ! I only wish that he'd talked a little more about dealing with those tufts of thick leaves and blooms that form at the tops of pepper plants near the lights. I've been taking them off, but the plants don't like it much.

Yes! those tufts of dense leaves and blooms are what has been puzzling to me also. This morning after viewing the video, I carefully removed all of the tufts of leaves carefully keeping the young blossoms. I hope the blossoms will bloom and the pruning will stimulate growth lower down on the stalks.

(I'm sorry, this post applies to my pepper plant not the tomato that this thread began with.)

[scarfguy]

UPDATE: on my yellow Taxi tomato.

Day 45.  This is a full size but small tomato plant growing in a bounty elite. Yellow tomatoes about the size of a baseball.  

I've been pruning the center where the leaves have been growing into the light hood. Opening up the center has allowed more growth down lower and even some flowers a little lower on the plant.  I'm not pruning the wild ones that are growing above the light hood as the plant is getting a lot of supplimental sunlight through the 9 windows of my breakfast nook. So far, the plant is really productive!

[Shawn]

Look at those tomatoes.  You are doing wonderful with them.

[lynnee]

Fabulous tomato photos, scarfguy!

Your pruning strategy seems to be working well!

[scarfguy]

Day 68 of my yellow taxi tomato (baseball size yellow fruit).

I had to move my taxi to my overhead lighting.   Although billed as a 24" plant, mine is quickly outgrowing my bounty.  I'm using the same technique that I used for my cucumber six months ago.  That is, prune the branches that grow into the bounty light hood and let the periphery grow around it towards the overhead light.  This technique allows you to grow plants larger than the bounty with just the addition of some overhead full spectrum lights. This is a lot cheaper in totality than buying a farm XL to get the 3 foot height.

You end up with a lots of light for the new growth and also keep the bounty light on the lower branches.

A very happy plant!  based upon the plethora of fruit its putting out.

[lynnee]

Great idea for lighting, with a photo that proves it is effective! I love those huge tomatoes!

[Shawn]

WOW, love that plant and the fruit on it.  Great set up with the lights.

[scarfguy]

Turning yellow at 71 days!  Yeah!

Not as big as I had hoped.  Bigger than a golf ball but smaller than a baseball.

Good size to use a whole tomato on my ham, cheese, tomato, and arugula sandwiches.