On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 09:56:45 -0700, Billy Rose wrote:

What are your thoughts on topping tomatoes in arbors? I start pinching
off the meristems once the vine reaches the top of the arbor (cage). My
reasoning is that the vines would otherwise eventually flop back on
themselves blocking sun light to the lower part of the plant. Making it
a waste of energy that could have gone into the production of fruit.

Trellised tends to protect the fruit from sunburn; I personally prefer to
grow mine sprawled on clean mulch (better yield per plant). I wouldn't top
tomatoes; the plants know what they're doing pretty well. ;-)
Remember the part you're trimming off also is photosynthetic, and loaded
with minerals the plant has had to absorb, translocate and turn into various
compounds -- might as well let them keep it, is my motto. Also, removing
apical meristems tends to cause more branching further down the plant...
I really don't want the plant pushing for more vegetative growth while it's
fruiting.

But methods of growing tomatoes get a bit into almost-theological debates
at time... so if you've got a method that works well for you, use it, is my
motto. If you've got a method you want to experiment with, then try it.
I've known gardeners who have practically espaliered tomatoes, and gotten
nice fruit. I'm in the "least effort" camp, and have gotten good fruit.
Tomatoes are pretty cooperative about growing no matter what, in my experience.

To the OP: if your plants are flexible enough and you've got enough room,
you could try to encourage every other plant to lean forward onto grass
or mulch, which would give more exposed leaf area for interception of
light. Or you can just say, "next year"! :-) Most of us are not subsistence
farming... we're gardening for the pleasure of it. So celebrate the
tomatoes you get this year, and do a little reading for next year....

Kay