Tomatoes - Shoot between trunk/Branch...

[Matt_B]

Hi

After a 3 years of growing tomatoes i've now learned that the little shoots should be nipped out

I'm just wondering if I should nip them out as the plant grows? as my plants are quite small

Couple of pictures...









...Firstly are the little shoots in the pictures the ones that need taking off? and if so should I cut them off as the plant grows? or let the plants get bigger first?

Appreciate any advice

Matt

[DavidT]

If they are vine tomatoes you should check for side shoots every day and remove them. If growing bush tomatoes they need to be left alone.

[Matt_B]

Thanks David

Not 100% sure what you mean? but we are growing F1 millions, gardeners delight, some we got when on holiday in Venice and some freebies from a magazine

Guessing the vine type so will check for side shoots daily

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Matt, looking at your photo's you are growing indeterminate or cordon tomatoes also known as vine. Cordon varieties grow tall with a main central stem and quite a gap between the branches whereas determinate or bush varieties grow into a short bush with heavy foliage. The two varieties flower differently aswell. The flower truss grows from the main central stem on cordon varieties but on bush varieties the flower truss grows on the end of the branches. You should wait until after the first flower truss forms before starting to pinch out the side shoots on cordon varieties but never remove the side shoots from bush varieties. Both varieties need staking and I have found that the bush varieties need more than one cane to help support the weight of the tomatoes. I have found an image of a determinate bush tomato plant so you can see the difference.

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chic...nateTomato.png

[Matt_B]

Thank you Lesley

Exactly the explanation I needed

Going by previous years and growing simular tomatoes, they must be of the cordon type

[Matt_B]

In the end we just let nature take its course....




What a difference 2 months make!!

[Hollie the Wollie]

WOAH look at all of that! :0

[Matt_B]

Originally Posted by Hollie the Wollie

WOAH look at all of that! :0

Does look like a jungle!!

My babies are the ones in the teracotta looking pots

Can't believe I'm starting to call em babies don't tell my mates!!

[Reweed]

some healthy looking chilli plants there. my greenhouse is also full like that. have to remove everything to water the plants at the bvack.

[Hollie the Wollie]

Originally Posted by Matt_B

Does look like a jungle!!

My babies are the ones in the teracotta looking pots

Can't believe I'm starting to call em babies don't tell my mates!!

Hah! Im doing the same thing... I've even named my Pumpkin plants Pete & Petunia!

[Matt_B]

Originally Posted by Hollie the Wollie

Hah! Im doing the same thing... I've even named my Pumpkin plants Pete & Petunia!

Haha i'm not that advanced yet, i've got a few names for snails and slugs

[Matt_B]

Originally Posted by Reweed

some healthy looking chilli plants there. my greenhouse is also full like that. have to remove everything to water the plants at the bvack.

Thank you

Must admit the chillies and peppers are doing a lot better than previous years, only thing I can put it down to is the fertilizer i'm using this year

The only other difference is the dirt, we used john innes, but to be honest it's hard work wartering as the water sits on top then gradually soaks in, I think next year i'll mix the dirt with something? I have read vermiculite? is good but will see how many peppers and chillies we end up with this year before I start breaking things

Matt