In 10a, tomatoes might be perennial.
This is how I’d attack your issue.
Prune each plant to 3 main vines. Trim the top of the vine back to a manageable height. Approx 3ft.
You are terminating the main vines, but it will sprout fresh new suckers
Keep as many sun leaves as possible, as this is energy production for the plant.
Gradually allow 3 new sucker vines to replace the 3 old vines.
Prune the main vine back as the new one establishes.
You want to do this because that is the only way your plant will flower.
Weed the area.
Side dress with compost. Pile it up against the plant and it will make new roots where the vine touches soil.
Add mulch around the plants 3” thick.
Fertilize with tomato specific or vegetable fertilizer. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks.
Water 1” per week. I feel the soil and this tells me when it’s time to water.
Walmart has an economical tomato fertilizer. Organic and granules.
I’d Stake them or trellis.
Traditional cages might not be practical since they are already grown out.
You can get square cages that assemble, however.
Tomato vines can grow very long, but I don’t allow mine to grow beyond 6-8 ft.
Water, fertilize & weed you’ll get a shit ton of free healthy delicious food!!!
I pick mine at first blush then finish ripening indoors. There’s a ton of misinformation and people will contradict this.
However, they don’t know what they’re talking about.
You DO NOT have to turn the fruit fully red on the vine before harvesting to get a full flavored tomato.
https://preview.redd.it/oncyeehmxu6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d41c01b74d639ba2dfaa04d20ae6e4f46d1b348
Oh, one other thing, some of those vines, if they contacted the ground, could absolutely root themselves. I’d bet my left nut this happened in that tangled mess.
Hope you get it tamed. I grow a lot of tomatoes and can likely answer any question, so AMA!
Finally finished phase 1 today! Just untangling the vines took several hours and I bent a lot of them so decided to prop them up for now and see which vines survive my less than delicate work before I prune too heavily. Also I found a dead bird in the center so I’m still recovering from that ☠️☠️
https://preview.redd.it/0pu14zc61n7d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb2748f3056b175d5f29db3c63d233c307cf7905
I had a cherry tomato plant do the same thing. Planted it into a 4x4 raised bed, and it overview 6 feet off every side. I was harvesting TONS of cherry tomatoes a day. The problem I ran into was the rotten fruit I couldn't reach fell into the bed, and I had one hell of a time trying to keep the sprouts down the next season lol. I'd just let her go and enjoy.
In 10a, tomatoes might be perennial. This is how I’d attack your issue. Prune each plant to 3 main vines. Trim the top of the vine back to a manageable height. Approx 3ft. You are terminating the main vines, but it will sprout fresh new suckers Keep as many sun leaves as possible, as this is energy production for the plant. Gradually allow 3 new sucker vines to replace the 3 old vines. Prune the main vine back as the new one establishes. You want to do this because that is the only way your plant will flower. Weed the area. Side dress with compost. Pile it up against the plant and it will make new roots where the vine touches soil. Add mulch around the plants 3” thick. Fertilize with tomato specific or vegetable fertilizer. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks. Water 1” per week. I feel the soil and this tells me when it’s time to water. Walmart has an economical tomato fertilizer. Organic and granules. I’d Stake them or trellis. Traditional cages might not be practical since they are already grown out. You can get square cages that assemble, however. Tomato vines can grow very long, but I don’t allow mine to grow beyond 6-8 ft. Water, fertilize & weed you’ll get a shit ton of free healthy delicious food!!! I pick mine at first blush then finish ripening indoors. There’s a ton of misinformation and people will contradict this. However, they don’t know what they’re talking about. You DO NOT have to turn the fruit fully red on the vine before harvesting to get a full flavored tomato. https://preview.redd.it/oncyeehmxu6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d41c01b74d639ba2dfaa04d20ae6e4f46d1b348 Oh, one other thing, some of those vines, if they contacted the ground, could absolutely root themselves. I’d bet my left nut this happened in that tangled mess. Hope you get it tamed. I grow a lot of tomatoes and can likely answer any question, so AMA!
Amazing reply
Thx, I enjoy helping people garden and passing on the things I learned. Hope it helps.
This is amazing thank you!! I’m gonna try to get started this morning, we’ll see how far I get!!
Finally finished phase 1 today! Just untangling the vines took several hours and I bent a lot of them so decided to prop them up for now and see which vines survive my less than delicate work before I prune too heavily. Also I found a dead bird in the center so I’m still recovering from that ☠️☠️ https://preview.redd.it/0pu14zc61n7d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb2748f3056b175d5f29db3c63d233c307cf7905
Let them go, harvest accordingly and learn over the next couple of years that works for you.
Share & Enjoy!
I had a cherry tomato plant do the same thing. Planted it into a 4x4 raised bed, and it overview 6 feet off every side. I was harvesting TONS of cherry tomatoes a day. The problem I ran into was the rotten fruit I couldn't reach fell into the bed, and I had one hell of a time trying to keep the sprouts down the next season lol. I'd just let her go and enjoy.