Introduction

If you're a tomato grower, you must have experienced the excitement of your plants growing tall and healthy. However, a common problem that most tomato growers face is dealing with extremely tall tomato plants. While it may seem like a good thing, you might not know what to do with these oversized tomato plants. Here's a guide on what to do with very tall tomato plants.

Support Systems

If you want to grow tall tomato plants, make sure you have a strong support system in place. You can use stakes, cages, or trellis systems to support your plants. Staking is a simple solution, and it's ideal for small gardens. It involves driving a stake into the soil beside the tomato plant and then tying the plant onto the stake with twine. Caging is ideal for larger gardens since it's more functional than staking. At the same time, a trellis system is ideal if you want to train your plants to grow upwards. Regardless of the support system you choose, make sure it's sturdy enough to handle the weight of the plants.

In addition to providing vertical support, be sure to prune the suckers (branches that grow on the main stem) of your tomato plant. Suckers tend to absorb nutrients that could be redirected towards the production of fruits. Pruning also enhances air circulation and makes the plant easy to manage.

Watering and Fertilizing

Once your tomato plants have grown tall, they'll require frequent watering and fertilizing. Water the plants regularly, especially on hot days to prevent the soil from drying out. However, make sure you don't overwater them since overwatering can lead to root rot. Mulching is also a good way to help your plants retain moisture and prevent weed growth.

When it comes to fertilizing your tomato plants, you'll need to supply them with enough nutrients since they require frequent feeding. You can use organic fertilizers or chemical fertilizers, depending on your preference. Ensure that you follow the instructions on the packaging to avoid over-fertilizing or under-fertilizing your tomato plants.

Harvesting

With tall tomato plants, it's easy to forget about harvesting since the fruits are out of reach. However, be sure to harvest your tomatoes regularly to prevent them from becoming overripe or splitting. You can use a ladder or stool to reach the upper parts of the plant, or you can gently bend the branches to lower the fruits.

In conclusion, growing tall tomato plants is exciting, but it requires extra care to ensure that they're strong and healthy. Provide a sturdy support system, ensure that you water and fertilize them regularly, and don't forget to harvest them!