How to properly form tomatoes in a greenhouse and open ground into one or two stems

Vegetable gardeners know that a good harvest requires considerable effort. In addition to weeding, watering, and fertilizing, tomatoes require training. This process helps the plant develop properly and positively impacts the yield.

Why do you need to shape tomatoes?

Tomato plants don't grow vertically. Side shoots called side shoots, called side shoots, appear alongside the main trunk. It's easy to assume that more branches means more tomatoes, but this isn't true. If tomato growth isn't controlled, a plot of land can turn into a "forest." The plant will devote all its energy to maintaining its foliage, leaving nothing for fruit.

Allowing such thickets to develop is the same as opening the way for pests and diseases. Plants that don't have access to fresh air are most often attacked by insects. That's why it's important to know all the nuances of tomato planting and the procedure.

Basic principles of tomato cultivation

Gardeners can choose any method. However, it's important to follow the instructions during the procedure. Otherwise, there's a risk of damaging the crop.

Pinching out stepsons

This involves manually removing shoots, commonly known as side shoots. Tomatoes are a warm-climate-loving crop. Removing side shoots on tomato plants in northern regions regulates the load on the plant and ensures timely harvest.

Gardeners make the mistake of removing side shoots at the root. It's better to leave 2-3 cm to prevent re-emergence in the same spot.

To form a single stem, it's necessary to remove the resulting shoots. When a lateral shoot appears, it's left in place to form a double-stemmed plant. The resulting shoot should be below the cluster, but be the first one to emerge.

The shoots that form on the side branches are removed in the same way as on the main stem. Each branch should have no more than four clusters. This will ensure the plant thrives and develops normally.

Topping

This agronomic technique restricts the growth of the main stem. This procedure is performed after the flowers of the upper inflorescence open. To ensure adequate nutrition for the fruit, it is recommended to leave 2-3 leaves above the flower.

Leaf removal

This is considered the easiest task, easily handled even by a novice. The lower leaves should be removed, down to the first fruiting cluster. Both green and yellowed leaves are removed. This will prevent stagnant, damp air and ensure a flow of fresh air to the soil area. This procedure is performed no more than once a week, removing 2 to 3 leaves at a time. Removing excess leaves ensures adequate light for the plant. These green leaves facilitate photosynthesis, which allows the tomato plants to continue developing.

Garter

Tomato planting requires staking. Trellis, stakes, and other supports are used for support. The plant requires staking throughout the growing season.

Preparing for stepsoning

Pruning side shoots is simple and quick. It doesn't require any special preparation. The gardener must use high-quality tools. Side shoots are removed manually, either by breaking them off or using pruning shears. Before the procedure, the tools are disinfected. This technique prevents infection from entering and spreading to the tomatoes.

When to start shaping tomato bushes

The best time to carry out such work is early June. As soon as new shoots appear, they are removed. Don't wait for them to grow, as the plant expends nutrients to support their growth.

Pruning is done on a sunny day in the morning. By evening, the wound will be covered with a protective film, making the plant more resilient to damage. In rainy weather, the cut area should be treated with ash.

How to properly shape a bush?

Different types and varieties of tomatoes require shaping. Standard tomatoes are an exception.

For cultivation under certain conditions, one of the existing formation options is selected.

In a polycarbonate greenhouse

When growing tomatoes in such conditions, pinching out side shoots helps ensure a high-quality harvest. To achieve this, nutrients are redirected to a single, dominant stem. Simultaneously with pinching, the plants are tied diagonally.

As a result, the fruits ripen two weeks earlier. Extending the fruiting period also increases the yield. But the main benefit of pinching out the side shoots is the quality of the ripe tomatoes.

In open ground

Applicable to regions with warm climates. Procedure:

1. On the main branch, no more than 5 inflorescences are left, among which there are 2 stepsons.
2. After the growth of the main shoot stops, the crop continues to develop through the growth of previously left stepsons.
3. The clusters that have formed on them are torn off, leaving only one or two.
4. The stepson that appeared from the axil of one of the leaves on the main shoot is left.
5. As soon as 2 inflorescences have formed on it, pinching is done above 3 leaves.

Several leaves should be preserved at the top of each stem. These provide nutrition to the fruit.

In 2 stems

This method allows for the maximum number of ripe fruits and delays early ripening by 4-6 days. The formation of the crop into two stems occurs as follows:

1. During the growing season, remove all side shoots on the main branch, leaving one. The new shoot is located in the leaf axil under the first flower cluster.
2. During the growth of a new shoot, all stepchildren are removed.

By following a simple plan, you can grow a healthy and well-formed plant that will yield a bountiful harvest. From mid-July to early August, crown development stops. This is necessary for the ripening of the fruits that have formed during the plant's development.

In 3 stems

If the gardener's goal is to maximize the harvest, it's necessary to train the plant into three stems. This delays the ripening of the first fruits by a week. Two side shoots are allowed to grow from the main stem.

Determinate varieties

A distinctive feature of this type of plant is the low position of the first inflorescence. In determinate tomato varieties, growth ceases when the fifth cluster is fully formed. Due to biological properties, inflorescences continue to form on the main shoot.

In determinate varieties, the growth point is transferred to a lateral shoot, which allows for an increase in the fruiting period.

After removing the side shoots, tie the plant to the support. It's important to remove excess shoots before the first cluster blooms. If the side shoots are less than 5 cm long, they are removed by hand.

Tomatoes from this group are suitable for growing outdoors and thrive in the southern and eastern regions.

Cherry

Classification of tomatoes:

• short;
• medium-sized;
• tall.

Each group requires a specific type of formation. However, there are a number of specific features that must be adhered to:

1. Cherry tomatoes require regular pinching. They tend to produce numerous shoots.
2. Small-fruited tomatoes require trellis support. The trellis is positioned higher than for larger-fruited tomatoes. Cherry tomato stems are very thin, and in some varieties, they resemble a vine.
3. Cherry tomatoes yield a small number of tomatoes per season, compared to their larger-fruited counterparts. But this advantage is offset by incredible flavor. This nuance is taken into account when choosing a training method.
4. With proper shaping and care, a cherry bush will bear fruit for 4-5 months.

Polycarbonate greenhouses are more suitable for growing cherry tomatoes. The process of planting them is also much more convenient. In such structures, tomatoes can be planted much earlier, and the growing season ends later than for crops grown in plastic greenhouses.

The specifics of the formation of indeterminate tomatoes

The main characteristic of these tomato varieties is the unrestricted growth of the main stem. Therefore, when training them, only this stem is left, removing any resulting side stems. Pruning additional stems increases the yield. Indeterminate tomatoes develop quickly. The stem length is very long, making them considered tall. The first cluster is located after the 11th or 12th leaf.

Side shoots begin to form after the first flower cluster appears. When the shoot reaches a decent size and forms its own clusters, it is pinched off. Only one cluster is left, with 2-3 leaves remaining above it. Due to the plant's active growth, side shoots are pinched off once a week.

Many gardeners don't dare try to shape a bush into one, two, or three stems. They usually let the plant grow naturally. Shaping a plant is very simple. If you follow the instructions and basic rules, everything will work out.