My first attempt at growing tomato plants....?

I started with 2 plants(big boy) since this was my first time growing them. They are growing however they don't look like they should.... what I'm seeing in my garden is not normal. The plants keep getting taller and taller (about 5ft now) but not full and there is no suggestion of tomatoes...no flowers or anything. Anyone have an answer as to why this is?

My first attempt at growing tomato plants....?
they may need more sunlight or nutrients





you can pinch off the 'growing point' tip of the plant so they start bushing out, rather than getting long and lanky. just pinch off the plant just above where 2 of the side leaf branches are growing from
Reply:Sure sounds like a lack of sufficient sunlight and some fertilizer could help. Are the leaves a healthy dark green, thick and hairy or an unhealthy light colour and thin? Tomatoes, like all vegetables require tons of direct sunlight. Your plants are stretching out to find the sun. You'll probably have to relocate your tomato patch to an area with at least 5 hours direct sunlight. If it is getting enough sunlight then you could try pinching the tips as discussed above or your plants weren't that great to begin with. Kind of late in the season now and the plants kind of big but you could try digging them up and relocating them, just bury more of the stem in the dirt sideways, make a deeper hole and support the remaining stem, more roots will appear along the stem and your tomato plant won't be so leggy. Good luck and next year buy/grow stockier seedlings and plant in a sunny area.
Reply:You can pinch off the apical bud (the topmost point where the new leaves would grow) to encourage lateral growth. It's pretty common for Big Boy tomato plants to get 6 to 8 feet tall. Be sure to support the plant, either way.
Reply:I had the same problem with one of my tomato plants this year. It had plenty of sun and water...and fertilizer, but I planted it in a container in regular top soil when I ran out of garden soil. My other two plants are fine (in the garden) where I had garden soil and manuer. Maybe you need to work in some organic material into your soil.
Reply:Yes, light may be the problem. Tomatoes need a bare minimum of 6 hours of direct sun to produce anything. But you also need to do what is called pinching, where you pull off thief shoots that form where branches join the main trunk, and with the situation you describe, I'd just lop off the top two inches of the plant. That will make it bush out. Also, are you using any fertilizer? An organic one can be quite helpful depending on what you did to prepare the soil before you planted them. But your best efforts won't accomplish much if they aren't getting enough sun.
Reply:My first tomato experience was exactly the same. Increase the water the plants are getting and fertilize them. If that doesn't help, try cutting the terminal bud (the very top if the plant) off to encourage secondary growth. Good luck.
Reply:I have to agree with the first responder. It sounds like they are not getting enough sun. Are they getting at least 6 hours of direct sunlight? You can also try to fertilize them with a store bought tomato fertilizer or dump some diluted coffee around them till you get some. hope this helps
Reply:All plant and no fruits sounds like maybe you are giving them too much fertilizer, particularly nitrogen.





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Reply:You need bees, we here in California are experiencing a decline in bee pollination, most likely due to global warming, it is absolutely necessary that you have bees in your garden to pollinate your fruits and vegetables, if not, no fruit...





You must also cut back and expose the main stem for fuller growth, I would also try some plant food made for tomatoes..