Garden

[CLEM]

I don't have a garden nor a patio.  So I usually order a couple of things for a friend.

She received the tomato plants I had ordered from Cottage Farms yesterday.  The plants were so big and actually had small tomatoes on them already.  She planted them right away.

Is that usual that there are already green tomatoes on them when they arrive?

[fthunt]

Can't resist this one..............your lady friend is lucky to get CF plants alive and healthy!  Some of us haven't been so fortunate.  Little green tomatoes indicate plants are ready to go........and make nice red ones.

[Scooby Doo]

The fact that they are so big and already have fruit on them is not necessarily a good thing.  Tomatoes need to establish a deep root system in order to keep producing tomatoes.  If they're already big with fruit they will put all their energy into ripening the fruit already on the vine rather than into  their root system.  I would pinch the fruit off.

[Kachina624]

I would pinch off the tomatoes PLUS some of the lower branches and plant them so the pinched off branches are under the soil.

[CLEM]

Thanks @Kachina624.  I will let my friend know.

[CLEM]

Thank you @Scooby Doo  what you say makes a lot of sense.  I did pass it on to my friend.

[Scooby Doo]

I don't know what size pot they were in, but it could be a sign that they were over fertilized.

[fierowoman]

@Kachina624  Why ever would you pinch off the tomatoes?  To what point.  I always pinch off the lower leaves and plant my tomatoes sideways in the soil so more roots go into the soil for nutrients.  My grandfather taught me that over 50 years ago and he has at least 100 tomato plants.  He was a West Virginia farmer and was renoun for his vegetables.  I have earthboxes and use the same technique.  My tomatoes from cottage farms with tomatoes on them and I sure wasn't about to pinch them off.  Maybe different in different states.  

[fierowoman]

There is no where on the internet saying to pinch off those new tomatoes.    Lower leaves, yes, small tomatoes, no

[fierowoman]

Look up planting them on their sides, you will not be disappointed.