In article , p.mc
writes

Well that's not much help is it. I'm new to gardening maybe someone out
there can be more descriptive as the first post implies thanks.

A tomato plant will send out a number of branches or stems which will
carry leaves only and will not bear fruit. It will also send out stems
which will carry a group of flower buds. Those buds will open up to be
pollinated, then they will die off and tomatoes will form into a truss
on the stem. Four or at most five of those trusses are usually
considered to be enough for one plant to carry and the top of the plant
is pinched out to prevent more of them forming. In addition, side-shoots
will form in the axils between the main stem and side stems. Those would
develop their own leaf and fruit bearing stems if left on, so they are
usually also pinched out unless a bush type of growth is intended.
All pinching out is optional and is dependant on the gardener's own
concept of how best to grow tomatoes.

Is that clear now?
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.