pinching out toms

[grasser]

my tomatoe plants are 14 inches tall they have now formed a branch like a Y. one has flowers on but they are both have pretty thick stems, do i let both of them grow or pinch one out
thanks to anyone who can help
ps; i have pinched the sideshoots below


JOHN

[peanut]

It all depends on what variety you are growing, some are Bush (determinate) and don't need side shoots pinching others are Cordon (indeterminate) and do......so need to know the variety!

[ClayGarden]

I've just checked mine, and mine will need pinching out according to the instructions from b&q. Though it does tell me the variety. Why do they need pinching out? Is it so energy goes into fruit production instead?

[smallblueplanet]

I think there's a difference between 'pinching out' sideshoots from cordon toms and 'stopping' them ie taking off the lead shoot. The latter is sometimes done when the plant already has a certain number of fruits set. Stopping them, stops them growing any taller and makes them concentrate their energies into growing and ripening the fruit already growing.

[ClayGarden]

mine also say "rmeove all leaves below the lowest fruit cluster when over 1.2m". that sounded a bit strange to me.

[smallblueplanet]

We often remove some of the leaves on cordon toms to let more light and air in (help keep the dreaded blight at bay), can't say its done at a particular height mind. I think also from a bit I saw on GW (I think) that the lower leaves tend to yellow and 'droop' as the plant fruits higher up, because its putting its energies into fruiting. So I guess its helping the plant do that job?

[JO,JO]

i always take the bottom leaves off the plant and thin the leaves out seem to work last year, if i left the odd off shoot on longer than i should ,i took them off and planted in the flower borders as well and got some toms late in the season as they made rally good plants.

[grasser]

hi they are indetermanate [moneymaker] they are only 14 inch tall just set first truss [i think] then it forks off with 2 branches both same size[thick stems]one;s got flowers on the other aint . do i let both of them grow it is a cordon plant or chop one off
hope you can understand wat i mean.



thank you all

john

[ClayGarden]

since you say yours is indeterminate, then it sounds like you should pinch em out according to sbp.

[grasser]

thaks c-j ill give it a try see wat happens i got 6 all the same .just try 1 for now .


john

[smallblueplanet]

thaks c-j ill give it a try see wat happens i got 6 all the same .just try 1 for now .
john

Thats the best way to do it, I reckon. Sounds like it might be a big side shoot and the main one you've got growing, or post a picture if you can?

[grasser]

thanks sbp think it must be . cant post pics yet dont know how but there is 2 branches same thickness 1 going left one going right.[ right one as flowers on] the one on left is same [maybe bigger] so will it be a side shoot and the other one the main stem cant lose much any way got more plants to replace it .but dont think it would kill it anywaydo you .



sorry for being a pest


but i dont know wat to do on my own.your gang on here are a great help .
ps; do i start to feed them now .i bought tomatorite will that be ok


thank you all



JOHN

[peanut]

You feed them when the first truss has set.

[ClayGarden]

You feed them when the first truss has set.

can you explain that in total non gardening terms please? Its that when the first set of flowers are first in bloom? I've got a set of little mm sized peas on mine, is that the first truss sprouting?

[smallblueplanet]

Now peanut I'm not sure, what does 'first truss has set' mean?

Give it a go grasser - you don't want to die not knowing!