Tomatoes - first flowers

My first time growing toms and I was delighted to find the first flowers on a few plants this morning.

Is it now that I start to remove sideshoots and should I be doing anyting else for them?

I have them planted in upright-half grow bags in the greenhouse, I have seen and read much info on tomatoes but mostly it seems to conflict from one source to another and I want to make sure I get things right.

I've watched the excellent video kristen posted from videojug (http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-prune-tomatoes) which states to wait for 4 or 5 trusses before pinching out, whereas much other advice I have read recomend doing this right from the start, which is the correct/best way?

Many thanks

Steve...

 

I think you're talking about pinching out to stop the plant from growing taller. Probably much too early to be doing that yet and only important if you're growing very tall growing plants, the bush type (determinate) tomatoes don't need pinching out until late in the summer when you want to put all your energy into ripening the fruit because there is no time to produce and ripen more before frost.

The pruning that you might be doing would be to remove the new growth that forms in the crotch of the branches. You will see a small brand new growth where the branches meet the stem of the plant....those I remove all along and never stop removing them over the season.

I pinch out the top to stop the plant from producing more tomato fruit when there are 5 or 6 clusters of tomatoes growing on the plant.....that's generally way on in the process. Some in my greenhouse are about 2 or 3 weeks away from being pinched out for growth but they've already produced ripe fruit and have 5 clusters of lovely largish tomatoes on each cluster.

 

"Is it now that I start to remove sideshoots and should I be doing anyting else for them?"

Assuming that the variety you are growing is what's called "indeterminate" (i.e. NOT a bush variety) then don't wait for the flowers!, remove any side shoots as soon as they are big enough to handle. Be careful not to remove the main growing tip (if you are not sure do not remove ANYTHING unless there is a flower "truss" ABOVE it - i.e. below the highest flowering truss the growing tip and any side shoots will be obvious, above that a newcomer might mistake one for the other :thumb:

The "4 - 5 trusses" thing is STOPPING the plant, rather than PINCHING OUT the side shoots.

I personally disagree with the concept of "N number of trusses" and my advice would be to stop the plant one month before the first Frost is expected (bit earlier, say 6 weeks, for outdoor Toms). If the plants are in teh greenhouse you may have to stop them earlier than that as them will hit the roof! So in that instance stop them when they hit the roof

"Stopping" the plant IS to take out the top of the plant (which I warned you not to do above!!). You should take out the top of the plant two leaves ABOVE the highest flowers. This stops the plant growing any more, it will not produce any more flower trusses, and can thus put all its energy into ripening up the flowers / fruit it has already made. It will still try to grow side shoots, so keep taking those out right up to the bitter end!

Hopefully clarifies the difference between PINCHING OUT and STOPPING, but if not do please ask for any clarification or other questions you have.

 

The other thing you can do for them now Steve R is feed them.

You can use any general purpose fertiliser. I like Miracle Gro Oraganic.

Once the first flowers have set fruit - and that will be soon - switch the feed to a specialist tomato food like Tomorite.

Hope you get lots of lovely tomatoes.

 

"Miracle Grow Organic Choice" appears to come in a number of flavours so if you go that route make sure you get the All Purpose one :thumb:

 

Many thanks kristen...clear as a bell now. Thanks also to Greenjeans and Alice.

Steve...

 

Thanks John...thats a very important point I have not read or heard about before.

Steve...

 

Are you growing them inside Bob? I wouldn't use chicken poo in my greenhouse.......that would attract flies and repel me!! I love the scent as I walk into the greenhouse chicken manure would not fit that.

 

"can they be fed with liquified chick poo once a week, now or after they have set"

Not really. Chicken Manure has an NPK of 4:2.5:2.3 (but check yours) and for Tomatoes you want something that is approximately in the ratio of 1:1:2 (so 2:2:4 would do, most commonly they are 4:4:8 )