"pinching Out"

[Mustard]

Hi,

Bit of advise needed from a newb

I am very proud of my tomato plants that I have grown from seed on my windowsill (pic below).

What I want to know is should I "pinch out" (?!) the seed leaves or leave well alone?

When do I start taking side shoots off?

Thanks

Dave

[Sweepster]

You don't need to do anything to the seed leaves. The 'pinching out' of which you speak refers to the growing tip of the plant, and is usually done (assuming you have a cordon variety - does it say Gardener's Delight?) when the plant has developed about 6 trusses of flowers.

I start taking side shoots off when they become apparent - you'll see them growing out of the 'join' between the fruit stems and the main stem.

[marigold007]

What happens if you don't pinch out the sideshoots of a cordon? Will they develop trusses on the sideshoots and therefore more trusses faster?

[Mustard]

You don't need to do anything to the seed leaves. The 'pinching out' of which you speak refers to the growing tip of the plant, and is usually done (assuming you have a cordon variety - does it say Gardener's Delight?) when the plant has developed about 6 trusses of flowers.

I start taking side shoots off when they become apparent - you'll see them growing out of the 'join' between the fruit stems and the main stem.

OK thanks very much, was a bit confused about this. Yes it does say Gardener's Delight - nothing wrong with your eyes

[Sweepster]

I think the problem is that the tomato plant wants to grow and grow (and grow)... and then summer's over and it hasn't had time to develop and ripen its fruits, having expended all its energy on getting bigger - so the more trusses you allow it to grow, the less tomatoes you will end up with. Or something like that.

[Demeter]

If you don't pinch out a side shoot then the shoot will become a second (third, fourth, umpteenth) "main stem" and trusses will grow from the side shoot. In other words, you do get new trusses, but not directly off the side shoot.

I think some people allow one or two side shoots to grow so that they get a two or three stemmed plant. But on the other hand if the plant only has to grow one main stem then it can put more energy into trusses which I imagine would be more efficient than having multiple stems?

[marigold007]

I don't know which would be more efficient. We should have a contest! grow 6 trusses, 2 each from 3 stems or 6 trusses from one main stem and see which produces riper fruit first.

[Demeter]

I'd be happy just to get a sensible crop of any kind!
Last year was rubbish

[marigold007]

Strangely, I didn't get blight on my Gardeners Delight last year and still had ripening fruits on the stem bent over in my cold frame during winter.

[walshie]

I find that if you do not pinch the side shoots than that leaves you more susceptible to blight. Blight is caused by a microclimate formed within the plant, which forms the fungus. With more than one main stem you get more foilage and this traps the mosture increasing the himidity within the plant and leaving you more open to blight.

[Scottishnewbie]

i didnt know about pinching out the side shoots last year and so ended up with dozens of trusses and side branches everywhere! i could hardly get in the greenhouse and trying to contain the plants to their side of the greenhouse was a bit like Day of the Triffids! I did, however, get a really good crop (more by accident than by design i'm quite sure!). i wont be doing it again though and they were a nightmare to manage! hope this helps?

[teakdesk]

I don't know which would be more efficient. We should have a contest! grow 6 trusses, 2 each from 3 stems or 6 trusses from one main stem and see which produces riper fruit first.

It is all down to available light.

In some commercial growing, early in the season when there is not much light they remove all side shoots. Then as summer approaches and light levels increase they let ONE side shoot develop as there is now enough light for both stems.

As summer fades and light levels decrease they cut out the side shoot completely and continue to crop from the one stem.

If you want to let side shoots grow in this country then you should plant fewer plants wider apart so the side shoots take up the space in between. But you will effectively only have half the number of plants for the first half of our growing season.