h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

H, do you nip out the tops of young tomato plants? I've a vague memory you do but it's so long since I've grown them. I've actually already done it so it's too late if I shouldn't have but I might get another three at work tomorrow.
Waz

Waz, I have never pinched back my tomatoes. But I do pinch out the sucker shoots that develop as the plants mature. This results in fewer but larger tomatoes. These start growing between other branches. I wish I could draw you a picture. If you have two branches at a 90 degree angle to each other, the sucker shoot is the one that grows at a 45 degree angle between them.

You can pinch back any young plants to make them bushier. What you do is take the top set of leaves off. You have to make sure you don't start when the plant is too young. Be sure you leave at least two sets of leaves below your pinch - three sets would be better. Pinching out the top encourages side branching.

Hope that helps.

H

Cheers H. I'll see what happens - they were at least big enough. I had an idea it would encourage more flowers. Perhaps it's something to do later given the shortish summers here. Make the plant concentrate on the fruit instead of growing higher? But it might just grow more branches.

I understand what you're saying about suckers. Your descriptions very clear and I didn't know about that.

I'll get three more plants anyway. There's room in the mini greenhouse and you can't have too many tomatoes.

Agreed. Impossible to have too many.