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Buffalo Steak tomato plants - side shoots

The2olliesThe2ollies Posts: 14
in Fruit & veg
Hello, I purchased some grafted Buffalo Steak plants this year and they are growing well! I have been checking daily for side shoots and removing them as they appear, but I am confused by two of the plants which appear to have either created a two-pronged growing tip, or one of them may be a side shoot. It is very close to the top of the plant but is already quite thick, which I’m surprised at. I am really lost as to whether I should remove or leave. Hope you can see from the photograph what I’m trying to show. I’m not an experienced gardener by the way! Many thanks! Sorry the picture is flipped - can’t get it to stay right way round 😂
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    There’s a glitch … if you trim a tiny bit off the photo it’ll stay the right way up. 😊 

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





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I don't grow that variety, but I do get the same on mine now and then.
    The one to remove is the one your finger is pointing at - you can see it's come from the leaf joint area.
    The other shoot hasn't, so leave that one.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • The2olliesThe2ollies Posts: 14
    Many thanks Pete.8! I had a feeling it had to go, but didn’t want to end up taking out the growing point! Thanks again.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It's not that important which you remove.
    Sometimes I break the top off a plant (rarely) I then let a side-shoot near the top grow to replace it.
    When one of mine does as yours has done I remove the one closest to a leaf joint

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • The2olliesThe2ollies Posts: 14
    Oh wow, that is great news thank you! They are such fabulous looking plants (already with huge flowers on) that I worried about killing it! You have helped me greatly for the future, thank you!
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    To be honest, I'm not convinced that it's important to remove side shoots from tomato plants, in my experience.

    This year I'm experimenting with leaving some on to grow full length, removing others, and letting some grow to flowers and then stopping them - all in a somewhat random, possibly intuitive unscientific way...

    If I remember rightly, I think my grafted Buffalo Steak is one that I'm removing most, but not all, of the side shoots from...
  • The2olliesThe2ollies Posts: 14
    Thank you Stephen. I grew Marmande last year (first time for a beefsteak). One or two side shoots got away and I had trouble trying to support the plant because of the weight of the fruit, but they kept on growing and producing! I’ve tried to get prepared this year with 3 canes around the plants and will monitor carefully. Thank you for your advice.
  • war garden 572war garden 572 Posts: 664
    leave the side-shoots alone they will produce more fruit. 
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    On heavy fruiting varieties I support the plant as normal, but also support the truss to take the weight of the fruit.

    This takes pressure off the plant and stops the truss from snapping.


  • The2olliesThe2ollies Posts: 14
    Thank you Sheps!
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