Another tomato question about sideshoots

[Sonata]

I mentioned a while ago that I'd bought some "Italian plum" tomatoes from homebase and wasn't sure whether to treat them as a cordon or bush. I think the general consensus was to treat them as a cordon..so I duly went out to have a look at the shoots today (I was going to grow them on into more plants - sneaky!)..but it looks like there are flower buds on those side shoots.

Does that mean they're bush toms? Is there any other way I can be a cheapskate and take cuttings of that sort of tom plant?

[terrier]

Side shoots will flower if you leave them on the plant but the extra trusses mean that you get much smaller fruit that may not ripen or drop off. If it's a cordon, then much better to pinch the side shoots out as soon as they appear.

[teakdesk]

I mentioned a while ago that I'd bought some "Italian plum" tomatoes ... I think the general consensus was to treat them as a cordon..

I think I was a dissenter saying it would be a bush!!!!!

On a bush type the flowers/fruit are on the side-shoot, with only a little fruit on the main stem.

I'd try growing as a bush now.

If the plant grows over 5 feet tall then it is a cordon and you can change tack later.



EDIT: I've just checked and it was on Florence Fennel's "Italian Plum" thread in Vegging Out that I posted.

[Jerryfb]

Plum tomatoes are generally bush tomatoes. No plucking of side shoots.

[Sonata]

Okie dokie, so I'll keep my pinchy fingers to the Gardener's Delight and stay away from my plum toms unless it's growth suggests otherwise.

Ta all!

[terrier]

I think I was a dissenter saying it would be a bush!!!!!

On a bush type the flowers/fruit are on the side-shoot, with only a little fruit on the main stem.

I'd try growing as a bush now.

If the plant grows over 5 feet tall then it is a cordon and you can change tack later.



EDIT: I've just checked and it was on Florence Fennel's "Italian Plum" thread in Vegging Out that I posted.

I'd posted befor I read your post on the other thread, TD. I agree it might be a better bet to treat it as a bush.