I have a lot of tomato's on, has anyone heard of cutting back on water to make them ripen?
Question:This is my first time growing tomato plants. I have five different varities (Early Girl, cherry and three other kinds). Each plant is loaded with tomatos. Someone told me if I cut back on watering then the tomatos would ripen. I thought tomatos took a lot of water. I only water first thing in the morning and when the sun goes down so I don't put them into shock. Does anyone have any tips on growing big tomatos? Please help!
Answers:
Actually, once your plant fruits you need to cut back on watering so the fruits don't split. At this point you only need to water two times a week at most. I usually cut back to once a week but I give them a really big drink. I've never cut back watering to make them ripen faster and I don't even know if that works. I do know that a brown paper bag works though.
Leave them as they are. Never change the watering habits. That will cause many things to go wrong. (splitting, bottom Rot) and many other things. In Mo. we rarely ever have a tomato till around July 4th. If your vines are full, be patient and continue doing just a you are now. Soon, you wont be able to eat them fast enough.
Yes--I have heard of cutting back on water when they begin to ripen but not because it makes them ripen faster.
The reason I heard is that it gives you a better tasting tomato.
You have to feed the plants for good sized tomatoes. I feed my Miracle-Gro once a week and it makes a big difference--trust me on this one-- I've grown tomato plants for years.
One way to boost production that is sure fire is to clip off the "feeler branches" these run out to the side horizontally and do not have flowers on them.
Trim these your plants will use the extra enery to produce bigger better fruit.
Thin these hroughout the season and you will be very pleased.
P.S. dont take em all off leave some behind just thin them aggressively.
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