How soon do you start pruning tomato plants?

[21again]

I have some toms that are about 5'' tall at the minute, they are about 5 weeks old.

I know that you have to nip out some of the shoots that grow between the main stem and the side shoots but when do you start doing this?

Should I be thinking of doing it now or are the plants too small.

[Alison]

You don't really prune tomatoes as such and you only nip out the side shoots of the cordon types ie the sort which grow tall up a cane. Shorter bush types don't need any work at all so are dead easy. Re the cordon type, they'll grow forever so you nip out the growing tip when they get to the top of the cane (or whatever height you want) and side shoots as they appear. If yours are only 5" tall you won't be getting side shoots yet so no worries but for info, you just nip them out when they appear - note the side shoot is a shoot which appears above the leaf in the kind of elbow between the leaf spur and the main stem. They're pretty obvious when you see them so you'll kow what to do.

[21again]

If yours are only 5" tall you won't be getting side shoots yet so no worries but for info, you just nip them out when they appear - note the side shoot is a shoot which appears above the leaf in the kind of elbow between the leaf spur and the main stem. They're pretty obvious when you see them so you'll kow what to do.

They are the cordon type, Gardener's Delight but I am sure they have the shoots above the leaf spurs. I shall try and take a photo tomorrow.

[Two_Sheds]

the side shoot is a shoot which appears above the leaf in the kind of elbow between the leaf spur and the main stem.

Like this:
http://completegarden.files.wordpres...side-shoot.jpg

[Alison]

Thanks Two Sheds, a picture speaks a thousand words and all that, so much clearer in your piccie than in my words!