Pinching - Tomato

Last season i grow some toms for the first time and had some success.
I say some becuase a friend of mine also grew some and had so much more toms from his plants. We both grew the same varity but he said that he pinched out or removed parts of the plant.

Whilst i have heard of pinching out tips of plants so they become bushy im unsure how to do this with tomato plants. Is he pulling my leg or is it true. If ture how do you do this and when. Thanks

 

Hello again VP.

1) You need to pinch out the extra growths that appear between the stalk of the vine and the primary offshoots. Not sure how to explain this but when the large 'branches' appear then another 'little' shoot eventually appears where it 'branches'. You have to get rid of them. They just suck the strength of the plant and don't produce anything.

2) After 5 or 6 trusses have 'set' (fruit bearing clusters of flowers) nip out the top of the vine to stop it growing.

3) Don't forget to feed once a week.

We must stop meeting like this. :D

 

he's not having you on.

I think the idea is that as the plant grows, every so often at the point where a branch joins the main stem, a 2nd leaf grows. At this stage, you carefully pinch out the new leaf otherwise it grows into a 2nd stem. carry on doing this every time a 2nd leaf starts to grow out from a join. I think you are meant to pinch out the growing tip when it gets to about 5-6ft too, so that it puts its energy into fruit production.

hope that makes sense!!

 

beet me to it John!

at least we both gave the same advise and hopefully it'll make sense between us! :D

 

Sarraceniac. LOL

I have gone a bit mad on the posting today as i have been off line for several months and not done much cardening either. All fired up now for another season and have lots of seedlings coming through.

Thanks for the info, Im sure this is what he did last season it sounds about right. I did none of this apart from feeding. Im sure i will have more luck this time.

 

Thanks to you also Glenw.

 

Oh forgot to add VP. MOST IMPORTANT. If you smoke don't pinch out the extra shoots with your fingers. Use a pair of tweezers. Nicotine is FATAL to toms.

 

You've got to know whether the plant is determinate or indeterminate before you pinch out?

I grow determinate toms as a rule and pinching out would be disasterous until the fruit has set!

Determinate - Bush
Indeterminate - Vine

Indeterminate, prick out after 5 to six trusses depending on soil quality and feed

 

I think we can take it that VP is growing vines.

 

Not always clear from "shop bought" ?

 

Not always clear from "shop bought" ?

 

Read the original post Vince.