Growing tomatoes: how, when and how many times to plant tomatoes? At what time of day should you carry out the procedure of pinching tomatoes?

In this article we will look at the importance and correctness of pinching tomatoes. Let's consider this procedure on different types of tomatoes, and also learn about the frequency and timing of pinching.

Working in the garden and vegetable garden is hard, but rewarding work. All efforts and efforts then pay off and are returned in the form of a rich harvest. However, working with crops on a personal plot is not limited to planting, watering and harvesting. From the moment seedlings are planted in the ground until the harvest appears, gardeners carry out a huge number of other important procedures. One of these procedures is pinching tomatoes.

What are the “stepchildren” of tomatoes?

Perhaps all beginning gardeners and summer residents ask this question. And this is quite logical, because there is a lot of information about the stepson procedure and, therefore, you need to know what exactly its meaning is and what needs to be stepsoned.

• Stepchildren are new branches of a plant that begin to grow from each leaf axil.
• These branches are considered minor and require a lot of energy and nutrients to grow. Therefore, as a rule, there is no need to leave such branches on the bushes.

Stepson

• Moreover, if you leave such shoots on the plant, after a while you will see that stepsons are formed on them, and this risks the fact that you will get a beautiful green bush, and not a rich harvest.

Carrying out stepsoning

Removal of stepsons is usually achieved by hand without the use of a cutting tool. When using knives, there is a risk of transferring infection from one bush to another and causing a wound at the cut site. However, with a large greenhouse farm it is impossible to do without tools. In principle, you can cut off the stepsons, but with precautions.

Before growing tomatoes in a greenhouse (step by step) by cutting, you need to remember the following:

1. The tool is sharpened to a razor sharp state.
2. The cutting part is disinfected with a solution of bleach or potassium permanganate.
3. With a quick and precise movement, the stepson is cut at a distance of 10-15 mm from the base, without damaging the main branch.
4. All the shoots on one bush are cut off, and the removed stems are immediately placed in a separate container and taken out of the greenhouse, which avoids rotting and the spread of infection.
5. New instrument disinfection is necessary. This operation is carried out every time you move to a new bush.

When providing the necessary care for tomatoes, it is important to clearly distinguish the stepson from the fruiting stem. The following are the most important differences:

• leaves are immediately noticeable on the stepson, while flower ovaries are visible on the stem;
• the stepson grows from the leaf axil, and the fruiting vine branches only from the stem;
• the most obvious difference is when the length of the stepson is about 4-5 cm.

Pinching is rightly considered an important agrotechnical measure when growing tomatoes both in greenhouses and in the garden. This simple but painstaking work requires extreme care and caution, but the stepson tomato produces a bountiful harvest and tasty, full-fledged fruits.

Is it necessary and why to plant tomatoes?

Even from the above information, one can draw a logical conclusion - you need to plant tomatoes . But, firstly, it is worth saying that not all, since there are varieties that do not need it or do not need it so much. And, secondly, stepsoning makes sense only if it is carried out correctly.

• So, by pinching we mean the process of removing unnecessary secondary shoots that constantly appear on the plant. The growth of such additional shoots requires quite a lot of energy and the plant gives it away, not leaving it for more necessary processes.
• If you do not carry out this procedure, the bush will become very lush, beautiful, green, but the plant will spend all its energy on maintaining this imaginary beauty, and not on the harvest and its ripening.
• By cutting off additional branches, we correctly distribute all the nutrients that are in the bush. In this case, resources will be spent only on the fruits and the leaves that feed them.
• It is also worth noting that this procedure makes it possible to obtain an earlier harvest.

Which leaves and when should be removed from tomatoes?

Old, yellowing and spotted leaves should be removed first. After them, it is worth lightening the bushes from time to time - cutting out leaves that face the north side, or are located in the depths of the bush, or in the shade of other bushes. Such a shaded leaf will still not give us much benefit in terms of photosynthesis, and by removing excess leaves, we will improve the overall ventilation of the planting, especially if we are talking about a greenhouse.

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How to properly carry out the procedure for planting tomatoes?

As mentioned earlier, only the procedure that is carried out correctly, taking into account all the recommendations, will be beneficial. Despite this, many people believe that there is nothing difficult about cutting off extra branches.

• The first thing to note is that you need to fight additional shoots when necessary. The procedure must be carried out on time, otherwise the plant will suffer greatly. Those stepsons that have reached a size of 3-5 cm and no more are considered to be removed in time. Such shoots are not yet dangerous for the bush, they do not waste much of its energy, and their removal will not bring much suffering to the entire plant.
• The very first procedure should be carried out approximately 2 weeks after the seedlings are in the ground. Next, you need to control the situation and watch how the plant behaves. Stepchildren will definitely appear again, and they will also need to be removed. Further, this procedure will need to be carried out approximately once every 2 weeks.
• How should stepchildren be removed? Everything is quite simple here. You can use scissors for this procedure or do it all by hand. The shoot needs to be removed by tearing it to the side, not down or up, as this can damage the skin of the plant. That is why it is better for novice gardeners to cut crops using disinfected scissors. It is recommended to disinfect scissors after each circumcision.

Stepsoning

• When breaking out the shoot, be careful and be sure to leave a small “stump”, 2-2.5 cm in size. If you do not do this, then a new stepson will very soon grow from the same place.
• On the eve of the procedure, in the evening, water the tomato bushes that you will be planting, and carry out the procedure itself the next morning. In the morning, you need to do everything as early as possible, before the burning rays of the sun begin to affect the leaves of the plant.

How to grow roots on stepchildren

For the roots to appear, the stepsons are kept in warm water. There should not be too much of it, otherwise the stems below will begin to rot. A level of 3-4 cm in height is sufficient. It is not necessary to use heteroauxin and other growth stimulants - tomatoes produce roots well even without special preparations.

There is no need to put many stepsons in one container, as this can cause them to deteriorate. Ten pieces will be enough. It is also necessary to trim the lower leaves, otherwise they will rot from contact with moisture.

It is advisable to cover the container with stepsons with a large transparent bag to create increased humidity. This will make it easier for the cuttings to hold out until their roots grow. The bag should not be airtight; small holes must be made in it for ventilation. It is also important to ensure that the leaves do not touch it. There should be a gap of 10 cm between them and the bag.

The first couple of days, stepchildren may look drooping. In order for them to recover faster, at this time they must be protected from direct sunlight, although the place should be bright.

The water in the jar needs to be changed every 3 days, and the fresh portion should be warm.

In a week, roots will grow on the stems, and the stepsons can be planted in the garden. There are no strict rules regarding the size of roots. Usually, planting begins when they reach a length of 1.5-2 cm. However, strongly grown roots, reminiscent of a long beard, will not become an obstacle to successful transplantation.

How to properly plant low-growing tomato varieties?

It is low-growing tomatoes that are most often planted in open ground. It must be said that for such tomatoes their bushiness is not a problem, quite the contrary. The amount of future harvest depends on the number of branches.

• On such bushes it is definitely necessary to remove additional branches, but not all grown stepsons will be removed. Because if you cut them all off, the plant may stop growing. Therefore, leave one stepchildren on each side evenly.
• When there are quite a lot of shoots on such bushes, take each shoot and carefully move it away from the bush, then pin all the shoots to the ground and cover them with soil. In this case, the shoots will take root and there will be much more bushes.

• If you want such varieties to produce a faster and larger harvest, then plant them into 2-3 stems, that is, removing almost all additional shoots and leaving only 2-3 stems.
• Some experienced summer residents claim and prove in practice that low-growing tomatoes do not need to be planted, but for this it is necessary that the plants have all the necessary conditions, including good weather conditions, which naturally do not depend on us.

Tomato planting mode: when and how often

Stepchildren begin to hatch while the seedlings are still growing, so you can pick (prun) them immediately after planting the plants in the ground. Since the shoots are still very short and thin, the plant will tolerate their loss without problems.

Experienced gardeners recommend pinching before lunch: it has been noticed that in the morning shoots break off more easily, and the injured stem regenerates faster. The optimal time is from 9 to 11 am. It is also possible to carry out the procedure in cloudy weather, but not in case of excessive air humidity.

The period of stepsoning is the entire growing season (from spring to autumn), that is, the stepsons will have to be removed regularly, about once a week. If you leave everything to chance even for a short while, planting tomatoes can turn into a real green jungle.

Note!

Ideally, the stepson to be removed should not be longer than 5-10 cm. If you miss and allow further growth of the branch, it will become thicker, and the wound after removal will become wider.

How to properly plant tall varieties of tomatoes?

Indeterminate and determinate varieties of tomatoes
Indeterminate varieties are formed into one stem, leaving 5-10 fruiting branches growing from the main stem. For a larger harvest, remove excess leaves that shade the fruit clusters.

Determinate varieties are formed into 2-3 of the strongest stems. The largest fruits will be on the lower tier and the size of the fruits will decrease with height. Moreover, excess stepsons are removed from all main stems.

Tall varieties have a number of advantages over short ones. The main advantage of these is the high yield of these tomato varieties.

• Tall varieties of tomatoes require mandatory removal of the shoots. When growing just such varieties of crops, there is no need to be afraid to remove shoots, since they will only interfere with the appearance of a large and rich harvest.
• If you don’t plant such tomatoes, there will be quite a lot of fruits on the branches, but their size is another matter. As a rule, in this case the fruits grow small and not all of them ripen.
• The lack of pinching in this case can also result in the appearance of illnesses, since due to the dense greenery the bushes are deprived of any ventilation, etc.

• We begin the procedure when the first brush blooms. If you grow a crop in a greenhouse, it is recommended to leave it with 1 stem. In this case, the stepsons are removed from the ground and up to the 1st flower cluster. Above this brush it is very difficult to determine where the unnecessary shoot is and where the forked stem is, since the stem often tries to bifurcate. If the situation develops this way, then you need to decide whether to remove one of the forked stems or not. The general condition of the plant will help you make a decision: if the bush looks healthy and strong, then you can leave both, otherwise one sprout should be removed.
• If you want to grow tall tomatoes with several stems, then when pinching, leave 1 or 2 of the lowest shoots, and remove all the rest up to the first flower cluster. In this case, the remaining stepsons must be grown as full-fledged stems.
• After the first procedure, regularly inspect the crops for the presence of new stepsons, and be sure to tear them off. Do this while they are little. If you miss a shoot somewhere, remove it later, but do it with scissors, since it is not so easy to tear off a coarse grown branch with your hands.

Growing tall, medium-sized and low-growing tomatoes

How to do it right

To achieve a positive result, it is important to adhere to the correct pinching of tomatoes. Inept actions can cause harm. How to do it:

1. Stepchildren are removed until they reach a length of 5 cm. The sooner, the better.
2. This is best done with gloved hands, pinching or tearing off shoots. Using a sharp knife is also allowed, but in this case it is easy to damage the main trunk.
3. Before the first flower brush, be sure to remove all the stepsons, and at the same time the lower leaves.
4. The first pinching of the bush is carried out when the seedlings take root and adapt to a permanent place.
5. All torn shoots and leaves should be collected and thrown away from the plantings. Otherwise, if they contain harmful microorganisms, they will spread to healthy plants.
6. The optimal time of day for the operation is morning. During this period, the shaping of any plants occurs with the least harm.

In July-August, indeterminate varieties, simultaneously with pinching, pinch the top to stop growth. Then all the plant’s energy will be spent on ripening the formed fruits.

Three working schemes

There are three main schemes for growing tomatoes:

1. In one barrel. This formation involves the regular removal of absolutely all unnecessary shoots on the plant.
2. Two barrels. In addition to the main one, a strong shoot is left not far from the first flower tassel. All other unnecessary shoots are removed.
3. Three barrels. In addition to the main one, two strong stepsons are left not far from each other.

In order not to make a mistake about what to leave, you should wait until the shoot reaches a length of 4 cm. If it is a strong sprout with healthy leaves, then it means it is capable of producing fruit.

In the greenhouse

Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse is usually done by molding them into one trunk, or at most two. In the limited space of a greenhouse, plants sit quite close to each other. Therefore, significant growth of the bush in width will interfere with its neighbors. Also in the greenhouse, it is imperative to cut off the tops of tall varieties in time, before they reach the ceiling.

In the open ground

Growing tomatoes in open ground is possible using any of three working schemes. In the garden bed it is possible to provide the plant with sufficient space to develop in width. Moreover, medium- and low-growing varieties, which are less demanding in terms of removing excess shoots than tall ones, are planted in open beds.

Growing tomato bushes with large fruits

Every gardener wants to grow large tomatoes. How should bushes be formed for this?

We remember that the largest fruits will be in the lower tier of the bush on the main stem. In order for the ovaries to be fully nourished, it is necessary to remove the shoots that grow below the hands. When the fruits reach a good size, it is necessary to remove the leaves located below the raceme. The leaf located above it will feed the fruiting brush. In total, 5-6 brushes are left on the tomato, but no more than 7. The fewer brushes and extra shoots, the larger and better the tomatoes.

Growing large-fruited tomatoes

Large-fruited tomatoes should be carefully pruned. A tomato bush cannot bear a huge amount of 500 g fruits. The tomatoes will become smaller and will not have time to ripen.

Is it necessary to prune large-fruited determinate varieties? Yes. In this case, leave no more than 5 shoots and carefully fix them so that large tomatoes do not break off the trusses.

Some vegetable growers practice leaving the lower 1-2 stepsons and normalizing them as soon as a flower cluster appears on them. They remove excess buds, leaving only 1-2 for the entire stepson. This operation is justified on those varieties that produce large fruits on the lower parts of the plant.

Experienced gardeners have long noticed that large and tasty tomatoes can be obtained from the bush in small quantities. The more fruits, the lower the marketable yield. However, this does not apply to new breeding products, which are discussed below.

Is it necessary and how to properly plant standard tomatoes?

Standard tomatoes are exactly what beginning gardeners and all those who love tomatoes but don’t like to pay too much attention to them need. The thing is that standard tomatoes are very unpretentious, they take root well in the soil, practically do not branch and ripen quickly.

Standard varieties of tomatoes

• Most often, standard tomatoes are not planted, since their secondary branches almost do not grow, and if they do grow, they do not bring much trouble.
• However, experienced gardeners and gardeners still recommend removing unnecessary shoots, explaining this by the fact that, regardless of the type of crop, the stepsons still “pull” nutrients from the plant and thereby prevent the main stem from growing and the fruits forming and ripening.
• When growing standard tomatoes, it is best to choose the 4-5 lowest, strongest stepsons to grow a lush round bush, and it is advisable to remove all other shoots so as not to thicken the bush. In this case, the procedure must be carried out regularly.

Growing super-determinate and standard tomatoes

These are the shortest, dwarf varieties. They have short internodes, an unbranched root system, most of the fruits are formed on stepsons, and the central stem is very short. There is no need to shoot such tomatoes, since when you remove the shoots you risk being left with virtually no harvest.

As a last resort, you can remove several stepsons located near the ground. And also the leaves growing below, so that they do not become a source of infection when they come into contact with the ground.

A representative of super-determinate tomato varieties is the Mongolian dwarf. There is no need to stepson him, since all his tomatoes grow on his stepsons

Forming a tomato bush with 1, 2, 3 stems: how to do it?

Bushes of this crop can be formed into 1 or several stems. What quantity to choose is up to you, but here you need to take into account the characteristics of the culture, your climate and the condition of the plant during the planting period.

• In 1 stem, crop varieties are most often formed that are characterized by unlimited growth - indeterminate varieties.

Indeterminate varieties of tomatoes

Formation of a bush of indeterminate varieties of tomatoes

• It is worth noting that forming a bush with 1 stem is the simplest and is perfect for beginning gardeners. With this formation, only the main trunk needs to be left; all secondary shoots must be mercilessly removed
• Sometimes it is recommended, even when forming a bush with 1 stem, to leave 1 brush on the first stepson, but then you will need to remove all emerging stepsons.
• At the same time, pay attention to removing the lower leaves of the crop. As soon as fully formed green fruits appear on the bush, remove all the leaves underneath them. But remember, you can tear off 2-3 leaves in one procedure, otherwise the plant will stop growing and the harvest will be lost.

As for the formation of a bush with several stems, it is more difficult:

• If we form a bush with 2 stems, in addition to 1 main stem, we will have 1 more, which will come from the stepson. In this case, you need to leave 1 strongest and healthiest stepson, who will then be able to please you with a rich harvest. Such a shoot is the stepson that grows under the first flower cluster - it is this that will need to be left.
• This shoot must be tied up and then cared for as the main stem. Further, unnecessary shoots will also appear on the bush, and they will need to be removed. It is recommended to carry out the procedure approximately once a week, and you need to monitor the size of the additional branches, it should not exceed 5 cm.

Forming a tomato bush with 1, 2, 3 stems

• As for the formation of a bush with 3 stems, it occurs in almost the same way as the formation of 2 stems. The only difference is that in addition to the main shoot, we will leave 2 more stepsons. We leave the 2 lowest shoots and grow them as full-fledged shoots. In this case, it is recommended to tie the stepsons to the supports.
• The remaining shoots will need to be removed.

Features of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse

If you grow tomatoes in a greenhouse, you can safely leave additional shoots on the bushes. And grow the plants into more stems than growing in exhaust gas allows.

Typically, indeterminate tomatoes are planted in greenhouses, which save horizontal space. As a rule, they are led in 1 stem, the bushes are attached to trellises. Also a common practice for low greenhouses is the formation of indets into 2 stems.

Not often, but determinate varieties are also planted in greenhouses. In this case, a 3-4 stem pattern is used.

Is it possible and what will happen if you don’t plant tomatoes?

Despite all the validity of the statement that tomatoes need to be pruned, many still ask the question: “What will happen if you ignore this advice?” In fact, everything is learned through experience, and those who one day do not carry out this procedure will know exactly what will happen to the culture. Well, for those who do not want to learn from their mistakes, we provide the following information:

• If you ignore pinching, your tomato bushes can turn into entire trees, with a huge amount of foliage and virtually no fruit.
• You need to plant tomatoes and this procedure is mandatory. It is by removing additional branches that we facilitate the plant’s process of growth and development.
• If we carry out the procedure correctly, the plant will devote all its strength to the fruits, and the harvest will be rich and large.
• It is possible and necessary not to remove additional shoots only from those varieties of tomatoes that do not need it in principle.

• If unnecessary branches are not removed, this will definitely affect future fruits.
• The plant will not be able to “feed” more than 3 stems and therefore absolutely the entire crop will suffer. Because of this, not all formed fruits will be able to ripen.
• Moreover, due to dense thickets, tomatoes can suffer from various ailments, and this, in turn, will also affect the harvest.

What is pinching and why do tomatoes need it?

At the beginning of its development, in the seedling period, the tomato plant grows into a single stem with leaves on the sides. But as the bush develops, stepsons begin to grow in the axils of the leaves - axillary shoots, which will also produce leaves, and later flower clusters with fruits.

That is, the stepsons on tomatoes are potential side branches that can develop on the bush along with the central trunk.

Stepson - a side shoot growing from the axil of a leaf

And everything seems to be fine. After all, the more stems, the more summer-ripened tomatoes? In fact, everything is not quite like that. A large number of stepsons draw nutrients onto themselves, the plant devotes all its energy to the growth of green mass. Inflorescences are forming, but there are no longer enough nutrients for their full development. Tomatoes grow small, most of them do not have time to ripen until the end of summer.

Therefore, gardeners normalize the number of shoots on tomato bushes by removing (pruning, tearing off) excess axillary shoots. This agricultural technique is called pinching. It is carried out both in open ground and in a greenhouse.

At what time of day should you carry out the procedure of pinching tomatoes?

It may seem to many that there is not much difference at what time of day to plant tomatoes. However, in reality there is a difference and it is significant. The thing is that this procedure is unpleasant for the plant. Moreover, if large shoots are pinched, the plant may stop growing.

• In the evening you need to water the tomatoes that you are going to plant.
• The next day, early in the morning, carry out the procedure for removing additional branches.
• This should be done before the scorching sun appears, however, on a sunny and clear day. Thanks to exposure to sunlight, plant “wounds” will heal much faster.
• If the procedure was carried out on a cloudy day, it is recommended to treat the “wounds” with ash.

IMPORTANT: First, you should cut off the stepsons on the strongest and healthiest bushes. And remove all other bushes with yellowed, limp leaves after a couple of days. This precaution will help you avoid spreading a possible infection.

Is it necessary to plant tomatoes?

If you do not pick off the shoots of tomatoes, the shoots and leaves will begin to overlap each other, shading the fruits. The plant will be able to feed the above-ground part only with frequent watering and enhanced fertilizers. There can be no talk of any organic farming here; you will have to actively use chemicals, including nitrogen, which impair the taste and lead to the accumulation of nitrates.

Otherwise, many small, tasteless fruits will form on the tomatoes. But if there is insufficient nutrition, the ovaries may crumble, and the gardener will be left without a harvest at all. The plant is simply not able to simultaneously ensure the vital activity of a significant volume of green mass and the full development of fruits.

Not only do tomatoes become smaller and crumble without pinching, they take a long time to ripen. It is likely that tall varieties will take up too much space, their branches will close and intertwine, making it impossible or difficult to harvest and cultivate the beds.

Thickening, lack of ventilation, and lack of light provoke the development of fungal diseases. And if the area is watered manually, it will become impossible to moisten the tomatoes at the root. Water will get on the leaves, fruits, late blight and various rots are guaranteed.

How many times should you root tomatoes?

This question is quite relevant. The mistake of many beginning gardeners is that they plant tomatoes only once.

• In fact, the pinching procedure is carried out as many times as necessary, and this is necessary throughout the entire period of growth and development of the bush.
• In greenhouses, in some cases, pinching is carried out even after harvesting.
• The procedure for removing shoots should be done regularly, approximately every week (in a greenhouse where the bushes grow faster), or once every 10-15 days. It all depends on the weather, because the growth rate of new stepsons is related to the weather.
• In tall varieties of tomatoes, it is necessary not only to remove the stepsons, but also the excessively growing tops, so that the plant’s energy is spent on the formation of fruits, and not on the formation of a crown of leaves.

Pinching is an important and necessary procedure for tomatoes. It is the removal of unnecessary shoots that allows the plant to form large fruits. Therefore, for those who want a rich and large harvest of tomatoes, the pinching procedure must be carried out without fail.

How to remove stepsons on tomatoes: procedure algorithm

All the work can be done by hand, or you can use a special tool: sharp scissors, a knife or pruning shears. It is better to put rubber gloves on your hands, sharpen the blades properly and treat them with a disinfectant solution (for example, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or bleach).

Growing tomatoes is carried out in 2 stages:

1. Pinch the excess shoot between your thumb and index finger.
2. Separate it from the bush: either by tearing it off (if you work only with your hands, without using tools), or by cutting it off with a knife or pruning shears, trying to make the cut neatly and evenly. Immediately sprinkle the cut area with wood ash.

You can pinch off the stepson when it is still small. If the shoot has stretched out and become too powerful, you will have to use a knife (secateurs) to pruning.

Important!

Do not remove the stepson completely. Leave the stump 0.5-1 cm high - this will prevent the appearance of a new shoot in place of the removed one.

The stump that remained after the removal of the stepson

It is advisable not to remove more than 3 stepsons from one bush at a time, otherwise the plant may get sick and even die. Do everything gradually.

Throw away any excess shoots. You cannot leave them near plantings: they can begin to rot and cause rotting of the growing bushes.

We invite you to watch a video in which they tell and show how to plant tomatoes and whether it is necessary to do it:

How to distinguish a stepson from a fruit cluster

As can be seen in the photo, it is difficult to confuse the lateral process and the fruit raceme even at the very early stage of development. They look different:

• the stepsons have leaves at the top;
• from the moment it is extended, the brush already has tiny bell-like buds.

Only a novice gardener can have doubts. And even then, when the shoot is very small, about 1 cm long. To avoid mistakes, you can arm yourself with a magnifying glass, or mark the bush, for example, with a red ribbon, and return to it in a day. Stepchildren and fruit clusters grow quickly, by this time it will be possible to figure out whether the shoot can be removed.

Post-procedure care

No special care is required for tomatoes after planting.

You only need to perform a few common operations:

1. Watering. The best frequency is 1-2 times in 7 days, with heated water; you need to moisten the soil by pouring it only at the root. It is impossible to over-moisten the soil - after this the stepsons will begin to actively grow.
2. Garter shoots.
3. Removing damaged and diseased leaves.
4. Removing weeds.
5. Loosening is carried out after watering; if necessary, soil is added under the stem.
6. When planting seedlings in the holes, nitrogen fertilizers are added. Subsequently, this element is not required for tomatoes; on the contrary, its excess provokes increased growth of new shoots. For tomatoes, only phosphate and potassium fertilizers are needed.

Pruning tomatoes is not limited to just removing emerging shoots. Often new shoots begin to grow directly from the ground; they also take away nutrients and require removal.

The formation of the bush is completed by removing the top of the shoot. This work is carried out at the end of the season. It is needed to prevent the formation of new brushes and fruits.

At the end of August, the top part of the tomato bush is trimmed - leaving only a few leaves above the branches with fruits. This will stop the growth of the plant and stop the consumption of nutrients to create green mass.

Possible difficulties when planting greenhouse crops

Errors will harm and reduce plant yield. Basically, gardeners make several mistakes:

1. Shoots are rarely pinched. Stepchildren turn into strong shoots that consume a lot of nutrients. As a result, the tomato grows many small fruits that take a long time to ripen;
2. Flower-bearing lashes are plucked off instead of unnecessary stepsons. The fruit branch grows directly from the main stem. And from the axil of the leaf a stepson appears;
3. Using dirty tools. Equipment that is not cleaned of dirt and infection can infect all the tomatoes in the greenhouse. In this case, it is better to do the work manually, or wear rubber gloves treated with a disinfectant solution.
4. Excessive fertilizer. If the bushes are already fully formed, and stepsons are actively appearing at the bottom of the stem, then this indicates that you are overfeeding the tomatoes. It will be necessary to temporarily abandon fertilizing or change its composition.

By planting tomatoes growing in greenhouse conditions after a certain period of time, the gardener facilitates the movement of fresh air between the leaves, improves the illumination of the plants, and additionally directs all the plant’s forces to the development and ripening of the fruit. This will give you a lot of large tomatoes.