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FRHello,

FRIt is my first year to grow tomato. It is beefsteak and I plant one in
FRa 20" planter. I used "Whiteney Farm" organic all purpose plant food.
FRI read that using organic fertilizer I don't have to worry about
FRoverfertilize because it is regulated by the microbes or sth machnism
FRlike that. I bought a tomato cage from HD which has 4 rings and 3
FRstalks. Now, the tomato plant grows to almost the tallest ring but I
FRhaven't got any flower not saying fruit. I'm wondering whether I
FRshould prune the plant, ie cut some tips? When, where and how? My
FRplant may only get 4 hours afternoon sun. It is the best I can do with
FRmy location. How bad will this affect the flowering and production?

FRReally anxious. Some tomato plants on HD shelf start to bear green
FRtomatos. I guess their living condition may not be as good as my
FRtomato. It is much crowded there and the plant is much shorter. Though
FRthe finding is encouraging, it also makes me wonder whether I miss sth
FRin growing my tomato.

Old Timer, Tom Cottle advised a simular gardener that she possibly
was over feeding her plant, so that it didn't feel threatened enough
to want to reproduce its self. He suggested she stop applying
fertilizer and only water about half that she had been applying.

Pruneing is best done by pinching off any spoutings in the fork
of branchs, and branchs that don't appear to be fruit bearing;
especially those above about two feet high in buckets.

Ciao, Ack.

---
þ SLMR 2.1a þ I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing 8-)

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