[Turnba]

Hi all

I'm building up some experience, slowly, but when should you ignore seed packet instructions?

I have two types of tomatoes in the greenhouse - F1 Incas and regular Alicante. I staked up the Alicante and have pruned some of the leaves off. Things are going ok but the fruits are taking their time to ripen (been green for a LONG time now).

F1 Incas' packet stated not to stake up or prune, but when they all fell over with the huge fruit (a couple of snapped stems too) I staked them up. Now they are a big bushy mess with not much air flow around the plants. Also not much in the way of ripening but plenty of fruit present.

Should I get the knife out and remove some leaves?

Thanks,

Michael.

[DD.]

Dobies say that when grown in greenhouses, to pinch out the side shoots:

Incas - Dobies

[JayG]

My Suttons Inca seed packet says no pinching out required, which is something I managed to overlook. 
Despite this senior moment they have still grown extremely bushy in the greenhouse - judicious thinning of leaves is a good idea to let air and sunshine in and reduce the chances of condensation being trapped on the leaves, which is bad news as it can encourage blight and/or botrytis as well as slightly delaying ripening.

Don't overdo it though - the plant needs some leaves to manufacture food for itself and its fruits.

[stompy]

I had this quandry last year with my roma plum toms, the instructions stated not to pinch out as it's a bush variety, i ignored them.
I have grew these for a good few years and grew them as cordons alowing side shoots to form until a flower truss apeared then nipped out the growing tip.
I never got a huge crop but always got a good crop with fully ripe fruits.
Also i left 2 to 3 tiers of leaves at the top of the plant  as it grew i removed the bottom set of leaves leaving the fruits bathed in light, i do this with all my tomato plants with the exeption of the tumblers but i don't grow them very often.

Andy

[GrannieAnnie]

I know they say not to pinch out, but I have the same problem, most of my fruits on Inca and Roma are well hidden!

I'm going down later to take off some of the leaves.

Also thinking about what I can do next year to keep the fruits off the ground, my tying and staking didn't go well this year!  :blink:

[stompy]

Hi GrannieAnnie,

I had wires running the length of the GH and used canes to suport the main stems and then strings tied to the fruit trusses then ip to the wires.
Worked a treat 

[mumofstig]

Incas and Roma will not always produce further upwards growth if you restrict them to one stem and grow them up a single cane, pinching out side shoots from the armpits.....this is why the seed pkt says no pinching out.

but there's no reason not to prune them if they become too large or leafy and supporting heavy trusses is always a good idea 

[stompy]

Mine grew as a single cordon right to the roof last time mum, no problem at all.
I used to end up with too many small and unripe fruits before i started useing this method!

[GrannieAnnie]

yes defo need that support for the trusses, and might try them as cordon next year.  thanks!

[arugula]

We felt the need to prune Inca plants when we grew them last year otherwise, as you say

they are a big bushy mess with not much air flow around the plants.

[Trillium]

I never pinch out any of my Roma stems as I want all the tomatoes I can get, but I do pinch off some of the excessive leaf growth so I can keep an eye on pests, and so that air and light can get through, otherwise it's a jungle tangle. I start at the bottom after I see fruit set and slowly work my way up stem by stem with fruit set.

I always stake my Romas because they do get top heavy and can snap stems, and it keeps the fruit away from mice that will happily eat green tomatoes    It also makes it easier for the bees to pollinate more fruit.