Help! Tomatoes - Which is the main stem?

We have two Cordon tomato plants growing in large pots.

At about 50cm height, they have forked into two almost equal thickness stems, and I don't know which one I'm supposed to tie to the support?

Once we've identified the side shoot, should it just be left there or supported, or cut? We're a little confused about this! :cnfs:

Many thanks.

CFP

 

I agree with JWK, Chingfordpots. It really doesn't matter.
What matters is decide how many trusses you think you can ripen. That might depend on where you are in the country, the weather and how early you want your crop, then cut off everything above that, whether leaving all on one stem or half on each stem.
In good conditions in a greenhouse in a good summer you might manage to ripen 8 trusses (bunches of flowers).
In a less good summer you might decide to limit it to 6 - or even 4.
I grow my tomatoes outside in Perthshire and limit the trusses to 3 or 4.
If I'm desperate to get some early toms I choose a sacrificial plant and only let it make 1 or 2 trusses.
It's all up to you and what you want.
There's no one right way.

 

Thanks Everyone!

CFP

 

Thanks, Alice, that's really useful information. Gardening books are always big on method but they don't always make it clear why you're doing things and what you're trying to achieve. I suppose some would say it's straightforward common sense - but maybe mine's a bit lacking at times. :hehe: