How to properly pinch out side-sonning tomatoes in a greenhouse

For any fruit to fully ripen, attention must be paid to the plant from the seed stage to full maturity. Only then can one expect the highest quality product in large quantities. Tomatoes are no exception to this rule. One of the keys to successful, timely ripening is proper pruning of tomato plants in the greenhouse. This procedure can be crucial for growing fruit in a greenhouse.

Content

1 Why do you need to pinch out tomatoes?
2 Schemes: how to pinch correctly
- 2.1 General rules
3 Varieties and methods of forming tomato bushes
4 Video: "Forming Tomato Bushes in a Greenhouse"

Why do you need to pinch out tomatoes?

Pinching out side shoots means pinching off any extra shoots that inevitably appear on every plant. In tomatoes, these can be seen in the axil between the stem and the leaf. This procedure is performed to:

give the plant enough light;
improve ventilation;
reduce the risk of late blight;
extend the fruiting period;
ensure that each fruit ripens fully.

Improved fruit quality and quantity occur because all the nutrients reach their intended destinations. If excess shoots are not pinched promptly, nutrients will be distributed evenly throughout the plant. Additional shoots and leaves will waste energy that could otherwise contribute to more developed fruits. Experience shows that if you pinch tomatoes correctly, you can increase the yield by 2–2.5 times. This is a significant argument that convinces more and more vegetable growers to carry out this procedure.

Schemes: how to pinch correctly

Vegetable growers choose for themselves which bush is best to shape. They come in the following varieties:

single-stemmed;
two-stemmed;
three-stemmed.

Experienced growers disagree on which type is best for greenhouse conditions. Some believe a single stem is optimal. Others argue that more stems equals a larger harvest. Beginners can experiment and decide for themselves whether each method is effective.

Possible schemes for pinching out tomato shoots

A single-stem tomato plant is trained as follows: only one shoot is left, and all others are removed. When training a two-stem plant, the main shoot is left, and then the most developed shoot is selected. All other shoots should be removed. The same principle applies when training a three-stem plant.

General rules

There are certain recommendations that must be followed. Even something as simple as pruning excess shoots must be done correctly. The following tips are helpful:

Side-sonning is most successful when shoots are approximately 7–10 cm long. Otherwise, the plant can be damaged, and it will take a long time to recover from such a harsh intervention.

It's best to perform the procedure in the morning, when the plant is at its most lush and easily manipulated. By evening, the cut site will have completely healed.

When removing side shoots, don't break off the entire stem. It's best to leave a 1-cm stub. This significantly delays the formation of new shoots.

Any bush formation scheme requires a consistent pinching schedule. Ideally, every 7 days, maximum 10 days.

Varieties and methods of forming tomato bushes

There are the following main types of varieties based on bush height:

indeterminate;
semi-determinate;
determinant.

A distinctive feature of indeterminate varieties is their unlimited growth. These plants require particularly careful pinching, as they grow rapidly and produce numerous side shoots. For indeterminate varieties, a single stem is the best option. For polycarbonate greenhouses, which provide ample space for growth, a double-stemmed plant can be used. When the second stem begins to produce flower clusters, it's best to leave four to five of them, and remove the rest, including basal shoots.

Semi-determinate varieties differ from determinate varieties in their maximum height—180 cm. The best training scheme is two to three stems. These plants require careful pruning of excess shoots. When this process occurs, the main shoot often stops growing. Therefore, it's important to take your time and wait until the plant reaches its full height.

Determinate tomatoes include all varieties of low-growing tomatoes. They are typically grown in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate or other materials. Open ground is also an excellent environment for these varieties, producing a bountiful harvest. Determinate tomatoes do not require pinching. This is the most popular type of tomato.

For determinate varieties, there's a special method for obtaining an early harvest. To do this:

Remove all stepsons.
Leave only 2 or 3 inflorescences.
After the last inflorescence has bloomed, the top of the main stem is pinched off and only a few leaves of determinate plants are left.

We hope that the advice provided will help you grow fruit more effectively.

Video: "Forming Tomato Bushes in a Greenhouse"

This video will help you understand how to properly remove side shoots from plants and shape the bushes of different tomato varieties in a greenhouse.