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''Pinching'' out Tomatoes

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  • ''Pinching'' out Tomatoes

    Can anyone explain to me how to pinch out tomatoes to make them bushier please? I'm new to growing my own and don't know where abouts I should be doing it - in some detail if poss please!

  • #2
    I will watch this thread with interest, my toms are getting quite big now
    Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over
    here, looking through your stuff.

    http://mustardveggie.blogspot.com/

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    • #3
      When the tomato grows up straight there is always a leading shoot that is going to grow higher and higher.
      If you take this shoot and pinch it out " ie, take it right out " then that is what is called, pinching out.
      This makes the tomato plant throw out side shoots rather than growing taller.
      Don't know if i have explained it well enough but maybe someone else can explain it better.

      And when your back stops aching,
      And your hands begin to harden.
      You will find yourself a partner,
      In the glory of the garden.

      Rudyard Kipling.sigpic

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      • #4
        What sort of toms are you growing?

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        • #5
          There are only certain types of tomato that you really need to prune and these are Intermediate types or cordon or upright, and to do this you remove the side shoots, these grow between the stem and a truss (these side shoots are typically at a 45 degree or so angle), just pinch them out with your finger.
          For other types of tomato you could remove yellow or decaying material and later on in the season you could remove some material to provide more light (and airflow)

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          • #6
            So when would I take out the growing tip on a cordon tom? when it has set fruit and before it gets to triffid size presumably?
            WPC F Hobbit, Shire police

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            • #7
              Originally posted by TEB View Post
              There are only certain types of tomato that you really need to prune and these are Intermediate types or cordon or upright, and to do this you remove the side shoots, these grow between the stem and a truss (these side shoots are typically at a 45 degree or so angle), just pinch them out with your finger.
              For other types of tomato you could remove yellow or decaying material and later on in the season you could remove some material to provide more light (and airflow)
              If you let the side shoots get to about 1.5" long, you can use them as cuttings should you need any replacement plants. They grow really quickly and soon catch up with the parent plant.

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              • #8
                After about 6-8 trusses is what I do

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by TEB View Post
                  After about 6-8 trusses is what I do
                  ok thanks
                  WPC F Hobbit, Shire police

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                  • #10
                    I found this page very helpful.
                    There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those that understand binary and those that don't.

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                    • #11
                      My tomato is as tall as me and only has one set of flowers. I'm going to need a ladder to take out the top by the time it has half a dozen

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                      • #12
                        Do they ever grow any more flowers lower down?, or do they only add flowers as they go upward?
                        Living off grid and growing my own food in Bulgaria.....

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                        • #13
                          the picture on this page is also very good.

                          Pruning Tomatoes - Fine Gardening Article
                          www.myspace.com/alexfcooke
                          www.outofthecool.com
                          http://polytunneldiaries.blogspot.com/

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                          • #14
                            For cordon varieties it is important to be vigillant and pinch all side shoots out otherwise you end up with a sprawling messy plant which ultimately collapses with the weight of fruit (as mentioned in the excellent link posted by Duronal). Even so called bush tomatoes which you just let grow will need support and trimming unless you want most of the produce on the ground as slug food.

                            Those like TEB who grow to 8 trusses must have monster high plants. Six is my maximum.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by tamsin View Post
                              My tomato is as tall as me and only has one set of flowers. I'm going to need a ladder to take out the top by the time it has half a dozen
                              Tamsin, if it's that tall already and has only one truss setting on it, it sounds odd.

                              Where are you and how tall are you - if the tomato is indoors it sounds well and truly forced and should be pinched out now if it's that tall. One of the reasons you only have one truss so far is the plant is putting all its energy into growing upwards and little into setting fruit.
                              TonyF, Dordogne 24220

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