Allotments 4 All

I keep pinching out the side shoots on my toms.

But, do I need to remove the lower shoots? ie- the ones that are almost at ground level?

Yes or they will grow into totally new plants/stems and prevent air and light getting to the fruit on the main stem.... I sometimes leave one on plants like Sungold and Black cherry... 'cos I'm greedy...  ;D

I've let a couple go on bush varieties  :-[  I am a serial de-leafer of most tomato plants, as I believe (not proven in any way, but just how my dad and generations before him did it) that by removing 1/3 to 1/2 of the leaves, the flowers get pollinated better, less risk of pests on the leaves (and I am plagued by caterpillars), and more ventilation for the fruit to ripen without virus/plague/etc.

Also remember, if you are growing tomatoes, you want fruit not leaves, so nip the leaves out, drop the nitrogen feed (normally too much rotted manure-y stuff), and get more potash in for the fruits.

I saw tomatoes growing in the botanical garden in Madrid and they did not remove all the shoots and grew several vines per plant up huge structures. 

I thought I would give it a try this year with Sun Gold, since it has loads of small tomatoes and is generally very rampant.   Also seen this method in Italy.  Spoke to the gardener and he said he was happy for Sungold to have several vines.

I have in the past let them grow wild and have had little problem with pollination or pests, (until last year when I lost the lot.)  They do get in a terrible mess.
 

So, I should strip the plant of leaves?    All of them???

No not all of them steady on. I remove the ones below the truss that are ripening,moving up as you go.

Quote from: Cosmo and Dibs on June 24, 2009, 21:22:05
So, I should strip the plant of leaves?    All of them???

Woah!! i've not been brave enough to go that far, even though some websites encourage it.  I just nip off the ends of the big leaves, and the leaves that are blocking the trusses. I believe it helps to ripen the fruit, and by doing so, have been picking on Boxing Day.

Quote from: Cosmo and Dibs on June 24, 2009, 21:22:05
So, I should strip the plant of leaves?    All of them???

NO, By now ( if you have trusses on ) all the leaves below the first truss should have been taken off. Then its up to you how you do it from then on. I miss one leaf stem then take the next off as the fruit trusses develops. If i think the truss is at its best then i will take the nearest leaf stem below it off.
When removing the leaf stem ALWAYS snap it upwards never down.
Never take off more than two leaf stems at any one time.
Always leave at least 4 or 5 days between deleafing so not to shock the plant.
If you have heavy cropping trusses then tie them up to support them.

The idea is to put the feed where it is needed and as said provide ventilation between the plants.

Another method is to cut off half of the leaf stems above the first truss in the same way as described above

Thanks guys.

Two more tom questions:

Can pot bound plants recover?

Can you move large plants? I have two plants at about 2ft tall in large patio pots and I want to move them to the allotment.

Quote from: Sally A on June 24, 2009, 21:33:44

Quote from: Cosmo and Dibs on June 24, 2009, 21:22:05
So, I should strip the plant of leaves?    All of them???

Woah!! i've not been brave enough to go that far, even though some websites encourage it.  I just nip off the ends of the big leaves, and the leaves that are blocking the trusses. I believe it helps to ripen the fruit, and by doing so, have been picking on Boxing Day.

I don't do that and mine ripen well before boxing day ;D

I dont think removing or trimming back the leaves help with ripening tomatoe,s i think its more of putting feed the the tomato truss instead of feeding the leaf stem.
Darkness and humidity ripens tomatoes.

I just let them grow naturally, faffing about like that makes no difference.  ::)

Quote from: Sally A on June 24, 2009, 20:28:23
I've let a couple go on bush varieties 

Pretty sure you are not meant to pinch out on bush varieties anyway so I wouldn't worry. I certainly let them do what they want  and just add a bit of support where needed.

GrannieAnnie has just posted a very useful post with a link on the subject of pruning tomatoes...........well worth a look. 8)

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,52947.msg537205.html#new

I've read this post and the article that Grannie Annie posted, and wonder should I remove some of the lower shoots from tumbling toms? Its the 1st year of trying tumbling toms.

Thanks

1066

I think you treat tumbling toms the same as bush tomatoes, leaving them unpruned....but I could be wrong! ;D

Quote from: Deb P on June 26, 2009, 08:19:11
I think you treat tumbling toms the same as bush tomatoes, leaving them unpruned....but I could be wrong! ;D

You aint wrong Deb.........just let them run wild

Thanks Deb and Davy, its good to know my general neglect can be termed planned neglect .....  ;) 
They've just started fruiting, so a while to go yet but looking forward to trying them  :)