Tomato question

[gojiberry]

Two questions
1- What causes tomato plants to divide into two stems and can it be avoided.
2-How do other grapes deal with it, grow two stems or cut one off.

I have left the two stems this year but realise I could end up with smaller tomatoes as the plant tries to cope with the added burden of double the toms.

Ian

[Flummery]

I don't know what causes it - you seem to get two leaders occasionally and if you spot it right away you can have one off but otherwise it continues to give you the two-fingered salute every time you go in the greenhouse! I don't know if it will affect your eventual crop. It's happened to me before and being a laid-back sort of gardener I assume all will be well if I leave it - and it usually is!

[gojiberry]

I don't know what causes it and have left them this year. It just seemed that I had a lot this year, probably over 50%.

Ian

[rogesse]

Same here with the splitting - at least 50% in the greenhouse this year and more than usual 'funny' flowers that produce 3 or 4 tomatoes fused together!

[singleseeder]

Agree with the 'whip it off quick' comment if you want a neat cordon tomato plant.

However, going off at a tangent (pardon the pun), I do remember reading about someone who left the first 'armpit' to grow. It was supported on a second cane at a 45 degree angle and both the main stem and 'armpit' were then kept clean of further 'armpits'.

As long as you could keep up with the watering, you would get almost 2 plants in one lot of compost (a saving). Also, do you think you would get more trusses sooner as both stems would produce simultaneously?

Does anyone here already do this?

[womble]

I've done it and written about it on here too somewhere.
It doesn't work that well, seems to slow the whole plant.

As long as you keep on top of your sideshoots, these very strong shoots that suddenly appear and grow at a huge rate do look like sideshoots, they grow in the right place for a sideshoot, but you have to catch them early, not in the least as they will take away lots of energy from the rest of the plant.

But then I've seen alot, my Ferline always get it at least twice per plant and my other ones seem to get it often too.

[Davyburns]

do you think you would get more trusses sooner as both stems would produce simultaneously?

Does anyone here already do this?

I have done this with 2 plants this year, each with 2 leaders, and have been tempted to cut one off as these are miles behind the rest of my toms in height and in fruit, but all 4 leaders are bearing fruit now, so I'll just leave them. Not next year though!!

[chris]

I've got it with one - seemed to happen overnight. Was so shocked when I went in the GH and saw a huge 'V' with each arm bearing trusses.

[Sylvan]

Both my Moneymakers have huge 'V's, with each arm bearing trusses. I had resigned myself to it but suddenly today one arm of each 'V' has forked again (with another huge shoot with incipient flowers on each). I feel some pruning coming on...

[Flummery]

I've got a couple of Vs this year - both with flower trusses. Can't make up me mind - I'll probably leave them - it's easier that way!

[Comfreyfan]

The V's and the flower trusses appear so quickly. If I'm worried about the plant, I leave the flowering bit and pinch the end of the smaller bit of the V off. Very often I end up with 2 main stems and need another cane!

(I know it's because I don't always remember to take my glasses to the greenhouse!)

[Sylvan]

(I know it's because I don't always remember to take my glasses to the greenhouse!)

Ditto!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Without my specs I couldn't find the bally green house

Colin

[Alison]

Well I never, don't think I've ever noticed this happening to any of mine so either I'm totally unobservant or just have well behaved plants

[bramble]

I always let the two leaders grow on together. It doesnt seem to affect the plants output. If I think the plant is looking exhausted coming near the end of the season I just pinch out the tops and let the plant finish at that stage.