Pinch that off!
Make it go away?
This will be the first of many blogs on Tomato Plants. Please send your questions in and we will address them as they come in. I had someone ask about pinching a tomato plant. Why do you need to pinch a tomato plant? The tomato plant as it is growing and maturing, will put off extra branches called suckers, inbetween the main stem and the leaf stem. Those suckers need to be pinched out so the main leaf stem can get all the energy and nutrients to make the tomatoes. This process can make all the difference in the amount of fruit production, and the size of the fruit.
While we are here, I want to also remind you that the type of fertilizer can help or harm your plant and production. Make sure it is a tomato fertilizer with low nitrogen. Too much nitrogen can cause the plant to only create new plant and no fruit. Espoma makes the organic tomato tone that works extremely well.
Happy Tomatoes
#1 by Paula on June 23rd, 2009
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OK, I have a tomato question! We live in Alberta, Zone 2b (quite chilly, short growing season), and I am bravely trying to grow tomatoes in the garden. I already know about pinching, but a friend suggested something and I wanted to know your opinion of it. She said if I get clear garbage bags and put them over the tomato cages, it will be like a mini-greenhouse and they will thrive, thrive, thrive. Have you heard of this? What can you tell me about this practice, how hot does it have to be before I burn them, etc.
Thanks!!
#2 by KevinPigg on June 24th, 2009
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That will work, yes, but it will not take much to fry the plant. I know my normal greenhouse down here in TN, get up about 15 -20 degrees hotter than outside when the sun is out. Just be careful. If you have the time, you can put it on the last couple hours of the day and leave it all night, to lengthen the heat time of the day.