Problems with tomato plants?

I trusted my boyfriend to plant my tomato plants and stake them and take care of them when I had to leave town a couple of months ago. I am home now and the plants are a mess. They are planted in a raised bed that is about two feet high, they were planted way too close together and not staked at all. There are between 15 and 20 plants, they are huge and growing everywhere. Half of them are lying flat hangling over the side of the bed down to the ground. Others are laying on top of each other and squishing the smaller ones. They are almost all covered with tomatoes and I'm not sure how safe it is to try to move them. Also, on almost all of them several of the leaves and stems are turning brown and seem to be falling off. There are also a couple of bell pepper plants buried somewhere under them that I planted before I left town and I cannot find. Is it safe to stake them so late or will it hurt the roots? If not what can I do? Also we are in Tx and its been over 100 a lot lately.

Problems with tomato plants?
If you can be very, very carful - you can try staking them a bit. Modify their sprawl, gently, don't try to take them all the way upright if the branches don't willingly go that way.





You might consider removing a few plants just to leave room for the rest.





Or you can let them go as they are - you'll still get 'maters, just maybe not as many.





And next time, be sure to leav very explcit instruction for bf - exactly how many feet/inchs bewteen plants, how deep to drive stakes, etc.!





Good luck!
Reply:I actually am experiencing this very same problem (mental note: stake when planted next year). My solution was to let the tomato plants be somewhat wild. I staked as much as I could (no harm to the roots) without breaking any "branches" and let the complete fall downs have their fun. The tomatoes are experiencing a bumper crop.





My pepper plants were underneath -- believe it or not, they survived and are putting out some good sized peppers now. The garden will look a bit freaky for about a week, but you'll find it will work.





Water well in the 100 degree heat, but don't let a couple of brown leaves worry you -- it's normal. Good luck!
Reply:I would remove a few in the center...I know it's hard to sacrifice when their bearing fruit, but you'll never see your peppers again if you don't. Yes, definitely try to stake, but as stated, just enough to get them off the ground but not so perfectly straight that you break the stem off.
Reply:Keep the fruits off of the ground or they will mold. They can be transplanted, make sure that the ground has been saturated before you dig them. Keep at least a ball of soil, at least 10" around the root and keep the root as balled up as possible. Once transplanted keep ground well saturated for a few days.
Reply:Tomatoes are the hardiest of all plants and are able to survive almost any catastrophe. Water is important. If they are bearing fruit, that's a very good sign. Dont be afraid to stake them, but be careful not to break the main stem.
Reply:kinda late and risky to move them-thinning out might be the thing--brown means death--too hot, not enuff water, too close. you can put them in cages. staking sounds tough as there is probably a lot of weight to be supported. GOOD LUCK and enjoy the bounty
Reply:Not an answer but I'd like to share!:


I live in a Edinburgh Scotland, in a city centre flat, no one else I know is growing vegetables so here's my story. I have two 6 foot tomato plants in my living room, planted next to a large window, they are crowding out the light but they are my pride and joy! I have about 60 green fruits of various sizes, they might not ripen - it being Scotland and all but it's an exciting experiment. Good luck with your sprawling monsters!