jewels

So a couple of months ago, I spent a whopping $15 and bought myself two tomato plants, one basil, one rosemary, two different types of pepper plants, one arugula, one cilantro and one rosemary and dug myself a garden about 5' x 6'.

When the tomato plants started to spring up and flower (they're about 6 feet tall now), I found a couple of scraps of wood that I used as stakes to guide the plants. After the first summer rain, half of one of the tomato plants had bent down and landed on the ground. I tried to fasten that section to the "stake", but that branch (?) had already partially separated. Meanwhile, I've had a dozen or so terrific tomatoes over the past couple of weeks and many new blossoms and still-green tomatoes, but wondering if there's any way to encourage more growth. Can I prune a tomato plant as I would a tree or bush, as I can't purchase a cage right now and the height seems to be the problem. Any advice would be amazing.

Also, when to harvest? I did some googling and harvested some basil and rosemary from the bottom of the plant, but the basil is growing insanely and is now flowering at the top again, also growing ridiculously tall while there are still tons of leaves. Am I supposed to pull all the bottom leaves?

I don't use the rosemary as frequently and the plant is still small. Should I trim it or pull off the leaves so I have it when I need it?

I know we've got some pros out there, so any general veggie gardening advice or tips would be great. I didn't realize there was more to this than eating fresh veggies. Snowy?

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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

wooÐs

My experience with tomato plants has been insane. They were monsters. And they reseeded and I started growing like, 30 new plants this summer. I killed them all because I didn't want to maintain them. Next year, get cages and place them over the plants as soon as you get them in the ground. But I suggest you buy the largest cages as my plants last year uprooted them as they were so out of control. I don't believe you can prune them. I think you'll just lose fruit.

Re: Basil - Yes, you're supposed to pull from the bottom and pinch the flowers off to encourage more growth. But if you're overloaded, just let it flower.

Re: Rosemary - Oh I looove rosemary! Just cut off sprigs and lay on top of chicken or lamb when you roast it. No need to pull off stem. You can also make sachets with dried rosemary and lavender if you want.

Something else you can do if you're overloaded on herbs is dry them all out, crush them, mix them all up and put in jelly jars. You can then give them out as Christmas gifts. The herbs can then be used on anything from steaks to salads to chicken, etc.

Shell

...i always pinch off my basil leaves from the top of the plant....actually, i pinch off the stems. I go down the stem to where new little leaves are just beginning to poke out a teensy bit and i pluck just above that. Pretty soon those new leaves grow big. You should always pinch back your plants so they don't get leggy BEFORE they go to seed (before they flower). Good luck. It's great fun isn't it!

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..."Say what you think. Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" ~ Dr. Seuss

Xazy

Well grats, I myself just bought a 4x jalapeno, 1 tomato plant and just planted it this past Sunday. Now I will have to look at how to secure my tomatoes.

Rekna

Next year i'm going to make some upside down planters and try some tomatoes, zucchini and hot peppers at least. Anyone here ever try upside down plants before? How did they work?

jewels

The cages are definitely in the future plan.

This is how I've been reaping ? the rosemary and although it does seem to fill in, it's not getting taller. Thanks for the idea on the sachets. Although I love the scents of basil and rosemary, I don't think I want that scent anywhere but in my kitchen or dining area.

I don't think I want to dry them, either, because although a primary goal was to save money, the next priority was to have them freshly picked. There's something magical and divine about pulling the leaves and bringing them in to a simmering pot.

---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:43 PM ----------

That was pretty much what I;'d been doing after googling for advice. The plants were small when the leaves became fragrant so maybe that's why my warped brain believes I was pulling from the bottom. Yep, I'm totally diggin' it!

---------- Post added at 12:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:45 PM ----------

Keep us posted how that goes. I thought about some Scotch Bonnets, but I wouldn't use them often enough and I don't know anyone else that likes 'em.

I bought banana peppers and (not sure of the color) regular bell peppers.

---------- Post added at 12:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------

Haven't tried it but a couple of the girls at work keep raving about their Topsy Turvy Tomatoes.

__________________
We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

Halanna

We have a 600 sq. ft. semi-organic vegetable garden where we grow everything from cantaloupe to red peppers.

The tomatoes you are describing are called indeterminate tomatoes. They grow with seemingly wild abandon and will overtake and overrun every thing in the garden if you let them.

Indeterminate tomatoes will set flowers and fruits until the plant is killed, usually by heat/cold depending on where you live.

Determinate tomatoes are smaller, more compact plants that don't have the sprawl of indeterminate. These tomatoes will set their flowers and fruit at one time, you can harvest what they set over about a 1-3 week time period, then the plant will be done. No more flowers, so no more tomatoes. The plant may survive, but you won't get any more fruit.

If you prefer the harvest over time, or indeterminate type, you are going to have to prune them. Cages won't really be that good because the sprawl of the plant will overrun the cage and the cage won't provide enough support for the outer branches. First there are leaves on the plant that don't and won't set any fruit. These are "sucker" leaves. If you look closely, they are just plain small branches with leaves, but no flowers. These need to go first, BUT - if they are shading fruit below them, leave them be. Better to have the sucker leaves shading then let the fruit bake in the sun.

You will have to cut branches that have flowers and even set fruit. It's hard to do, but if you want to grow indeterminate, you will have to get used to it. The goal is for you to decide the size of the plant, not the plant itself. The plant will recover after you prune, prune, prune. Stake the main stalk, then tie the branches you wish to keep to the main support. It will look silly for a day or two, but the plant will recover and you can keep it under control.

As far as herbs go . . . Basil doesn't need to be harvested from the bottom, there is no advantage to this. Harvest from the top, take the youngest, sweetest leaves. Pinch off any flower stalks that are trying to grow and you're good. Basil is an annual so will have to be replanted every year. Basil loves heat and water and will grow seemingly out of control. Let it go! It's heaven to walk into your garden and close your eyes and breathe deeply. Basil, oregano, thyme, a little rosemary is indescrible.

Rosemary is part of the evergreen family. If planted in the right location it will actually grow into a bush given enough years. ( Rosemary is a perinnial and as long as you don't live in an extremely cold climate, should live as long as you maintain it. ) Again, no need to harvest from the bottom, clip from the top. You don't want "old" leaves in your sauces, stews and other meals. You want the freshest, sweetest and most flavorable available, and those are on the top of the plant. No need to prune or clip back the plant, let it grow.

As an aside, you want to harvest any vegetables or herbs first thing in the morning when it is still relatively cool and before the sun comes up. The plants are plumper and have more moisture then if you harvest in midday or later. Never harvest under a baking sun or after a rain. When some plant leaves are wet you can distribute disease and bugs that you are not aware of. Early morning is the only time to harvest.

jewels

Thanks, Halanna! What a plethora of new information for me. I knew nothing about indeterminate tomatoes!

__________________
We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

Halanna

Yay! I'm happy you found it helpful.