Sideshoots?

[MrsKP]

1) agree with Tim

2) you look at the packet  ;D

[MrsKP]

[campanula]

ah, no matter how vigilant i am, i always end up with a couple of extra side shoots - i just add another cane and grow a little thicket.

[Spookyville]

oh dear, I have neglected to remove any sideshoots on my Gardeners Delight and Shirley plants. SOme of them have the bottom set of side shoots nearly as tall as the main stem.

First time growing toms guessed I boo-boo'ed :(

What effect will it have on them if any ? Anything I can do to salvage the situatin at this late stage???

[amphibian]

oh dear, I have neglected to remove any sideshoots on my Gardeners Delight and Shirley plants. SOme of them have the bottom set of side shoots nearly as tall as the main stem.

First time growing toms guessed I boo-boo'ed :(

What effect will it have on them if any ? Anything I can do to salvage the situatin at this late stage???

I wouldn't worry, I haven't removed any of mine, just let them sprawl, or use a cage.

[supersprout]

spooky, you can train two stems, pinching out the sideshoots on both, just stop them earlier. There's a thread which recommends this as THE way to grow! :)

[tim]

Yes - SSprout - TWO stems. But me? - I would take out all but those that have set flowers. The getaways must surely take a lot of energy from the main stem? And they may not all have time to frut?

[supersprout]

I think it was you who posted the link tim? :o
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/uncovered/gardening/tomatoes.shtml
and you may call me sprouty if it's easier ;)

[tim]

'Twas. 'Tis it!

[Rox]

Good morning folks! I feel like a right plonker today - this is my first year growing cordon tomatoes and my first year growing toms in a greenhouse. I have read all the expert advice on growing fruit up one main stem and removing side shoots. Unfortunately, I followed this advice a little to religiously yesterday, and while I had my doubts about removing a 2" sideshoot that had small flowers buds already (there are already two trusses forming on the main stem of the 16" plant), I still went ahead thinking this was the 'correct' thing to do. To my horror on closer inspection of the pinched sideshoot, I saw it actually had three different trusses of about 6 fruit each forming!!!  : :o :-[ :o I am now very confused - I thought sideshoots just started off as leafy bits you pinched as soon as they were big enough to pinch out (1 - 2 inches?). Is is normal for a sideshoot this small to actually have flower buds or have I somehow managed to pinch out something more major?? Does anyone have any advice on how to go about sideshooting skillfully so you don't inadvertently end up having less of a crop? Finally, I read with interest the article on groing two stems - the main stem and the 'king shoot' to prodcue earlier, prolific fruit - has anyone actually tried this more radical method?
many thanks for all the words for wisdom for this novice tomato grower!  :)

[tim]

Plonk away - join the club!! Interesting.

1. A flower truss almost always grows out well above a frond/stem join. See pic.

2. HOWEVER - to illustrate, I did a check. And found that, very unusually, it grows from the join!! Next pic.

3. The norm is for the 'sideshoot' that is removed to grow from the join. See pic.

Clear??

[Rox]

Thanks very much Tim - the illustrations are very useful indeed. I think I may well have sadly pinched a few flower trusses prematurely developing unusually from the stem joint (as per your second photo). I guess the moral of the story is don't pinch anything with visible flowers (even if it is appearing where a sideshoot normally emerges?).
Would really be interested in knowing when you pinch off top of main stem to enable fruit to set and ripen so as to not be left with alot of green fruit at the end of the seaon? I've now gotten advice for anything from end of June to end of August - live in a city with climate similar to London (Brussels) and growing Golden Sunrise, Alisa Criag, Alicante, Gardener's Delight, and Tigerrella indeterminates this year. Thanks again for any tips/advice!!

[tim]

In a cold 'house - 'stop' at 7 trusses - depending on height of 'house - usually. I go mad sometimes & grow on to 10!

In a warm 'house - the sky's the limit.

Outside - usually 'stop' at 3 trusses.