Odd, that I have a BHN 589 in a pot that looks exactly like that. I have 4 others in the ground that are have strong stems. I'm guessing that our potting mix is lacking something, maybe Potassium.
john

Weird, I think I would gently pull it up a little and tie it. Make sure you use a soft rope made for that and don't tie it very tight. Anyone else tired this?

Most determinates have to be staked and tied or they will collapse, they're not vining and can't support the weight.

I don't see a cover over those buckets and that mix looks interesting, tell me what you're doing buddy....

Tom

Tom, you are correct, I decided for winter growing, not necessary to cover top since there is not much rain and I do not put strips of fertilizer like EB does. They seem to be doing just as well w/o covers.

That particular bucket has same ol same ol. Ed's mix. 45% peat,45% mixture of horse and cow compost, 10% perlite. Added 1/4 cup of 12-12-12 that I got from you. Added cup of lime.

Have only recently started adding diluted MG (24-8-16) to top once a week.

Am experimenting with some vermiculite and Mel's mix. They look good so far. Have 4 buried 5 gal buckets in my old elevated box. 3 have the Mel's mix and one has Ed's mix. The beefsteaks really look good so far and bloomed in "jig" time. Seeded them 10/23. Will make a pic tomorrow.

Also have 2 of the same batch beefsteaks in Jo's raised bed by front of hangar. Will try to cover the 4 in box and 2 by hangar if we get a frost.

bernie

Cool, are you sure you're not a scientist instead of an engineer? ;-)

Between you and Raybo I may just figure out a good bucket mix yet....

Tom

Collapse in the cage doesn't just happen to determinates.

Lost my best looking plant yesterday to collapse,a Jetsetter.

Do not know how they taste, but production was out the ceiling. It had 25-30 tomatoes on it and many weighed over a 1/2 pound. The first ones were just turning when it went down. Stalk looked pretty futile,but I pulled some of the lightest colored ones and tied it back up, do not really expect much. Moral of this story it you got to support them all. They are held from toppling but not collapse when they get loaded with fruit :>(

bernie

You've seen my setup. I keep a spool of 1/4" bungee cord and make bungees the length in need, bound to horizontal stakes so the wind can't move the vines and push the stakes out of the cages, works well....

I'm trialing a few of Raybo's heavy duty Glamos cages he gets from Wally World, doubled up with 1/8" wire rope clips...not sure they'll be ideal for tomatoes but will make a great alternative for pole beans and super sugar snap peas.

{{gwi:26462}}

Hi Bernie and Tom

I use the brown heavy duty twine from Ace, and I am always tying something.-)

I am thinking about this clips, they sure look easy, it is just too many...

Tom, I guess that you are going with the white look now, it looks nice!

Silvia

Here is a link that might be useful: tomato clips

Hi Silvia,

That price seems very reasonable, $20/500.

I'm moving completely into the bottom watering buckets and an automatic irrigation system, plants are just too stressed by the time I get home from work during the hotter months....

Tom