Could any help me I'm a novice at growing toms so i was wondering if i should trim leaves back from trusses and by how much.
Tomatoes (alicante) are growing in greenhouse and have 5 trusses(//)
PS how do you put on pics
thanks
Aren't we all novices in the 'greater pattern of life'??
Tomatoes. You can grow them to 7+ trusses - depending upon your room. At 5, you're already doing well.
Only 'stop' at the top when you've reached the limit or there's no hope of fruit ripening.
Photos - look up earlier advice elsewhere. Not here.
I don't have any fruit. Not a sign :( I've grown tomatoes successfully for a few years despite not having any real clue about pinching out side shoots and all that. Those at home and those on the lotty are not fruiting. I'm putting it down to the weather rather than my ineptitude at pruning.
Have a look round for tomato threads and I'm sure you'll find the answer you seek. Welcome too :)
I cut off a lot of leaves but leave some to provide a bit of shade on the tomatoes , this way the air can circulate around the plants without too much sun scorching the tomatoes and lessen the chances of getting blight. Do you have the windows in your greenhouse shaded at all? Mine are brushed lightly with white stuff that becomes transparant when it's raining.
As the bottom truss or two start to ripen the leaves below often turn yellow, and they should be removed. Healthy leaves should not be removed unless the plants are so crowded as to inhibit air circulation, in which case it may become necessary.
Do not cut off parts of leaf stems to remove them as this leaves an open wound and an invitation to infection and disease. Instead bend the whole of the leaf stem upwards towards the stem, when it should snap off cleanly at the leaf/stem joint, where the plant will seal itself.
Oh dear.....tomato leaves had a bit of a scissor attack this week, am just going out to apologise to them, they had done so well with 4 to 5 trusses each (outdoors). Will remember next time - same time, next year.