Tomatoes - pinching side shoots?

Jordan Carter

Hi everyone, 

This is my first year growing tomatoes (Alicante) and I have a couple of questions. I've read online and on the back of the seed packet to pinch out side shoots of the plant, however, I haven't done this. 

I'm not really sure which part? I've attached a photo, with the green line showing the main stem, but I'm not sure which parts the side shoots are, the red or the blue circles? 

What do I do, just cut them? Have I left it too late now, will it damage the plant?

Sorry, I'm still very new to this! 

EDIT - photo won't upload for some reason. Here is a link showing the photo - https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0TGfnH8tY2qca

Last edited: 04 July 2016 21:47:11

pansyface

HAVEN'T GOT THE PICTURE BUT THE BIT YOU OINCH OUT IS THE LITTLE SHOOT WHICH GROWS FROM WHERE THE LEAF STALK MEETS THE STEM.

Last edited: 04 July 2016 21:49:29

Ladybird4

Sorry Jordan but your link doesn't work. pansyface is right. You can just snap off the little shoots at the base where they appear between the leaves and the main stem. Snapping is easier than pinching.

Jordan Carter

Ladybird4 says:

Sorry Jordan but your link doesn't work. pansyface is right. You can just snap off the little shoots at the base where they appear between the leaves and the main stem. Snapping is easier than pinching.

See original post

 Here's the photo - I assume we are talking about the blue circles?

Last edited: 04 July 2016 22:02:50

Flyfifer

Hi Jordan the red circles are the side shoots just nip them off

michael mpc

hi Jordon carter       when plants have about 4 trusses on take of some of the lower leaves but not ones with flowers on   it lets more cool air get to plants  (  hope I have not confused you  )   michael

Dovefromabove

This shows you how to pinch out the side shoots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtFnORJBQ90 

If you've left it a bit late and the side shoots are quite large I find it's best to cut them out with a sharp small-bladed knife.

Hope that helps 

BLT

I found if I nipped off those liittle shoots, I could get them to grow another plant .. But its a bit late in the season now...  I did it within a couple of weeks of planting the main plants..

This year I have only got a couple of Alicante so have not bothered... My main ones are Gardeners Delight.

Last edited: 05 July 2016 12:29:55

Fairygirl

BLT - I've done that in the past too and given them to people to grow on  

You're right though, you need to get them early on really.

BLT

Yes Fairy girl I never told my buddies how I got the plants, they accepted them and they grew well too. Paying £1.50p for an organic plant is steep so any lil tricks that help, we try to use..

Last edited: 05 July 2016 22:43:13

Fairygirl

Gardener's delight is what I usually grow BLT. They're very reliable and I always seem to get a decent crop 

I've experimented a bit with them too - different sizes of pots, keeping them shorter by pinching out sooner, less food/water - they seem to adapt and thrive whatever I inflict on them!