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NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
Sat Sep 14, 2013, 10:23 AM Sep 2013

Is it normal for a feral tomato plant to grow to 11 feet in diameter?

With a one-inch plus thick stalk?

I'm loving this plant that sprung up on my levee this spring, it must have come from a bit of garbage that didn't make the can so I don't know of it's heritage.

Medium size tangy fruit, I'm harvesting two to four tomatoes per day.

It doesn't look as big in the pic as it is in real life but I measured it yesterday and it's past 11 feet in all directions. Normal?



19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
3. I let them go. Though it might be better next year to help them not lay on the ground.
Sat Sep 14, 2013, 10:49 AM
Sep 2013

And some of the fruit seemed to be getting sunburned.

pscot

(21,037 posts)
2. Don't look a gift tomato in the mouth
Sat Sep 14, 2013, 10:36 AM
Sep 2013

Your feral tomato is indeterminate. It will grow 'til it dies.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)
4. that is some plant!!!
Sat Sep 14, 2013, 11:03 AM
Sep 2013

You know of course that "inderterminate" tomatoes grow in height forever until something (bugs, disease, cold) stops them.

I cut mine done to about 8-10 inches, just above a node, in early August, cause the heat stops production anyhow ( unless they are in the shade)
and they re-grow and give a lighter fall crop. Esp. works with "tommy toes" tomatoes...Sweet 100 is a long time favorite.

Have you found that volunteer plants do very very well for some reason?

Adsos Letter

(19,459 posts)
5. OT, but is that a Loquat tree in the blue tub?
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 02:07 AM
Sep 2013

I just planted one about 3 weeks ago. Wondering how difficult (or not) growing it is turning out to be.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
6. Yes, it is a Loquat tree. One of my favorite fruits.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 02:10 AM
Sep 2013

It's been easy to care for, I have an automatic valve that gives it a one-minute watering daily at 6 pm.

I believe that the tomato plant would never have germinated if not for that watering!

It's had fruit two years now, always in May, you know how these trees are- they all bear fruit at the same time for about a week, then it's over.

I wish they were year-round!

Adsos Letter

(19,459 posts)
7. It's also my wife's favorite fruit.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 02:23 AM
Sep 2013

She's been pestering me for one for awhile, so this year I finally got around to it. The nurseryman told me that lots of the people he sells them to are interested in growing them for their leaves. Apparently they can be used to make a tea that is helpful in some cases of Type II Diabetes.

I'm pleased to hear that they are not difficult to grow, as my wife really likes them.

And that looks like one healthy tomato plant!

EDIT: ...clumsy fingers make for spelling errors...

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
8. Tea?
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 02:36 AM
Sep 2013

I'll have to look into that.

I don't suffer from Diabetes but I love the idea of making loquat leaf tea!

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)
9. Totally normal and lifting the vine off the ground makes it easier to harvest,
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 11:37 AM
Sep 2013

easier to avoid insect and other fruit damage. Sun scald will still happen though if the variety doesn't have ample leaf cover, although I see little of it when the vines are trained up with stakes or cages.

Tomatoes are freakin' weeds.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
10. LOL, that is one huge tomato plant!
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 04:25 PM
Sep 2013

But I would welcome it here. That looks like a great place to plant tomatoes next year! Or just wait for some of those tomatoes to rot and give you "gifts" for years to come.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
11. I'm definitely going to save seeds and can't wait to have ten of these monsters going.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 04:37 PM
Sep 2013

I'm a tomatophile, a tomato nut. I drink tomato juice every day.

To think that this thing came up on it's own, a gift from nature!

I just picked 10 more today, this things been producing for a two months and there are still blossoms on it!

BlueToTheBone

(3,747 posts)
12. I call those volunteers. And indeterminates can grow very big
Mon Sep 16, 2013, 01:14 PM
Sep 2013

especially if there isn't enough light. They love the sun.

NutmegYankee

(16,308 posts)
13. I had a Pink Brandywine grow a similar size.
Sat Sep 21, 2013, 03:47 PM
Sep 2013

Every branch become it's own vine. What a plant! And what a tomato!

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
14. Some branches produce smaller fruit, most are medium size.
Sat Sep 21, 2013, 04:04 PM
Sep 2013

It's almost like having two plants in one.

It's bigger now than when I posted that pic, 12 feet easily!

mopinko

(71,802 posts)
15. clearly a hybrid's offspring.
Sat Sep 21, 2013, 08:35 PM
Sep 2013

some big wild tomato that was added to a hybrid for size.
if it makes fruit, eat it. if it doesn't, don't feel bad about ripping it out. many such offspring are sterile.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
16. I must have eaten 70-80 tomatoes up til now from that one plant
Sat Sep 21, 2013, 08:39 PM
Sep 2013

And there are two dozen more ripening up, and new blossoms, too!

Color me happy!

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
18. If it's a hybrid's offspring, does that mean that the seeds are not viable?
Sat Sep 21, 2013, 08:41 PM
Sep 2013

I was planning to keep several seeds to plant next spring.

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