Yeah, long time till plant out. Normally you start seeds 6 to 8 weeks before hardening off/plant out. By then they could be 8" to 12".

Rooting cutting is an option. Also topping makes the plant grow bushy and it will slow it down.

To further slow down growth rate :

trim as much leaves as possible.

Keep the plant in coll temperature ( <<60F )

Feed and water minimally

Sey

Another OPTION: start new seeds right now.

Albert, do you have a basement with window wells? I have some tomatoes out in 1 gallon pots in my window wells that are doing terrific. I have a plastic cover over the window well and the temps in there were 50 degrees F when we had outdoor temps of 17 degrees. I will cover the window well cover with a blanket from now on during the night for added protection, but forgot last night. :)

Like Sey says, start new plants from seeds. I will start mine on April 1 to plant outside in mid to late May here.

Dave and Sey, I never knew about rooting cuttings from tomatoes. Cool!!! Thanks!

Here's a photo of my plants in the window well.

You might put them in a cooler area as well. That will slow them down. Keep above 50F to keep them from stunting.

If you have deep pots the plants can be repotted with just a few inches of plant left above the soil. They will make roots all along the stem part which is in the soil.

Who says it is too early to plant out? haha. Sorry about that...but here in SoCal the fear of frost is in the rear view mirror. Don't hate me because I have great weather....

Ed, Thank you !!!

I am not worried about frost. Our historical averages for March :

High >> 54F ,,,, Low >>> 39F ,,,, percip. >>> 3.5"

Practically I can plant out now with some protection, but the plants wont grow much.

Come April and it will zoom up to 60F (hehe) and then I will start planting.

Sey

Fireduck, I mean no offense, but I wouldn't trade you for the world!! I love my four distinct seasons, and the anticipation of Spring. I love my long winter rest before the mad dash of my other three seasons. Mostly, I love all the challenges that go with it...like window well tomatoes, for instance. :)

To each his own. I'm glad we both like where we are.

Sey...I know what you mean about early Spring slowwww growth. haha. Rebecca....no offense taken. I know folks always defend their homeland. I had a fellow vacationer get chippy with me last year about Socal and the earthquakes. haha. He loved his Houston, Tx....some of the worst weather there in the world! I just returned from Texas last month...and I'll tell you, there are some really fine folks that live there!

Rooting a cutting is a good way to go or.......just plant your large plant very deeply. Either straight down if the soil has warmed up for the season or lay the tomato plant sideways in a small shallow trench and cover with your garden soil. Roots will form all along the stem underground and give you a larger root system to support the plant better. I ALWAYS start tomatoes early and plant them deep. I have multiple light indoors to support their needs before I bring them outside though.

disneynut1977-Melissa(5b, Sunset zone 42, CNY) ... .......just plant ... tomato plant sideways in a small shallow trench and cover
with your garden soil. Roots will form all along the stem underground
and give you a larger root system to support the plant better.

This seems to be working best. Thanks.

Yes. Planting sideways AKA trenching is another way to deal with lanky plant. It should grow roots along the buried part.

Sey