http://www.myearthgarden.com acres away from ordinary Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:41:07 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://www.myearthgarden.com/gardening-101/tomatoes-for-beginners/comment-page-1/#comment-6246 Michael Nolan Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:41:07 +0000 http://www.myearthgarden.com/?page_id=11#comment-6246 Vicki, It would be helpful to know what USDA Planting Zone you are in for starters but the short answer is yes <em>and</em> no. There are diehards on both sides of the fence about trimming tomato plants. Personally I am caught somewhere in between. I pinch off the lowest branches to the ground so that they don't get splashed from underneath. Last year I had heirlooms that were growing so tall that I honestly topped them off so the wouldn't be taller than 8 feet. I trimmed twice over the season and cut off a total of 5 feet from the plant. That means the plant would have grown 13 feet tall! The tomatoes themselves don't need to be in the direct sunlight per se. For starters, make sure you have at least 2-3 tomato plants in the same area. When you see the blooms begin to mature and become fully open, lightly tap them (the blooms) with your finger. This helps them pollinate and will result in more blooms becoming tomatoes. Best of luck and if you have more questions please feel free to ask! Michael
It would be helpful to know what USDA Planting Zone you are in for starters but the short answer is yes and no. There are diehards on both sides of the fence about trimming tomato plants. Personally I am caught somewhere in between. I pinch off the lowest branches to the ground so that they don’t get splashed from underneath. Last year I had heirlooms that were growing so tall that I honestly topped them off so the wouldn’t be taller than 8 feet. I trimmed twice over the season and cut off a total of 5 feet from the plant. That means the plant would have grown 13 feet tall!

The tomatoes themselves don’t need to be in the direct sunlight per se. For starters, make sure you have at least 2-3 tomato plants in the same area. When you see the blooms begin to mature and become fully open, lightly tap them (the blooms) with your finger. This helps them pollinate and will result in more blooms becoming tomatoes.

Best of luck and if you have more questions please feel free to ask!

Michael]]> http://www.myearthgarden.com/gardening-101/tomatoes-for-beginners/comment-page-1/#comment-6245 Vicki lahey Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:33:40 +0000 http://www.myearthgarden.com/?page_id=11#comment-6245 Hello Michael, I'm trying for the third time to grow tomatoes. Last 2 attempts were not to successful. My question is do I need to trim my plants back as they grow. I'm starting to get tomatoes but they are all underneath and not very visible to the sun. http://www.myearthgarden.com/gardening-101/tomatoes-for-beginners/comment-page-1/#comment-1275 Michael Nolan Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:17:24 +0000 http://www.myearthgarden.com/?page_id=11#comment-1275 Jared, I'm growing two of my heirloom tomatoes upside down this year too, as well as a pepper plant (not sure which one yet) because my new place in Atlanta has a great space for it - the rafters of a second floor deck on the back of the house. Look forward to seeing how your project progresses!
I’m growing two of my heirloom tomatoes upside down this year too, as well as a pepper plant (not sure which one yet) because my new place in Atlanta has a great space for it – the rafters of a second floor deck on the back of the house.

Look forward to seeing how your project progresses!]]> http://www.myearthgarden.com/gardening-101/tomatoes-for-beginners/comment-page-1/#comment-1274 Jared Lyda Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:12:57 +0000 http://www.myearthgarden.com/?page_id=11#comment-1274 Hey Michael, Thanks for commenting on urbangardenproject.com! I'll be growing several upside down tomato plants this year on my porch and have NO idea what I'm doing! Thanks to this post I have a better idea... Jared the Urban Garden Project Thanks for commenting on urbangardenproject.com! I’ll be growing several upside down tomato plants this year on my porch and have NO idea what I’m doing! Thanks to this post I have a better idea…

Jared
the Urban Garden Project]]>