TZ -OH6 wrote:Do not top your tomatoes unless you have a good reason for it. I can do it because that is how high my plants are in August (5-6 ft), and with two months left in the season at that point no fruit from new growth will ripen before frost. For me, topping at that point in time prevents the vines from seriously overgrowing the cages and making a messy jungle of the place. If and when I top the plants it has to do with how much time is left in the season. I may take the weed wacker to an overgrown cherry tomato but that is when it is nearer to 10 ft than 4 ft.
If I were you I would let the plants go and just be sure not to add any more fertilizer. If you need more support add tall stakes.
Hah, I may have to top my tomatoes just so they don't become a messy jungle. I have them all growing 2 feet apart in a triangular/hexagon pattern per "How To Grow More Vegetables" and I imagine the inner tomatoes would be very hard to tend if I let them get more than 6 feet tall.