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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: sunloving on June 01, 2011, 13:14:40

Title: tomato side shoots - take them off now
Post by: sunloving on June 01, 2011, 13:14:40
Hello all especially beginners
Just wanted to flag up that tomatoes are going mad putting out side shoots at the moment (they grow between the leaf and main stem) take them out as soon as you spot them otherwise youll get a very spindly plant.

Cant belive ive got fruit on mine already just need a bit of sun now!!
x sunloving
Title: Re: tomato side shoots - take them off now
Post by: BarriedaleNick on June 01, 2011, 13:25:18
They off cuts are amazingly good at rooting themselves - get some free plants for a late crop!  Just stick em in some compost..
Title: Re: tomato side shoots - take them off now
Post by: goodlife on June 01, 2011, 13:32:32
Good advise there...but should I add that you can leave the side shoots if you are growing bush tomato.. ;) ;D
Title: Re: tomato side shoots - take them off now
Post by: Squash64 on June 01, 2011, 14:03:41
This might be is a daft question, but what would happen if you removed side shoots on bush tomatoes? 
I'm growing a tomato from seed that my husband brought back from Sicily and I have no idea whether it's a bush or not.
Title: Re: tomato side shoots - take them off now
Post by: saddad on June 01, 2011, 14:20:16
You just get a thin weedy plant with little fruit. Bush ones stop growing up naturally. If in doubt let it side shoot, even cordons will fruit as bushes but they can take longer to develop...  :)
Title: Re: tomato side shoots - take them off now
Post by: cornykev on June 01, 2011, 17:55:27
I just went out to pinch mine off in the back garden.  ;D