To Pinch, To Slice, To Cut

[hamsterhead]

What are your preferred methods of removing unwanted side shoots and growing tips on veg plants such as tomatoes, courgettes, and pumpkins thus causing less damage and stress to the plant. Is pinching out with thumb and forefinger best, or slice off with a sharp knife or cut with secateurs. Does it all depend on the size of the shoots? I tend to use all three at the moment.

[hamsterqueen]

I tend to pinch them out as I am passing, not organised enough to think about it beforehand!

[zazen999]

All 3 depending on the spikiness of the plant - squashes are seceteured whilst toms are pinched out

[Alison]

Unless they've got really big I always pinch out with my fingers on toms. Very rarely ever want to remove on squashes etc but if I do I'll use seceteurs.

[rustylady]

A mix of all 3. Finger and thumb if spotted small enough.

[hamsterhead]

Looks like I need to grow my nails but I ain't painting nail varnish on 'em!

[coreopsis]

Depends on the length of my fingernails

[piskieinboots]

I don't have long nails HH and I'm still a successful pincher

[coreopsis]

I don't have long nails HH and I'm still a successful pincher

Depends on what(or whom) are you pinchin

[gojiberry]

My thumb nails tend to be kept slightly on the long side just for pinching out and reducing the length of stems etc. Even strong enough for dead heading roses.

Ian

[hamsterhead]

I used to grow my nails to play the guitar (very badly), I didn't realise I had to grow them to get dirt underneath! Tried pinching last night and another surprise, prickles and mini spike things on the pumpkins! Bloomin' 'Eck, trials and tribulations of being a new grower. Good job I joined this forum. Thanks for all your help and patience.