July 12.
Please could somebody help me to know what to do about tomato plants that
need to have their
side shoots taken away. I don't know what to do.
Any web sites etc would be a great help. preferably with some photo's
Thanks Anthony

In article , anto
writes
July 12.
Please could somebody help me to know what to do about tomato plants that
need to have their
side shoots taken away. I don't know what to do.
Any web sites etc would be a great help. preferably with some photo's

Tomato side shoots which need to be removed are the ones which grow in
joints between the main stem and leaf stems. Each leaf stem joint will
develop a shoot which resembles a very small tomato plant. They can be
picked out by hand and the job needs to be done every day at this time
of the year.

If the plant is being grown as a cordon, i.e. a single tall stem, the
shoots should all be removed. That is often done in greenhouses where
space is at a premium and larger tomatoes are wanted. If a shorter
bushier plant is required, the side shoots can be left on and the plant
will grow a lot more smaller tomatoes. That is often done with outdoor
grown tomatoes.

Side shoots can be set into soil or potted up. They will grow into new
tomato plants of the same type as the parent plant. That is often done
when earlier plants have been lost or not enough were started. They can
provide a later crop of tomatoes after the main crop is finished if they
are given sufficient temperature etc.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.