I like the idea of them going over the top of the bin, certainly gets rid of the staking problems, but you're not going to have really great fruitset without more sunshine. Is it possible you can do some pruning to give them more sunlight?

Yesterday I was transplanting volunteer toms into buckets and last week many more went into their own bed. So transplant, with our long growing season, is still going to be just fine.

Here is a leaf scan of Black Cherry, it could help you ID what you have.
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As long as you're not desperate for those tomatoes, I'd leave them in place as an experiment. You usually seem to have so many good toms anyway it might be fun to just see what happens.

I stopped transplanting things a few weeks ago because of the heat and drought. But we're supposed to get some rain and cooler temperatures for the next few days. If that weather is coming your way too it might be the best time to move them if that's your inclination.

Karen

Thanks for the scan, Trudi. They look very similar, but I can't tell for sure.

We got a hair over 2" of rain last night, so not much other than weeding to do today in the garden. It's supposed to cool off tomorrow, after more potential rain. I think I'll leave one in the bin, the one on the right, and train it up and over. If it's 'Black Cherry' it'll go over, and clear to the ground, easily. Once it's over the bin top, it'll get at least 6 hours of sun. I think I'll move the other one to a vacant 24" pot. It's dark brown, and will be a nice warm location, which I can move to give it all the sun it could need. I still have ~35 good-sized seedlings in large plant bands to get into pots, or the ground. Unless the plague hits, I won't be short of Toms.

I've already weeded this morning, next is weed whacking and mowing. I want to get it done before it's too hot. The tomatoes in the containers I did yesterday were a bit wilty afterwards but the rain perked them right up. They're as right as rain this morning, lol! We might have gotten two inches, maybe a lot more. My Rosedale sister lost power last night, I heard that SE Queens got creamed in the storm, lots of trees are down.

T

Update:

I never got around to moving either of them.

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It's amazing what 5 weeks of growing in compost will do.

Donn,I too have tomatoes and potatoes growing in my compost.I have moved a few of my tomatoes(a cherry 100) and it has been producing so many I can't hardly keep them picked.If you need more tomatoes,I;d go for it.I have so many I don't have a clue what I am going to do with them..My friend composted some kiwi and later a kiwi tree was growing in his compost bin.He left it in the compost bin until he harvested his kiwi,and as far as I know he still has that,
moonphase.I have transplanted some onions and potatoes that were growing in my bin and they did good.But with this crazy heat wave,I think I would wait until the cooler weather comes or water it everyday.
moonphase

OMG, Donn, that looks like a jungle of tomatoes. I'd leave them now, but remember how they grew in there. Looks like you may end up with lots of volunteers in the bin next year cause you won't be able to get all of them picked.

Fran

Update:

Three weeks later, and I'm harvesting a couple of dozen delicious 'Large Red Cherry' 'maters a day off this beast.

It's gone over the top of the bin, and reached the ground on this side:

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And it's almost completely covered 3 Rosa rugosa plants on the front of the bin:

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