[Willow_Warren]

Can someone please advise if I need to pinch our the "arm pits" of my sweet and neat tomatoes???

I think it's a bush tomato so the answer should be no??

I'll explain more later

Hannah

[polly nator]

I'd say NO. Someone gave me a few neat'n'sweet plants and I'm not going to pinch them.

[JayG]

The only reason for pinching out a bush tomato is if it is late producing and you run the risk of having a lot of only partly-developed fruits (and then it's more a case of "stopping" all growing shoots and removing immature trusses towards the end of the season rather than pinching out.)

Sweet 'n' Neat is described as a bush type, which thankfully avoids the dilemma of the few varieties described as "semi-bush" (thanks a bunch, tomato breeders!) 

[Willow_Warren]

Thanks, the reason I ask is because I brought on of these plants into work to give to a friend  - then "Mrs Know It All - I have an allotment with the scouts" told said friend she'd need to pinch out the shoots as they grew... I said "oh... no... this is a bush you just let it be" quite politely I might add - but I was told I was firmly told I was wrong  as she continued to point out which bits would need pinching out!!!  At which point I bit my tongue and didn't retaliate!  She didn't even know what type of tomato plant it was she was commenting on!!!

Hum... enough said...

Hannah

Semi-bush - that is confusing - I don't think I'll grow any of those, I'm confused enough as it is...

[polly nator]

well, you were right! and now you can quietly show your friend your forum replies whilst Mrs Know it All isnt around .. in fact you can introduce your friend to this site and she'll never have problems ever again!!