Supersweet Tomatoes - pinch off side shoots?

polb

Hi,

I planted some supersweet tomatoes a month ago..

Should I be pinching off the two bottom side shoots which are fairly big and continuing to do this each time any appear? Or are they too small to start doing this? They're currently inside where it's bright and warm!

This is my first attempt at growing tomatoes, so any tips/advice would be welcome :-)

Thank you!

Lyn

You do pick out side shoots with those but it will be a long time before they start to grow.  The side shoots appear where the leaves join the stems, when they are about an inch long just pinch them out with you thumb and finger. As I said, that won’t be for ages yet. 

polb

Ah right, so the two shoots with leaves at the bottom are not side shoots? I presume it will become apparent as they get bigger which shoots I need to pinch out? ..and I don't pinch them out until the shoots are an inch long..
Thank you :-)

Lyn

Here you are, a piccy🙂

Dovefromabove

The two shoots with leaves at the bottom are the 'seed leaves' or cotyledons.  They will die and drop off eventually ... the other leaves are 'proper leaves'.

You won't be getting 'side shoots' for a good while yet.  (or rather, your plants won't, not you ... you shouldn't ever get side shoots ... if you do, see a doctor  ). 

This is a good video which explains about removing tomato sideshoots, feeding and flowers etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L8h5Qh8OL0 

polb

Fab!! :-) Thank you, that's really helpful :-)

polb

Thanks Dovefromabove, that's also very helpful.. makes sense now!

Hopefully I won't be getting shoots!

Dovefromabove

If he has green fingers, you never know what might happen 

polb

Ok, I'll let you know!!