[Deano27]

can someone explain the right way to pinch out toms.  i know how to pinch the stems out, but am unsure which stems actually need to come off.  at the moment i have very tall plants with only foliage at the top because i've pinched out everything except the vertical growing stem.  is that right? it looks pretty savage and there's not much leafage on my plants as a result.

any pictures anyone can supply would be greatly appreciated!

[GrannieAnnie]

Did you only pinch out the side shoots that had tiny leaves forming on them, or did you also pinch out the ones that would have little flowers on?  You may have taken off so much that there's no tomatoes giong to grow.  You can also replant the side shoots and grow them as well you know!  Someone metioned in on here the other year and I tried one last year, and it grew fine!!!!

Whereabouts in the world are you Deano?  because owing to the cold, I've only just sown my tomatoes, they are definately not big enough to pinch anything out!!! lol

[Deano27]

i've clearly gone overboard.  i've been pinching out everything that wasn't growing vertical! i shall stop now.  i didn't realise that i was supposed to pinch out shoots that grew between the stem and the side leaves.  

anyway hopefully its not all a disaster cos i did exactly the same thing last year and still got a fair crop.  a lesson learned for the future (i thought the plants i had looked a little odd).

by the way i'm in birmingham.  toms are all over the living room windowsill.  hoping to put them in the greenhouse at the end of the month (providing spring weather actually arrives).

[GrannieAnnie]

After a bit of searching, I found this post which has a brilliant photo of the side shoots to take out!  

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=233&highlight=pinch+side+shoots+tomatoes

[DD.]

As the link says, it does depend on the variety. If it's a bush one, you leave well alone!