How to step tomatoes correctly and not spoil anything

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Over time on the trunks of tomatoes and other plants appear stepsons – side shoots from leaf axils. Resources are spent on their development, and therefore, if you leave them all, the harvest will not be as abundant and large as it could be. In addition, the bushes will become very thick, especially in the lower part, which contributes to fungal diseases. But it is not very convenient to water, feed, weed and loosen such plants. The way out of the situation is step-cutting, that is, the removal of most of the appendages.

For a good harvest, remove most of the stepsons from tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and eggplants. The procedure will also benefit pumpkins, watermelons and melons, and zucchini and squash can be done without blanching.

What you need to know before blanching tomatoes

• Carry out the procedure in the morning. The weather is mostly dry, without rain, although this is not critical for greenhouse conditions.
• Use a sharp knife, garden shears, or simply remove the growths with your hands.
• Carefully cut or pinch off the stepsons, leaving a stump several millimeters long.
• Try not to damage the stems, and if you accidentally touch them, sprinkle the wound with ash. You can also sprinkle the cut places, although strong and healthy plants tolerate the procedure normally without this.
• If possible, after pruning each bush, treat the tool with a pale solution of potassium permanganate or medical alcohol, so as not to transfer the disease from one plant to another.

How to properly process tomatoes

Removal of side shoots is relevant both for plants in open ground and for greenhouse residents. The main thing is to take into account the features of the variety or hybrid that you planted.

When to prune and form tomatoes

It is not worth delaying the removal of stepsons. Begin the procedure already two weeks after planting in the greenhouse or open ground. Carry out pruning regularly and try to get rid of the shoots while they are very small, so that the plants do not waste unnecessary energy. Also cut or pinch off the lower leaves that touch the ground. This will reduce the likelihood of fungal and bacterial diseases.

Further, the procedure depends on the characteristics of the variety or hybrid. In short (determinant) plants, leave the first strong stepson at a height of 30 cm or more, and the second even higher. If you already have three stems – one originally main and two obtained from stepchildren, but there are very few flowers on the bush, you can leave one more in the upper part of one of the formed stems.

It is better to form tall tomatoes (indeterminate) in two stems. After about 45 cm, leave one strong additional shoot. Next, support the plant in this form and remove the stepsons already from the two main stems. If there are very few ovaries, then on several new stepsons you can leave the buds and two leaves next to them, and cut off everything that is higher.

The growth of the bush should also be limited. It is better to do this 30-40 days before you plan to harvest the last crop. Otherwise, all the fruits simply will not have time to ripen. To do this, simply pinch both stems at the very top, leaving two leaves above the last ovaries.