[AmandaLouise]

Hello everyone

Are you supposed to just pinch the leaves off the elbow as tomato plants grow?  My gardeners delights both look like they have thick stems coming off that make it lean over.  they were started early end of Jan.  They are staked with plant sticks but probably need staking properly.  there are no flowers yet.

also can I just ask what the preferred method is by people.  My plans were to go in pots in a growbag with bottom removed, for the greenhouse.

Many Thanks
Amanda

[DD.]

Depends on the variety.

In your case, Gardener's Delight are an indeterminate, (cordon), variety and side shoots should be nipped out.

You can cut the big ones off with a sharp knife and stick them in a pot of compost to make a new plant - if you've not got enough already!

[AmandaLouise]

I have loads, but I could do that and give away i guess.  What is the reason for doing this, I would be scared of doing in the wrong place.  I have just been told about pinching the side shoots.

[DD.]

I think you've already found out one of the reasons.

One upward stem is much easier to support and directs all the growing energy into one stem to give better quality fruit.

Determinate, (bush), tomatoes are more compact and can manage without so much support.

[LilacSandy]

You will find that the flowers grow from the middle of the stalk and the side shoots from the leaf axil so you cannot take out the flowers my mistake, just pinch them out when you see them.

[mumofstig]

Sideshoots grow from the plant's armpits  it's easy if you think of it in that way 

[LilacSandy]

Sideshoots grow from the plant's armpits  it's easy if you think of it in that way 

Much more descriptive than mine 

[A Reyt Tayty]

Last year I grew 2 delights as bushes as a little experiment. They fruited just as heavilly as the cordons. I tried the same with moneymakers. Again, heavy crops but of smaller fruit. The taste was better than the cordons too.

[Growster...]

Sideshoots grow from the plant's armpits  it's easy if you think of it in that way 

Much more descriptive than mine 

Spot on Lilacs and Mums!

Armpits-r-us...

Amanda, your G. Delights are way ahead of ours, so take care of them eh...?