Help with tomatoes and pumpkins needed

[DragonMistWitch]

I am VERY new to growing fruit and veg and am on a steep learning curve. I have recently planted out some Roma and Ildi tomatoes. Do I need to remove some of the side shoots? I have been told some varieties you do and some you don't. Any help would be much appreciated.
Also I planted a pumpkin out and the slugs have had a really good go at it. Will it be ok, or do I need to start again? I have put in a couple of slug traps today and dug out a frog pond, which I will finish tomorrow. Any other tips for combating the dreaded slugs without chemicals if possible? Thanks guys xx

[Potstubsdustbins]

Both Roma and Ildi are cordon toms so the side shoots should be removed. Having said that I had a mate who grew Ildi as a bush very successfully.

As to slugs/snails I am a blue pellet man so afraid I can't help there.

Colin

[taff]

slugs - salt, bran, beer traps, scissors, eggshells, oats, vaseline, copper [slow worms if you're lucky enough] ....take your pick

[Two_Sheds]

Frogs prefer worms to slugs ... sorry

( I keep several planks of wood on my lotty, dotted about. The slugs congregate underneath, I flip 'em over, give them a good salting ... job's a good un)

[Feral007]

Chooks? of course, like the frogs prefering worms to slugs, the chooks may prefer your plants to slugs as well.
I'd just drink a bit more beer so that you had plenty left over for the slug traps.

[eirish]

I was eyeballing some wool pellets for slugs in the garden centre yesterday - they looked very interesting. I may have to try them out.

[RedThorn]

Cheap t3sco beer in ramekins. Plank's as ts said and an after dark torchlit massacre