Maybe I have to add some fertilizer? I was hoping I wouldn't need to. Why were you hoping that? ;) Under MOST circumstances supplemental feedings are needed throughout the growing season. A 1 time only fertilize-when-planted approach MAY work in a very well amended in-ground garden if the weather and all other factors cooperate. But barring that, yes you will have to feed the plants. A commonly used routine for in-ground plants is to amend the planting hole, feed shortly after first fruit set, feed again 4-6 weeks later, and then, depending on the length of the growing season, once again in early fall. Plants in containers will have to be fed on a regular basis of course as the nutrients leach out of the containers every time you water. But too many fruits? Do you have to remove some? No, the production and the rate of ripening is genetic to the variety. The fruit will ripen when the time is right and the rest will continue to grow. But all this does assume that adequate nutrition will be made available. Dave

DO NOT prune the Roma. It is a determinate. If you prune it you will be removing the growth tips where the fuit is produced. The San Marzano is an indeterminate and you could prune it if you wish. That being said I would not. (Pruning is one of the great debates on the tomato forum.) Determinate, or "bush" tomatoes do not grow continously like a determinate or "vining" tomato will. Determinate tomatoes will produce a majority of their crop at over a short time, while indeterminates will produce over a longer period of time. Determinates are very good for canning because you have a bumper crop of tomatoes ready at one time so that you can get all of the processing done at once. If you are usning indeterminates, you can either save them for a small batch, freeze them as they ripen then process when you have enough. If you have enough plants, you can process pretty good size batches with indeterminates. You plants don't really look big enough to be producing heavily yet. I am guessing the "cages" are 48" tall? So your plants are between 2 and 3 feet tall? Be patient. The rain will have slowed production. Can you tell us if you amended the bed with compost, fertilizer, etc., and do you fertilize, how often and with what? (NPK values.) If you have fertilized with too much nitrogen, you will get lots of leaves and little or no fruit. And they are 2"x4" mesh? Have you given any to how you are getting a hand into the center of the cage to pick ripe tomatoes? Those plants are probably going to fill the cages and the indeterminate (San Marzano) will likely grow out the top and down the sides. Many people who use homemade cages will use concrete reinforcing wire (CRW) to make cages. It has 6"x6" square so you can get a hand into the cage, grab that big juicy 'mater and pull it through the opening then eat it! Hope that helps. Betsy Here is a link that might be useful: FAQ on determinate and indeterminate

Pros and cons of 'topping plants' is a common question here and while it isn't usually recommended except as a method to ripen late fruit when a frost is threatened, it basically comes down to your choice since it is your plant to deal with. You will set the plant back by about 2-3 weeks due to the stress it causes and may lose some later production. Primary concern IMO is that the plant will then be dependent on secondary stems for fruit support and secondary branches for water and nutrient circulation once it recovers from the topping. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: Do you top your plants? discussion

I don't think it will hurt the roots to stab something through them, as long as it's not too thick. I've done this many times when plants outgrow the original stake and I just stick in a taller one. I haven't noticed any dying from doing this. You can use anything tall enough and sturdy - I have everything from store bought metal stakes to semi-dry sunflower stalks I hacked down to tree branches to bamboo from my ex's fiance's property (I have no idea why she sent him home with several 8' tall bamboo stalks after a weekend visit but I put them to use). Store bought skinny bamboo stalks might be the most economical.