Pinching out side shoots applies to indeterminate varieties - aka cordon varieties, varieties that aren't bush varieties - in general. The type of fruit - cherry, beefsteak, whatever - doesn't matter. GD is an indeterminate variety so it's best to pinch out the side shoots.
Pinching out - or not pinching out - side shoots has no impact on the size of the fruit you get. Size is determined by genetics and, to an extent, growing conditions. The reason you pinch out side shoots is to control the size of the plant and the number of growing tips. Most side shoots will develop into a growing tip. The rule of thumb is that indeterminate toms do best with two growing tips.
trying to grow beef tomatoes this year but the fruits are lumpy underside (like warts)and also going brown and soft. What am I doing wrong. do they require any special treatment.
For 2 years now, the blossoms have dropped off my toms and cukes in the greenhouse. I keep the temp about 80 deg. I live at 7,600 altitude in Colorado.
GRAFTED TOMATOES DO NO DO VERY WELL IN GROW BAGS AS THEY ARE TOO SHALLOW, IF YOU HAVE TO USE BAGS TURN THEM ON THEIR SIDES AND PUT ONLY TWO PLANTS PER BAG AND FEED WELL , GET SOME SULPHATE OF POTASH POWDER AND ADD TO WATER CAN AS DIRECTED AND GIVE THIS AS A ADDED FEED ONCE EVERY WEEK OR TWO. IF YOU HAVE A SOIL BED IN THE GREENHOUSE GET SOME UNWANTED POTS FROM YOUR LOCAL CHIP SHOP OR TAKE AWAY CUT THE BOTTOMS OFF AND AND PUT THEM IN THE BED AND FIIL WITH COMPOST AND PLANT THE TOMATO PLANT IN THE BOTTOM AND AS IT GROWS ADD COMPOSTTO COVER THE FIRST TWO SETS OF LEAVES THESE WILL SPROUT ROOTS GIVING THE PLANTLOTS OF ROOT GROWTH AND BIGGER PLANTS MORE TOMATOES,
I have planted four varieties of Tomato seed on the 2nd Feb in the Seven cell mini propagator and already they are up so I have taken the lids off and put the cells in a bigger propagaor, and Marigolds are up as well. Next week I will bring the propagator in to the kitchen and transplant them individually into 3" pots then put them back in the large propagator with the lid on and the vents half open and plug the power cable back in the greenhouse. Put some bubble wrap around the propagator leaving the top to get full light. It worked well last year 100% no loss of plants at all. I am thinking of feeding them additionally with Epson salts, will it benefit?.
Last year I grew tomato plants in the greenhouse. They turned into monsters and the fruit was horrible. It was only at the end of the season I reread the plant feed. Dilute a capful in however many litres of water it was. I'd somehow confused the instructions with another plant feed I was using. I was giving the plants a capful of feed direct to the base of the plant. Weekly. Always read the label then reread. Lol.
Flicksie, Epsom Salts are only useful if there's a magnesium deficiency. If you're using a decent potting mix it won't be a problem. Best not to feed with anything at this early stage.
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Pinching out side shoots applies to indeterminate varieties - aka cordon varieties, varieties that aren't bush varieties - in general. The type of fruit - cherry, beefsteak, whatever - doesn't matter. GD is an indeterminate variety so it's best to pinch out the side shoots.
Pinching out - or not pinching out - side shoots has no impact on the size of the fruit you get. Size is determined by genetics and, to an extent, growing conditions. The reason you pinch out side shoots is to control the size of the plant and the number of growing tips. Most side shoots will develop into a growing tip. The rule of thumb is that indeterminate toms do best with two growing tips.
Last year I grew tomato plants in the greenhouse. They turned into monsters and the fruit was horrible. It was only at the end of the season I reread the plant feed. Dilute a capful in however many litres of water it was. I'd somehow confused the instructions with another plant feed I was using. I was giving the plants a capful of feed direct to the base of the plant. Weekly.
Always read the label then reread. Lol.
Flicksie, Epsom Salts are only useful if there's a magnesium deficiency. If you're using a decent potting mix it won't be a problem. Best not to feed with anything at this early stage.