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Posted by Gem (U13964749) on Thursday, 24th June 2010
Someone please help, I am such a muddle with my tomato plants. I am growing, harbinger, ailsa craig and roma, am I right that I pinch out the side shoots with harbinger and ailsa craig but the roma is a bush and I leave them ?
Thanks
Gem
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by springfieldbean (U14520014) on Thursday, 24th June 2010
I have roma too, and have found loads of conflicting advice about whether to pinch out the shoots, so I'd love to hear the answer too!
I thought you didn't, because it's a bush variety, but then my mum came round and promptly pinched them out, so I hope that hasn't ruined it!
Hi, With the cordon (upright) tomatoes all sideshoots are removed, with bush types sideshoots are left on though later in the season they can be pinched out to allow the plant to put it's energy into producing the fruit instead of more growth.
And if you're not sure whether your toms a determinate or indeterminate, bush or cordons, grow them as cordons, ie with support and pinching out the side shoots.
My bush toms are supported too. They're in cages made from sheep netting! Wild, man!
I have pinches all mine except the tumbling one that I have hung up in the greenhouse, joanne
I'm growing roma this year and understood that you do not pinch, but my husband thought he was being helpful the other day and came indoors with a handful of long shoots saying 'you are not looking after your tomatoes very well, look at the side shoots I've just taken off them!' I could have strangled him! Nearly told him he's banned from the veg patch, but remembered that he helps me with humping the watering cans each evening. Hope mine are not affected as well!
I've been experimenting with Roma over the past 3 years. 1st year I pinched out, last year I left well alone and this year I am pinching out again.
Last year the crop was absolute rubbish - not enough for a single batch of salsa.
This year all looking good again with lots of toms and plenty ready to pick.
I will be pinching out every year from now on.
Sounds as if I'll be thanking my husband after all!(shame I hate to be wrong!)
Hmm. It looks as though I should have been pinching mine after all then. Since Mum came round a few weeks ago and pinched them out, I haven't touched them so now they've grown back and are really big and bushy. Is it too late to pinch them out now?
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