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Supersweet Tomatoes - pinch off side shoots?

polbpolb Posts: 198
in Fruit & veg
Hi,

I planted some supersweet tomatoes a month ago..

Should I be pinching off the two bottom side shoots which are fairly big and continuing to do this each time any appear? Or are they too small to start doing this? They're currently inside where it's bright and warm!

This is my first attempt at growing tomatoes, so any tips/advice would be welcome :-)

Thank you!



Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You do pick out side shoots with those but it will be a long time before they start to grow.  The side shoots appear where the leaves join the stems, when they are about an inch long just pinch them out with you thumb and finger. As I said, that won’t be for ages yet. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • polbpolb Posts: 198
    Ah right, so the two shoots with leaves at the bottom are not side shoots? I presume it will become apparent as they get bigger which shoots I need to pinch out? ..and I don't pinch them out until the shoots are an inch long..
    Thank you :-)
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Here you are, a piccy🙂
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited April 2018
    The two shoots with leaves at the bottom are the 'seed leaves' or cotyledons.  They will die and drop off eventually ... the other leaves are 'proper leaves'.

    You won't be getting 'side shoots' for a good while yet.  (or rather, your plants won't, not you ... you shouldn't ever get side shoots ... if you do, see a doctor  ;) ). 

    This is a good video which explains about removing tomato sideshoots, feeding and flowers etc

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L8h5Qh8OL0 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • polbpolb Posts: 198
    Fab!! :-) Thank you, that's really helpful :-)
  • polbpolb Posts: 198
    edited April 2018
    Thanks Dovefromabove, that's also very helpful.. makes sense now!

    Hopefully I won't be getting shoots! :D
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If he has green fingers, you never know what might happen  ;)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • polbpolb Posts: 198
    Ok, I'll let you know!! B)
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