Topic: Pinching side shoots on tomato's

[springbok]

I really don't understand what exactly i have to pinch out.

Growing several different types of tomato's even tumbling variety.

Most of them are a foot high and have many leaves and stems on, but not sure what I have to do :)

Sorry folks a novice... HELP :D

[dtw]

It only happens when they are quite large.
Where the branches meet the main stem there are little extra sets of leaves produced.
Some people believe that removing them will produce more tomatoes.

I'm not convinced, so I shall be removing them on a set of plants and leaving them on others,
to see if it does work.

If anybody has proven scientific evidence of it working, let us all know.

[daileg]

as far as i understand pinching out your toms is for a reason other than mentioned if you dont pinch them out what happens is you have two many branches that bare fruit and the plant cant take the weight of the fruit so you have to suport them all which can be fiddley and takes a lot of room

[davyw1]

I really don't understand what exactly i have to pinch out.

Growing several different types of tomato's even tumbling variety.

Most of them are a foot high and have many leaves and stems on, but not sure what I have to do :)

Sorry folks a novice... HELP :D

Have look here it tells you all you need to know

http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/how-to/articles/pruning-tomatoes.aspx

[Tee Gee]

I really don't understand what exactly i have to pinch out.

These;

[springbok]

Thank you tee gee :D  Not seen any of those yet :) 

[Vortex]

Far too early to see yet, and you only do it on cordon varieties not bush/tumbler varieties or you don't get a very good crop.

[djbrenton]

Good ventilation is important for healthy greenhouse tomato plants too. Not pinching out the sideshoots can create too much foliage and also shade the tomatoes too much.

[bupster]

Tee Gee, that's the first clear diagram of this I've ever seen. You should produce a handbook! Thank you.

[springbok]

On looking this morning, my tomato's have all started these little shoots. 

So pleased I asked :D  Thanks every one for the advice.

[floraldi]

It only happens when they are quite large.
quote]

I don't think this is true. I have  some cherry ones that
 are only about 12" tall and have side shoots. They are called Sweet Olive. Trouble is I then checked the packet and found out I should remove them.

That chap with the plait on TV plants the side shoots and they then become tomato plants in time. I have enough with ten different ones.

[tim]

They can appear at any time.
And using them as cuttings, when they are, say, 3" long & substantial, is foolproof.

BUT - watch out for the Catch 22 situation, where you have to be a Solomon to get by!!

Either be grateful for a second shoot, or brace yourself & cut it out!! Prevalent in beef varieties.

[betula]

Oh I am so fed up with my toms .They are the sort that go in hanging baskets and I only have to look at them and a shoot snaps off.Grrrrrrr.

[jesssands]

yup. dad used to pinch them out, then stick them in soil and hey presto.... more tomato plants to harvest once the originals had finished.

[tim]

And just as you think you have it sussed, Catch 33!!

Not content with bifurcation, you now get a sideshoot from the main stem on the left - with it's own little sideshoot in the joint.

[cleo]

I start off with good intentions but many of my `biggies` end up loking like Tim`s photos.

[tim]

As I say - it's a Solomon - bifurcation is quite different to 'sideshooting' & needs a bold heart!

[valmarg]

We find that Brandywine, despite how big it gets, is a variety not to pinch out the sideshoots, and let it roam free.  Wonderful fruits.

valmarg