Emma Miller
Tomato sprouting is a necessary step in the care of the crop. Its essence is to cut off the shoots that form in the axils of the leaves. Such shoots appear with the flowering of the main stem and it is necessary to remove them.
What should be pruned from tomatoes and why
Beginning gardeners may not understand why to remove the outgrown shoots on tomatoes. Each such sprout can also bear fruit – which means the harvest will be richer. The logic is simple, but not quite right – because a lot of such shoots can turn the crop into a jungle, and this is fraught with fungal infections. In addition, due to the increased number of crops, the fruits themselves will become smaller, and some types of tomatoes may even be late in fruiting.
As soon as you notice the first flowering brush on tomatoes – wait for the appearance of stems. You will see the first and most powerful stems appear on the plant, and all those that will be located below it – boldly remove.
The first step grassing of tomatoes – rules
There are only two ways to step grass tomatoes:
- tear them off by hand;
- Cut them with garden shears.
If you prefer the first option, then be sure to wear gloves, and the stems are clipped to the side so that in place of the offshoot remained a “stump” of 2 cm. For the second method, you need to use disinfected garden shears. Treat the tool with a manganese solution after each plant is cut.
When to start removing the stems from tomatoes
As we have already said, you should cut the first stems already after the flowering brush has appeared. Some growers say that the procedure should be repeated 1-2 times a week, others say that more often than once every 10-14 days is not necessary. Be guided by the condition of the bushes and do not start the harvest.
It is best to do it in the early morning on a sunny day so that the “wounds” that appear on the plant have time to heal. The stepchildren can appear both at the bottom of the stem and on the flowering brush – you need to remove them all. Sometimes it happens that in place of a sprout quickly grows a new one – these are the conditions of nature. Also, remember that it is necessary to cut off the lower leaves – under the largest fruits should not be left a single leaf. The optimal rate is 1-3 leaves per week, other conditions will stress the tomatoes and they will give a poor harvest. The leaves, like the stalks, should be broken off to the side.
