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The Tigerella tomato seeds my son planted on the 2nd of Feb have grown to about 8 to 12" tall and some have the first lot of little green flower buds appearing.
I've read on here about nipping off side shoots, can someone try and describe where these are please, so that I don't nip off the wrong bits?
Also they're in 6" pots (I think) atm, how big do the plants need to get before I re pot them into their final pots (Black flower buckets) or can I do that at anytime?
Thank you ;)

Where a main leaf stem meets the main stem of the plant you will get a side branch forming - it looks like a new growing point because that is just what it is!!.  In most varieties these side branches are pinched out to concentrate growth on the main growing point and to control the amount of fruit cordons..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/5579726/How-to-grow-tomatoes.html shows it better than I can say...

Quote from: BarriedaleNick on May 03, 2010, 10:43:36
Where a main leaf stem meets the main stem of the plant you will get a side branch forming - it looks like a new growing point because that is just what it is!!.  In most varieties these side branches are pinched out to concentrate growth on the main growing point and to control the amount of fruit cordons..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/5579726/How-to-grow-tomatoes.html shows it better than I can say...

Oh that's great thank you, very informative article.  ;D

I can also plant these side shoots as cuttings, correct?

Correct  ;D - I have never done so myself but some folks seem to do well out of it - gives you a crop later in the year..

When I want to root the shoots, I let them grow a few inches, then I pop the cut end in a glass of water until white roots appear. Then I plant them into a pot.

Which varieties are you growing, they're not bush varieties are they? If so don't pinch out sideshoots at all.

Tigerella or also known as Mr Stripy, is the variety.
Actually, I don't know if it is a bush type or..?

Information on the others as to their type would also be appreciated, Money Maker, Matina and Santini Yellow (Santini is saved seed from M&S bought so may not be true to type)

Tigerella and money maker are both not bush varieties - cant say for the others..

Matina is also one you would prune XX Jeannine..

Quote from: Mortality on May 03, 2010, 12:27:27
Tigerella or also known as Mr Stripy, is the variety.
Actually, I don't know if it is a bush type or..?

Information on the others as to their type would also be appreciated, Money Maker, Matina and Santini Yellow (Santini is saved seed from M&S bought so may not be true to type)

They're all vine types, except Santini, which I do not know about. However, it is a commercial variety and whether it is a bush or cordon variety will probably depend on whether it is a glass house tomato or a field tomato.

I let the 'cuttings' get to the non-bendy stage, dip them in rooting powder & plant up.

Amphibian why,,sorry I don't understand XX Jeannine

Quote from: Jeannine on May 04, 2010, 07:45:00
Amphibian why,,sorry I don't understand XX Jeannine

Glasshouse grown commercial tomatoes are typically cordon and field grown typically bush, one to allow for a nice tall plant with a small footprint that can be grown close together and provide an ongoing crop, the later for a machine harvestable one hit crop.