I'm glad you asked the question and I'm hoping someone like Carolyn or Digdirt Dave will respond. I've got a Cosmonaut Volkov in a 20 gallon container that has over 100 fruit sets. It's over 6 feet tall. The largest ones are from the first flowers and are already about 4 inches wide. I'm thinking that the rest of the fruit can't grow to a good size unless I eliminate some of them. I would think that a plant in the ground could easily handle 25 fruit. Are yours in the ground? Help from some of you with more experience, please? Here in the San Francisco Northbay we've got maybe another month before we ge ripe tomatoes.

Yes - they are in the ground. Actually a raised bed (first year for that too - mix is 3 parts dirt 1 part composted manure - it's 6 inches deep, but I turned the underlying 12 inches also so it really drains) also have not added any fertilizer

They are HUGE. over 5 feet. Have 22-26 pieces each.

Actually that isn't all that huge. :) The plant has a another 2-3 feet in it easily assuming sufficient nutrients and water are provided. And yes, with the same assumptions and no pest problems, it can easily ripen all that fruit and more.

I'm thinking that the rest of the fruit can't grow to a good size unless I eliminate some of them.

Unless only large fruit is your goal for some reason then there is no need to "eliminate" any of them. While it is true that later (top) fruit are often smaller than the first (lower) fruit, they are just as good to eat.

And removing fruit to increase the size of the remaining ones is hotly debated as to its effect. Reducing the number of blooms in a particular cluster prior to fruit set does seem to increase the size of the fruit from the remaining bloom(s) in that cluster somewhat. But once fruit set takes place removing fruit seems to have little effect.

Still it is always your choice.

Dave

Thanks Dave,

Thinking back to last year I guess I had about the same amount of fruit and, while some were quite small, they were good. I certainly don't need to spend my time obsessively counting tomatoes like I did again this morning. This morning's count was 87 so I guess I had counted some of them twice before. So no more counting and no deciding who lives or dies.

Try double digging method! Tomatoes will have fruits at good size and it will increase your production too. I raised my bed to 16-17 inches this year and i've bought tomatoes with undetermined growing - they are 1,8 metres and they are still growing 3-4 inches/week. Don't forget about ground's moisture and acid rains treatment.
I have 300 plants and I have estimated a production over 1200 Kilograms.
Good Luck and Enjoy! Growing plants is very relaxing.
sorry about my english, I am from Romania.

Ionut

Have you noticed that not every blossom that appears sets fruit? There's a certain amount of blossom drop that's not associated with high sustained temps or high sustained humidity.

The plant will monitor itself as I see it.

Just my experience in growing tomatoes for more decades than I want to admit to. ( smile)

Carolyn

My one Marglobe plant set probably close to one hundred fruit this year, all about six to eight ounces in size. At one point, early on, I counted sixty fruits on the trusses, all similar in size. Since than, the crazy plant, which I let sprawl, seems to have rooted a side branch, which started a whole second flush and production started all over again, just when I thought it was done for the season. Not complaining, it's not the best tasting tomato but it's filling up the sauce pot.

Carolyn just chimes in here or there, lays it down, and then smiles.

Take care,
Travis