Okay, I really am new to all this. Here is a tomato question. What's a side shoot? What does it look like and what what will happen if I don't pinch them out? The first picture is, I think, where I missed the chance to do some pinching. The second picture is what I guess it should look like? What will happen next? Will I only get half tomatoes?
4 comments:
Easy Tiger!...You're right to be alert to the side shoot's issue, but your being a little premature I think.
You shouldn't worry about this until they are planted out and staked. Then as the plant matures you will see "side shoots" appear, where the main leaf stem joins the stalk...in the "armpit" of the main leaf stems in other words. These are what need to come out.
Here's a useful link, with diagrams.
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_july_1b_tomato.asp
Good to find another allotment blog though mate!... Am chewing the table with frustration until I can get restarted myself.
Best
GM
Ok cheers. I'll keep a look out. There will be no side shoots while I am on watch!
One thing I didn't know about when I first grew tomatoes was to pinch out the top when the plants got to the right height so that the energy goes into producing flowers/fruit rather than the plant carrying on getting taller and taller. I pinch the top off my tomato plants (which are grow outdoors, not in a green house) when they get to about 30 inches tall.
I didn't know what side shoots were either in that first year - unsurprisingly I didn't see any fruit! You live and learn though.
I read that tagetes are a good companion plant for tomatoes as they attract the pests away for your precious tomatoes. I'm growing some tagetes from seed this year to plant around the edge of the tomato bed.
Good luck!
cheers I will check them out! Lack of space in the house mean that the tomatoes have been sent outside already. This weekend is lovely and warm but I might need to rescue them if the weather turns again.
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