Tutorial with instructions, tips and tricks

Stingy shoots impair the quality of the harvest

Tomato plants form like Grapevines and peppers in their leaf axils are side shoots, which are called stingy shoots in horticulturists. Stingy shoots develop late, form plenty of leaf mass and hardly any flowers. On the other hand, the nose-wise side shoots demand valuable plant energy, which ultimately leads to small tomatoes.

Tomato gardeners with a thing for large fruits should plant the plants regularly maxed out. Those who delete this measure from the care plan are confronted with overly long, drooping side shoots that carry poor tomatoes. As if that weren't enough, the numerous leaves put ripening fruits in the shade, which also impairs the quality of the harvest.

Tomatoes on the stalks are regularly fined

Single-shoot tomatoes that are grown on a single shoot benefit primarily from regular pruning. On bushy branched varieties as well Balcony tomatoes the maintenance measure is not compulsory. Stingy instincts can be identified by their position, because they sprout from a leaf axil. The fork of the main shoot and the lateral fruit shoot is referred to as the leaf axilla. How to skimp on tomato plants properly:

• Taken twice a week from May to September
• Put on thin gloves to protect against the sap
• Hold tightness at the base between your thumb and forefinger
• Bend to one side until the petiole breaks off

Remove stinging instincts if possible timely. As long as an unwanted side shoot is still there soft two fingers are enough to break it out. If you missed the ideal appointment, it is better to cut off the shoots with a sharp, disinfected knife. Please be careful not to damage the main and fruit shoots of the plant tissue.

First stinging shoots after 4 weeks

In the first three to four weeks, most tomato plants still refrain from growing stingy shoots. Under ideal conditions, shoots from the leaf axils can be expected earlier. From the fourth week after planting at the latest, check your tomatoes for stinging shoots every three to four days. Pruning succeeds effortlessly as long as the shoots are still small with a height of five to eight centimeters.

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Stripping redirects the flow of juice

Main shoots cut if there is not enough space

Only a few home gardeners can offer their tomato plants unlimited space. Constantly smaller property areas and trendy urban gardening on the balcony call for strategic measures that regulate plant growth. Tiny varieties are not always an ideal option for tomato gardeners. The really juicy premium tomatoes thrive on expansive plants. Common gardening practice is targeted pruning to keep the growth of majestic stick and beefsteak tomatoes within limits. How to do it right:

• Tie the tomato plant to a support rod
• Ride up to the desired height
• Cut back the main shoot

When exactly a main shoot should be cut depends primarily on how tall the tomato plant is allowed to grow. The pruning measure makes sense when at least three to four lateral fruit shoots with flower roots have formed.

Cut off leaves close to the ground

According to a recognized study, the leaves achieve im upper third of a tomato plant round 80 percent of photosynthesis. In order to reduce energy consumption and encourage the growth of voluminous tomatoes, the foliage in the lower area should be removed. Another argument in favor of the measure is that the risk of disease is significantly reduced. The tomato plant thrives more airily and when watering, no splash water with pathogens in the luggage reaches the foliage. How to properly cut leaves on tomato plants:

• Remove all leaves near the ground on young plants up to a height of 25 to 35 cm
• Clean up sick leaves with spots and white deposits as soon as possible
• Preferably break off a sheet and not cut it off
• Grasp the base of the leaf with your fingers
• Bend slowly to one side until the petiole breaks

If you fear damage to the main shoot when you break off a large leaf with a strong stem, please use scissors. Before and after cutting a tomato plant, the blades should be carefully cleaned and disinfected with high-percentage alcohol. Thanks to this precaution, you effectively prevent the transmission of pathogens.

Digression

Foliage fulfills important tasks

Do not cut bush and balcony tomatoes

So far, stick tomatoes have provided around 70 percent of the world's harvest. In the private kitchen garden, however, there are bush and Cocktail tomatoes on the rise. The shrubby growing tomato plants take up little space, do not require a climbing aid and are extremely easy to care for.

Home gardeners appreciate that neither leaves close to the ground nor stinging shoots need to be removed here. The bushy, richly branched growth also makes it unnecessary to shorten the main shoot. On the contrary, bush and Balcony tomatoes never be cut back. Like us law the Top funding teaches to put an end to those that remain small anyway Varieties of tomatoes their increase in height when a cut removes the dominant bud.

frequently asked Questions

Can I grow new tomato plants from stingy shoots?

In every stingy instinct there is the potential for a magnificent tomato plant. In view of the short vegetation period in our regions, stingy shoots are particularly suitable, which you break out by the end of June. Choose strong shoots with multiple leaves without flowers. In the dark glass with clean water, the rooting takes about a week. Then pot each cutting in the bed or in a bucket Tomato soil.

I planted wild tomatoes in my near-natural garden. Should I max these tomato plants or not?

Wild tomatoes, such as the popular 'red marble', branch out profusely. Over the course of the summer, new inflorescences form continuously, giving you numerous, marble-sized tomatoes. If you were to max out these tomato plants, the harvest yield would be significantly lower. Our recommendation: just let wild tomatoes grow.

The leaves on our tomato plant are covered with brown spots. A whitish mushroom lawn can be seen on the underside. What to do?

The symptoms described indicate an early stage of late blight and brown rot. As an immediate measure, you should cut off all noticeably diseased leaves and dispose of them in the household waste. So that other tomato plants do not become infected with the disease, please pay close attention to the cleanliness of the cutting tool. Clean the blades with hot water and disinfect them with spirit or sagrotan.

My beefsteak tomatoes should grow as freely and uncut as possible. Which climbing aids are recommended to reduce cutting and pruning to a minimum?

Tomato plants do not have organs of attachment and are dependent on a climbing aid. Galvanized steel spiral rods have proven themselves well in practice. The sinuous shape guarantees excellent stabilization of the tendrils and at the same time ensures growth that is flooded with light. Alternatively, tomato gardeners like to use bamboo tubes and wooden sticks with a diameter of 20 millimeters or more. In the greenhouse, thick ropes attached to the ceiling serve as a space-saving climbing aid for mighty beefsteak tomatoes.

Our tomato plants are a victim of the sheep's cold and frozen to death. Are there any prospects for a rescue?

Sudden weather conditions let the thermometer drop below freezing point even at the beginning of June. Young tomato plants are helpless in the cold snap. The shoots hang limply, leaves change color and leaf margins curl up. Before disposing of a frozen tomato plant, give it the opportunity to regenerate. To do this, cut off all the affected parts of the plant and wait for a while. If a fresh shoot appears, the tomato plant has coped with the damage caused by the cold. Without renewed growth, the frozen plant is disposed of.

The 3 most common mistakes

Without a regulating cut, mighty tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes turn into dense shrubbery with sparse fruit drapes. However, if you cut back your bush and vine tomatoes, you will struggle with small plants. This overview summarizes common omissions in the pruning of tomatoes and gives tips for an informed prevention:

Tips

Tomato clippings are the ideal mulch material. Do not carelessly toss removed shoots and cut leaves on the compost heap. Simply chop into manageable pieces and spread on the ground under a tomato plant. In the course of decomposition, the natural one gives Tomato mulch valuable nutrients to the roots.