Tomatoes again

[Sylvan]

I noticed summat today that I've just been ignoring for decades...
As the first truss forms on tomato plants a shoot branches off at a slight angle just below it. By the time the 2nd truss has formed there appear to be 2 shoots of equal thickness (in a sort of V shape). I've always assumed that was perfectly normal but summat someone said on the Vine recently has made me think it isn't. Should I be taking off those shoots when they first start?

[Sylvan]

Cancel that thought!

I've just been told it's a sneaky sideshoot. I shall be stopping them after the first truss.

Thanks Sarah

[mrbadexample]

People will be disappointed when they read this thread and find there's no question to answer any more, so to stop that happening, I'll ask:

When you repot / plant toms deeper than the first set of true leaves, do you pull / cut them off first? Or just bury them?

Thanks,
MBE

[Potstubsdustbins]

Personal choice on this one I tend to remove all side shoots before I pot on.

Colin

[Sylvan]

I nip off the leaves with my thumbhail (and the side shoots if they've developed).

[mrbadexample]

If you take the leaves off, and then plant below that level, would it not increase the chances of some nasty disease-causing / carrying microoganism getting in?

[Sylvan]

That did occur to me, but I thought the leaves might rot while attached to the plant if I just buried them. I always wash my hands first...

[Hillwalker]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had the same thought. I know many people simply bury the leaves and I've seen it done several times by professionals on video. After all, it's done when growing plants such as potatoes. I guess it's just a case of personal preference. For me, it's just the thought of them rotting on the plant I don't like. I prefer to cut any unwanted branches off at least a few days before potting on, in order for the cut to heal so no soil bacteria gets in.

[chris]

I take them off for that reason, and any that touch the compost if I cant prop em up!

[Florence Fennel]

Same here, take them off and then sink and give plenty of support to what's above the surface.

[mrbadexample]

So, we seem to be more in favour of removal rather than burying. I like the "remove a few days before so it heals" suggestion best though. Thanks all.

[Sylvan]

Talking of wounds...

The wind has snapped my Piglet Willie :-( I have a couple of other toms that snapped 2 weeks and 3 weeks ago respectively and they're OK because I buried them deeply in bigger pots, but the PW's in a Morrisons bucket and I've got nowt bigger. Can I use parcel tape to hold it upright till it knits together?

[Sylvan]

This Gardener's Delight snapped 12 days ago...

[dave_norm_smith]

I've used sellotape a bunch of times to hold them together until they knit. I splint it with lolli sticks on either side of the break and then tape up.

That first aid course I did as a kid comes in handy sometimes! lol

Dave

p.s. Why not cut the base off another pot and sit it into the Morrisons bucket as a sleeve over the plant. That way you'll gain another couple of inches in height to fill up with compost?

[Hillwalker]

Why not cut the base off another pot and sit it into the Morrisons bucket as a sleeve over the plant. That way you'll gain another couple of inches in height to fill up with compost?

Very good suggestion. You're wasted here Dave!